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From bricks to bytes: AI-based airport digital transformation in practice
Journal of Airport Management,
19
(1),
83-95
(2024)
Abstract
Air travel is one of the most developed and advanced forms of transport, the success of which is reflected in a high level of innovation and the safety and comfort of passengers. In the context of long-term growth in air travel, constant cost and capacity pressures at airports and rapid advancements in innovative technologies, numerous opportunities arise. The greatest risk for any airport would be to neglect digital transformation. Technological improvements based on innovative, sustainably oriented technologies have significant potential. This paper discusses how to address current challenges at airports using evolving technologies and artificial intelligence (AI). It examines the dynamics of ground handling operations and highlights the transformative impact of technology and innovation. Unlike landside operations, many airside processes at most airports remain manual and inefficient. The paper introduces an advanced solution for monitoring aircraft ground handling, enabling proactive management of flight delays and resource shortages due to changes in flight schedules. This tool offers insights into potential efficiency gains by using a system of cameras and AI for the automatic recognition of the start and end of aircraft turnaround processes, without human intervention in the process itself.
Keywords: aircraft turnaround; ground handling; artificial intelligence
The full article is available to subscribers to the journal.
Author's Biography
Robert Rauch is an accomplished airport professional with extensive experience in airport development, airport operations and airport management. With a formal education in mechanical engineering and IT, he brings a unique perspective to his work and has actively contributed to many successful airport projects, including Ljubljana Airport terminal expansion, operated by Fraport Slovenija and owned by Fraport AG Germany. Currently, he is leading innovation projects at Fraport Slovenija.
Christiaan Hen ’s background in aviation began at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, where he worked on developing and managing airport capacity. After managing terminal operations for several years, he became Head of Innovation for the Schiphol Group. His decade-long role in airport operations, development and innovation set him up for his next position as Chief Customer Officer at Assaia International. In his early years at Assaia, Christiaan handled all commercial activities in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and Asia–Pacific (APAC) regions. This leadership role played an essential part in getting the first customers to commit to long-term partnerships with Assaia. As these partnerships developed, Christiaan shifted gears to focus more on customer success. He worked directly with existing customers to make sure the ApronAI deployments were delivering measurable success and making a significant impact. Now, as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Christiaan’s top priority is to keep the strong emphasis on excellence and customer intimacy as the company moves into a phase of exponential growth. His vision propels Assaia’s mission to infuse visibility, control and automation into the realms of airports, airlines and ground handlers. The overarching aim is to optimise the sustainability, efficiency and safety of operations.
