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Digital transformation: An analysis of the current state within Europe’s top five digital airports
Journal of Airport Management,
17
(4),
429-442
(2023)
Abstract
This paper showcases the current stage of implementation of various selected digital transformation initiatives at the top five European airports in this regard. Applying a recent theoretical framework (technology adoption framework for airports [TAFA]), the overall current level of technology adoption projects in various stages of implementation at these airports is analysed. The study’s approach is based on qualitative data which was collected through interviews with airport representatives and industry experts as well as from publicly available sources. The study shows that the targeted airports understand digital transformation as the process of enhancing their passenger experience and their cost base via improved service quality and operational efficiency. The findings reveal that Europe’s top five airports currently share the characteristics of Airport 3.0 and that they are progressively beginning solutions based on Industry 4.0 technologies. The outlook on current trial and pre-trial technologies shows a common trend of transformation towards Airport 4.0. There is, however, no common approach applied to this that would be coordinated either by ACI, ICAO or even IATA, leaving a patchwork of isolated technology solutions with widely divergent user experiences to be expected. In the nearer future, airports are likely to remain technological islands with no common approach to a seamless integration between them and, ideally, also between airlines and other transport providers to improve travellers’ physical and digital journey. The study can serve as a guideline for airport managers and will support their decision-making processes by providing information on the strategies taken by the top five European airports.
Keywords: digital transformation; industry 4.0; airports; technology adoption; innovation
The full article is available to subscribers to the journal.
Author's Biography
Lucia Dini is a Research Fellow from IU International University of Applied Sciences at the campus of Bad Honnef, Germany. She recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in aviation management from IU and now works as a project manager at IADC International Airport Design & Consulting in Hamburg, Germany. Her passion for innovation, digital technologies and the aviation industry inspire her to contribute to the development of the future of travel. Along with her work in research and project management, she is actively engaged as Junior Airport Consultant in several international consultancy projects with TH Airport Consulting.
Arne Schulke Prof Dr Arne Schulke is Professor for Aviation Management at IU International University of Applied Sciences at the campus of Bad Honnef, Germany. IU is Germany’s largest educational institution with over 100,000 students. His main areas of interest are the fields of sustainability and the impact of digitalisation on the aviation industry. Before joining the IU in 2015, he worked for almost two decades as a consultant for Kearney in Europe and as a managing director of a Lufthansa subsidiary. Besides research and teaching, he is actively involved in consulting assignments in the broader transport and logistics industry and acts as Head of the IU’s Transport and Logistics Department.
Christoph Klingenberg Prof Dr Christoph Klingenberg is Professor for Airport Management at Worms University of Applied Sciences, Germany. He joined the faculty after senior positions at McKinsey & Company, Lufthansa AG and Deutsche Bahn AG. He taught as a lecturer at Darmstadt University and as a professor at IU International University of Applied Sciences in Bad Honnef. His main areas of interest are airport capacity expansion, demand management through slot assignment, throughput enhancement using depeaking and digitisation of the aviation value chain.
