Cutting edge

New technology, facilities and services continue to enhance the passenger experience and operational efficiency of airports, writes Joe Bates.

ACI’s upcoming Airports Innovate conference in Busan, South Korea, will once again highlight the hugely impressive number of ways airports continue to pioneer new technologies and consider innovation a key priority as they strive to make aviation more efficient and enhance the passenger experience.

In terms of efficiency, adopting new technology, equipment and facilities as well as introducing new processes and procedures can reduce an airport’s CO2 footprint and lower running costs that help reduce operational expenditure (OPEX).

And with technology, in particular, often providing airports with potential new revenue streams, going forward, nothing should be off the table for airports when it comes to future innovation.

This article includes a host of examples of airport innovation that covers everything from the use of robots, multimedia and retail initiatives in the terminal; the introduction of exoskeletons on the ramp; the continued implementation of automated vehicles and AI technology on the airfield; to TAV Technologies’ AI-human hybrid spokesperson; and Vantage Airports creating a new subsidiary to drive the development and sale of new transport related technology.

TAV’S AI-HUMAN HYBRID SPOKESPERSON

TAV Technologies, the 100% owned IT subsidiary of TAV Airports, has its own AI-human hybrid spokesperson, AeRona (pictured above).

Launched at the recent PTE Expo in Madrid, AeRona’s role is to interactively share the benefits of the company’s services and products with aviation stakeholders.

And TAV Technologies recently used her to host a YouTube video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QclknSsa6mk&ab_channel=TAVTechnologies – where she interacted with Aykut Kullap to explore the stories behind the company’s sustainability innovations.

Part of TAV Technologies’ series of ‘Sustainability Talks!’ videos, the latest one specifically discussed how IoT is transforming air quality and energy use at airports.

ROBOTS ON PATROL AT HALIFAX INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ) in Canada has become the latest gateway to introduce robotic technology in the terminal environment.

In partnership with Halifax-based start-up Maritime Robotics, Halifax International Airport Authority (HIAA) has launched two custom-built passenger experience robots at Halifax Stanfield.

The project is part of HIAA’s ongoing commitment to advancing the Stanfield experience by leveraging technology that improves wayfinding and helps support a seamless journey for travellers and airport visitors.

The airport’s director of marketing, communications and customer experience, Tiffany Chase, says: “This collaboration marks an exciting step toward enhancing wayfinding and elevating the passenger experience.

“By embracing technology solutions like these, we are prioritising airport efficiency and innovation, with a touch of fun in the terminal. Think WALL·E with a map — and they’re pretty adorable, too.”

The custom-built robots, which are currently being pilot tested at the airport, are equipped with voice recognition and touchscreen interfaces. Users can access information on flights, weather, airport amenities, and more.

When requested, the robots will physically guide users to select locations within a programmed perimeter. For destinations outside of that range, a static wayfinding map is available.

“Bringing this kind of innovation to our local airport is especially meaningful,” comments Huijing He, director of Maritime Robotics.

“It’s not just about introducing new technology – it’s about enhancing the travel experience for our community and taking a significant step toward the future of travel, powered by the people who make it possible.”

Both robots are positioned pre-security in the Centre Court and Arrivals areas of the terminal building, complementing traveller resources already provided by airport employees and volunteers.

According to HIAA, the robots offer an additional layer of support for people navigating the terminal, particularly during peak times when in-person assistance may be limited.

MOBILITY CART TRACKING SOLUTION AT JFK TERMINAL 4

JFKIAT, the operator of Terminal 4 at John F Kennedy International Airport, is piloting what is believed to be the world’s first mobility cart tracking solution, which it claims is already delivering measurable improvements to the passenger experience.

For this initiative, it is enhancing the complimentary mobility cart service at T4 by providing real-time tracking, pick-up locations, and support to potentially expand the service across the terminal in the future.

The pilot service is available for passengers in need of assistance, with carts servicing designated stops throughout T4.

The new solution, developed in collaboration with JFKIAT’s partners at micro-location leader Volan Technology and AI crowd management analytics expert Beonic, offers real-time tracking of passenger carts enabling travellers to view exact cart locations and estimated wait times.

JFKIAT CEO, Roel Huinink, enthuses: “Giving passengers real-time information helps to support a smoother airport experience.

“By enabling live tracking of our cart service at Terminal 4, we’re helping our travellers who prefer or need assistance over longer distances, make more informed choices. As the transformation of T4 continues, we are pleased to work with our partners to introduce this innovative technology to advance passenger accessibility and operational efficiency.”

Airport general manager, Teresa Rizzuto, notes: “As we continue to modernise and reimagine JFK into a world-class global gateway, passenger-focused innovations like this mobility cart tracking system are key to enhancing accessibility and improving the travel experience for all.”

According Beonic CEO, Billy Tucker, the ongoing pilot represents “a significant leap forward in how airports can enhance accessibility and operational efficiency”.

He says: “By integrating real-time cart tracking, we’re not just improving the passenger experience, we’re setting a new standard for intelligent, data-driven airport services.”

