How AI will transform future airports: Everything you need to know

Can airports operate more efficiently? The answer is yes, thanks to technologies designed to streamline terminal operations. The role of artificial intelligence is crucial to the arising issue of air travel continues to increase rapidly. For instance, self-driving robots that transport passengers and luggage around airport terminals can redefine the future of travel, allowing any passenger to board via an autonomous shuttle. These robots are already used in several European and Italian airports and are currently being trialled in the United Kingdom and United States, according to the Italian startup, ALBA Robot.

How AI tracks passengers and vehicles to optimize airport flow

A French firm, Outsight, has successfully developed software that monitors and predicts how passengers move from entrance to gate to help airports become more efficient. The AI and digital twins aim to simulate the real airport environment. For instance, the system tracks how many passengers use check-in counters and luggage services and how many go directly to security after checking in online. A digital twin is a highly detailed simulation model that keeps individual data anonymous.

However, experts have issued warnings that the technology is not perfect, as simulations may be inaccurate and privacy concerns may persist even when data is anonymised.

Nonetheless, roughly half of airport CO2 emissions occur when aircraft are still on the ground. To mitigate this, AI systems can alert pilots after landing to switch to a single engine while taxing, significantly reducing the fuel consumption. Such alerts also remind crews to shut down the Auxiliary Power Unit if it has been left running unnecessarily.