Airports across Europe are facing a capacity crunch, with increasing numbers of passengers wanting to fly but airports only able to accommodate so many of them.
But what if instead of building new runways — an often unpopular proposal — they used AI to make their operations more efficient?
It’s a solution a number of startups and airport operators think could solve an increasingly pressing problem. Air passenger traffic is already at 95% of pre-pandemic levels, and will keep growing.
“Operational efficiency is where AI excels,” says Kerem Öztürk, the CEO of TAV Technologies and CIO of TAV Airports, an Istanbul-based airport operations group which is part of Groupe ADP, the largest airport operations platform in the world. “Predictive maintenance allows AI to anticipate the needs of airport infrastructure and equipment, preventing delays caused by unexpected breakdowns.”
Algorithms can figure out how more flights can fit into a day, while computer vision can perform faster and more accurate safety checks. Automated biometric checks could replace passport and boarding pass scanning, letting passengers move through terminals more quickly.
AI could also produce massive cost savings in parts of the airport passengers don’t see. The US Federal Aviation Administration estimates that an airport could save $15.4m within three years by automating checks for foreign object debris on the runway, for example.
“[Over] the past 50 years, airports invested in runways — asphalt and concrete — and more gates in terminals. But that’s come to its limit,” says Alphan Karadeniz, the cofounder and CEO of Turkish AI-for-aviation startup ArgosAI. “Using the current runways and gates with more efficiency is of great importance right now.”
So what startups are working on AI for aviation – and what do partnerships with airports look like?
Meet the startups bringing AI to airports
According to Dealroom, there are just 231 startups worldwide working on AI solutions specifically for the aviation industry — but even with this modest number, airports are seeing the benefits of AI.
For example, Groupe ADP has teamed up with French voice recognition startup AlloBrain, to reduce the number of unanswered customer service calls from 50% to 10%.
If we can shave off a few minutes a [flight] at a busy airport, it means we can open up 1-2 more slots in the peak hour.
ArgosAI’s solutions are used by London Gatwick, Istanbul and Rome airports. The startup was founded in 2015 and automates visual checks that take place at airports, like making sure runways are clear and providing 24/7 surveillance.
Karadeniz, an engineer, got the idea while working at an aircraft manufacturer, and one day witnessing a line of 10 people walking abreast down a 4km runway. “It turned out they were doing a foreign object debris inspection by the naked eye — I asked myself, why isn’t there technology for that?” he says.
Karadeniz says ArgosAI’s solutions can help airports increase gate capacity by up to 10% by automating visual inspections on the runway and pre-arrival checks.
Another startup is Swiss Assaia, which uses computer vision to monitor processes at the airport “apron” — the area where planes load and unload passengers, staff, baggage and catering — flagging any delays.
“Airlines don’t know the catering truck hasn’t shown up until the cabin crew realises it’s already 15 minutes late,” says Assaia’s CEO Christiaan Hen. Airports often allow a 15-20 minute buffer for such mishaps, but AI could slim this down. “If we can shave off a few minutes a [flight] at a busy airport, it means we can open up 1-2 more slots in the peak hour.”
The company says Toronto airport has been able to reduce taxi-in time — the period between the plane’s wheels landing on the ground and reaching the gate — by 44% using its TurnaroundControl tool, resulting in annual savings of $47m and a 120m kilogram reduction in CO2 emissions.
Startups and airports working together on AI
Airport operators are keen to get on board with the AI revolution — but they can be tricky customers for startups. They are duty-bound by strict security, safety and (increasingly) environmental regulations, meaning sales cycles can be long. For startups, the reward is that once they are on board, they tend to be willing partners that stick around for the long term.
Once we have a deal with an airport, we usually do meetings at least twice or three times per week, for years.
Karadeniz says it takes between six months and a year to get a sale over the line, and that products are often co-developed with airport customers.
“They are like product managers for us,” he says. “They come up with the best and most refined features that create benefits for them. Once we have a deal with an airport, we usually do meetings at least twice or three times per week, for years.”
TAV Technologies, a subsidiary of TAV Airports, operates 15 airports in 8 countries and has partnered with startups to improve operations and the passenger experience. The company has developed several AI-powered tools with startups such as its Passenger Flow Management system, which tracks how passengers are moving through the airport (and where bottlenecks are occurring), and its Apron Eye solution, which provides real-time apron monitoring and was developed in collaboration with Turkish startup Rem Vision Lab.
“We’ve implemented numerous international R&D projects in partnership with startups,” says Öztürk. “[They] enable us to enhance our projects and products mutually, driving them to new heights. Through regular weekly meetings, we ensure seamless coordination and continuous progress.”
Hen adds that airports aren’t just motivated by ways to make or save money when working with startups, but they also want to minimise operational risks.
“The interest is definitely there, and a lot of airports have innovation budgets to kickstart these initiatives,” he says.
International airport operators Groupe ADP, TAV Airports, and Airport International Group (AIG) are hosting Airport Innovation Days for startups to pitch for prize money, meet investors and get the chance to work with major aviation groups. Apply here.