IMMERSIVE 3D EXPERIENCE IN ORLANDO

The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) and Synect have launched an immersive 3D experience at Orlando International Airport’s security checkpoint that it hopes will turn wait times into engaging, informative moments for passengers.

The experience stars Annie the Astronaut, a digital ambassador created by GOAA and Synect, in a fully animated 3D journey that mirrors the passenger journey at MCO.

In Annie’s Airport Journey, the intrepid astronaut strolls through a 3D replica of Terminals A and B, complete with check-in counters, plants, a food court, and other elements modelled directly from the facility.

The content shares real-time TSA wait times, 3-1-1 reminders, divestment tips such as bin reminders, post-security concession highlights via QR code, and themed ‘Easter Eggs’ like a digital version of MCO’s much-loved carpet.

Developed by Synect’s Orlando-based studio, the immersive content plays on identical LED video walls at the airport’s West Checkpoint and features eight custom scenes based on MCO’s terminal architecture; over 1,000 animated elements; and more than 7,200 rendered frames built in Maya, Cinema 4D, and After Effects.

This project supports GOAA’s commitment to creating engaging, guest-centric airport moments and builds on years of content-first collaboration with Synect.

“Annie’s Journey is informative, uplifting, and unmistakably MCO,” says Lance Lyttle, CEO of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority.

“In partnership with Synect, we’re transforming the checkpoint into an interesting, fast, branded experience using a content-first strategy and our Passenger360 platform, which connects guests with real-time information and a host of airport amenities.”

DXB’S SMART NEW ARRIVALS SERVICE

Dubai Airports has launched DXB Greet & Go, a new smart pick-up service at Dubai International Airport’s Terminal 3.

Designed for guests arriving in Dubai with pre-booked hotel, limousine, or tour operator services, this new solution replaces traditional guest paging with a seamless, technology-enabled experience.

According to the airport operator, with DXB Greet & Go, guests arriving at Terminal 3 can simply scan a unique QR code at the designated kiosk to view details of their assigned driver and vehicle, including parking location and car registration number.

They are then guided by multilingual employees directly to their assigned driver and vehicle, ensuring a smooth and stress-free pick-up.

Essa Al Shamsi, senior vice president of terminal operations at Dubai Airports, said: “DXB Greet & Go is part of our continued efforts to make every step of the journey at DXB more efficient and enjoyable.

“By modernising the way guests are received in the Arrivals area, we are helping our partners deliver a smarter and more personalised welcome, while easing footfall and improving operational flow within the terminal.”

HELPING TRAVELLERS FIND LOST BELONGINGS

The recovery of a missing diamond from an engagement ring and reuniting a little girl with her favourite stuffed toy are a few of the more heart warming lost and found stories at Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) this year.

Now, PIT believes it has made recovering missing items even easier with its recently launched Lost and Found system.

The airport’s ‘We Got You’ initiative offers 24/7 online claims submission and real-time tracking, which means no more waiting on hold during business hours. Passengers can submit and monitor claims anytime from any device.

This solution is the result of extensive research with passengers and staff conducted by PIT’s Experience and Design team and arguably reflects PIT’s commitment to creating world-class services that address actual needs – and building tools that restore confidence during inevitable travel disruptions.

“We understand how stressful it can be to lose something while travelling, and our goal is to make the recovery process as easy as possible,” said Elise Gomez, manager for customer experience at the Allegheny County Airport Authority.

“This new software ensures that passengers can quickly and easily connect with our team, helping us reunite more people with their lost belongings.”

INNOVATION ON THE RAMP

Nuremberg Airport has come up with a high-tech solution to make the job of its baggage handlers safer and easier – robotic exoskeletons from German Bionic.

Following a successful test phase, the smart, AI-based exosuits are now in regular use, helping employees handle heavy passenger baggage.

Support is provided while lifting and lowering baggage, up to the full weight of the suitcases being moved. This ensures that the strain placed on the lower back of its baggage handling workforce is significantly reduced, improving the health and wellbeing of workers while simultaneously improving their effectiveness.

A typical flight at Nuremberg Airport carries up to 200 pieces of luggage, which on average weigh between 15kg-20kg, meaning that baggage handlers at the gateway can easily lift, carry and load up to a ton or more of luggage every day.

The AI-based power suits were developed specifically for repetitive lifting tasks that place heavy strain on the lower back.

They learn movement patterns, adapt to the wearer’s motions, and amplify these without interfering with the work environment.

Nuremberg Airport’s head of baggage delivery, Matthias Reubel, says: “Our acquisition of the exoskeletons is testimony to how great they are, not only for colleagues who are a little older and have been doing the job for a long time, but also for young employees who are just starting out in this profession.”

PORSCHE COMES TO SINGAPORE CHANGI

Porsche has opened a new lifestyle-led brand space in Singapore Changi’s Jewel that aims to give visitors an expansive and immersive multi-sensory experience.

Located close to the Arrivals Hall at Changi Airport’s Terminal 1 and adjacent to the entrance to Jewel’s iconic indoor forest and waterfall, the new attraction boasts four different zones – Café Carrera by Baker & Cook, the Culture Garage, the Porsche Lifestyle Boutique, and coming soon, a reception and welcome area for the upcoming Porsche Experience Centre Singapore.

