Mallaghan Engineering, one of the global leaders in ground service equipment has unveiled the “Mallaghan 50W” - the largest capacity airport bus in the world, carrying up to 125 passengers.
Ryanair has initially ordered a 32-strong fleet to be delivered in the next 12 months with the keys to the first vehicle handed over recently at the inter airport Europe trade show in Munich.
Mallaghan Engineering is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of GSE, employing over 450 staff at its manufacturing sites in Dungannon and Atlanta, Georgia in the USA and five other global offices. The Ryanair contract will create a further 60 jobs.
Ronan Mallaghan, managing director at Mallaghan Engineering said: “Traditionally our product portfolio has focused on passenger stairs and a range of high lift trucks for catering, cabin cleaning and more specialist ground support equipment including water trucks, toilet trucks and de-icers.
“But to meet customer demands, we’ve developed and begun manufacturing the ‘Mallaghan 50W’ airport bus which broadens our range and heralds a new dawn for the Mallaghan team.”
Used for transporting passengers to and from terminals and aircraft, the “Mallaghan 50W” will offer a range of features that can be tailored to customer specifications. It is also the only airport bus in the world with rear wheel steering, hence reducing the turning circle.
Ronan Mallaghan continued: “The Airport Bus is the result of a significant investment announced last year and was researched and designed by our talented team in Dungannon, County Tyrone.
“Since Mallaghan’s entered the GSE market in 1990, innovation for aviation has been at the core of our business.
“We expect to announce further investment in the weeks ahead, not only in research and development, but our facilities and our people, enabling us to expand our innovative product range and to significantly boost export sales.”
Ryanair is a longstanding customer of Mallaghan and has utilized its ground support equipment at bases across Europe for the last two decades.
Adrian Dunne, Ryanair Director of Operations, said: “Ryanair is delighted to be the launch customer for the new Mallaghan bus, who we have worked closely with in the design, specification and delivery of.
“As we expand the Ryanair Group operations, we expect this to be the first of many orders and look forward to working with Mallaghan – one of our key suppliers of ground equipment.”
Mallaghan continued: “The feedback received at the Inter Airport Europe Exhibition in Munich, following the launch of the bus, has been exceptional.
“We’re proud to be the preferred airport ground support equipment supplier of many airports and airlines across the world and will continue our commitment to aviation innovation to meet the needs of a changing industry.”
For more information about Mallaghan Engineering, its new airport bus or recruitment opportunities within the organisation please visit www.mallaghangse.com/
