JFK Airport Officials Talk about How The GSE Sharing Model Empowers Ground Operations.

Marissa von Wieding, the vice president of operations at JFK's New Terminal One (NTO), said in an interview with the GHI podcast that the GSE (ground support equipment) sharing model has opened a new chapter in airport operations: ground staff no longer need to invest huge sums in equipment and infrastructure, and can focus on team building and operational innovation.

Von Wieding further pointed out that NTO not only aims to create a five-star terminal but also aspires to rank among the top five in terms of passenger experience globally. She emphasized, "It all starts with the employees - having excellent and happy employees means they will treat customers with high-quality service. The same goes for ground staff on the tarmac. When they are proud of their workplace and fully committed, service quality will undoubtedly improve significantly."

The above view stems from the exclusive cooperation between JFK and TCR - starting from 2026, a centralized electric GSE fleet consisting of 700 units will be put into use. Kevin Constant, the business director of TCR Americas, revealed that NTO is advancing the project with a "new planning" mindset, pursuing lofty goals, "like a blank sheet of paper, allowing bold planning of core demands."

Constant pointed out that NTO recognizes the experience of the TCR Global GSE Sharing Project, and the cooperation between the two sides is highly compatible, achieving a brand-new breakthrough in the industry. This project is a leading infrastructure project in North America and even globally in terms of scale.

Von Wieden revealed that the project team focused on planning the supporting charging infrastructure to ensure the operation of the fleet. She admitted that she had been concerned about the charging time issue and needed to ensure the precise supply of electricity, which could not be achieved without close collaboration with TCR.

Currently, NTO is tendering for two ground handling service providers. After their entry next year, they will jointly operate the centralized GSE fleet with TCR.