The Culture Garage is described as a periodically changing space for showcasing extraordinary cars from throughout Porsche’s current and historic line-up.

INNOVATION ON THE AIRFIELD

In Germany, Munich Airport (MUC) has selected Assaia’s ApronAI solution to optimise turnaround operations and enhance ramp efficiency across 150 gates, with plans for further expansion.

Serving nearly 42 million passengers in 2024, Munich is Germany’s second-busiest airport and a critical European hub.

The rollout is part of MUC’s broader strategy to improve operational performance and sustainability by leveraging real-time data and automation.

Assaia’s ApronAI uses advanced video analytics, computer vision, and machine learning to continuously monitor aircraft turnaround processes, detect key milestones, and generate actionable alerts.

This, says MUC, enables its operations teams to proactively address issues that could impact on-time performance (OTP), resource efficiency, and passenger satisfaction.

MUC’s chief operating officer, Thomas Hoff Andersson, says: “For Munich Airport, it’s a critical step towards enhancing our operations using data and artificial intelligence.

“With this technology, we’re able to better understand what’s happening on the apron in real-time, allowing us to streamline processes and improve decision-making, ultimately delivering a better experience for our passengers.”

Elsewhere on the airfield, Teeside International Airport in the UK has signed a near £1 million deal with Aurrigo to develop an autonomous baggage and passenger moving system that will improve operational efficiencies, reduce the gateway’s carbon footprint and provide an improved passenger experience.

Starting in mid-October, Aurrigo’s eight-seat Auto-Shuttle will kick-off work to transport passengers directly from the aircraft steps to the terminal building. In early January 2026, Aurrigo will follow this by introducing the Auto-DollyTug – a fully driverless vehicle designed to move cargo and baggage around airports.

Initially, the groundbreaking technology will start landside at the new Connected Autonomous Mobility Test centre on the airport campus, where it will be put through a rigorous testing regime before moving airside early next year.

The work will include integrating into bulk-loaded operations, providing the ability for bulk baggage to be transported right to the aircraft hold loading team.

David Keene, CEO of Aurrigo International plc, enthuses: “There is no escaping the fact that the aviation world is accelerating its desire to reduce its environmental impact in line with net zero guidelines.

“Our driverless vehicles present a real-world ‘ready’ opportunity to not only take significant amount of carbon out of operations but also boost the speed and efficiency in which you can move passengers and bags airside in the process.”

Airport managing director, Phil Forster, notes: “To have this technology in place early next year will mean bags will travel from check-in to plane even more seamlessly, and in an even greener way.

“It will also help us shape how we move passengers around Teesside in the future – and will likely have an impact on the whole aviation industry. We were first in the UK to install new security scanners to allow passengers to keep liquids and electronics in bags, and now we’re leading the world in driverless cargo and bag systems with the expertise of Aurrigo.”

BIG PICTURE THINKING

Vantage Group has launched Vantage Futures, a corporate venture initiative, to transform the future of aviation and transportation infrastructure.

According to Vantage Group, the new subsidiary seeks to invest in and partner with early-stage, seed, through Series B companies driving groundbreaking solutions in three key focus areas:

– Sustainability: Innovative technologies and business models that drive carbon neutrality, forging a greener and more sustainable future for aviation and transportation.

– Connected Infrastructure: Groundbreaking technologies that streamline operations, enhance safety and security, and pioneer a future-ready ecosystem in the transportation sector.

– Future of Mobility: Innovative ventures and technologies that are shaping the future of transportation and mobility, revolutionising how people and goods move around the world.

Matthew Handford, executive managing director of Vantage Futures, explains: “With Vantage Futures, we are expanding on Vantage Group’s decades-long mission to create ideas that go places and transform transportation.

“We’ve seen incredible opportunities in our three verticals and look forward to partnering with bold thinkers to help fund groundbreaking solutions with the potential to accelerate sustainability, efficiency, and mobility in transportation infrastructure.”

Vantage is confident that its global reach, combined with deep industry connections and expertise, offers a compelling launch pad for early-stage companies.

Between them its current network of airports and transportation hubs across North America, the Caribbean and Europe served more than 80 million passengers in 2024.

As part of the launch, Vantage Futures has made its first investment in Opfyx, an AI-enabled software suite for airport, airline, and ground handler communications and operations.

Vantage participated in a funding round led by New York-based Zero Infinity Partners (ZIP) to support Opfyx’s development of an integrated digital communications platform.

The platform will be piloted at John f Kennedy International Airport’s Terminal 7, with opportunities for expanded use at the new Terminal 6, under development now by Vantage-led JFK Millennium Partners.

Ben Sehovic, founder and CEO of Opfyx and former chief transformation officer at British Airways, says: “We are thrilled to partner with ZIP and Vantage Futures on our mission to transform aviation operations.

“The aviation industry has long relied on outdated, unreliable and siloed operational software tools. At Opfyx, our team leverages deep expertise in both aviation and technology to deliver and embed solutions that streamline operations from long-term planning to real-time execution.”

Ambitious Vantage Futures will also look to partner with venture capital firms, syndicates, and corporate venture capital funds to amplify its efforts.