5 Solutions to Improve Airport Efficiency

In order for airports to thrive, their internal operations need more than just temporary fixes: They need scalable digital transformation. Behind the scenes, a lot of airport infrastructure technologies are outdated, which can mean that they are inefficient and costly. 

Airport operations can seem complex, but here at AeroCloud, we’re here to make it simple. In this blog, we’ll explain how some of our airport operating systems can completely transform airport efficiency and help airports eliminate operational downtime. 

Ready to create a seamless airport experience for passengers? Let’s get into it… 

Why should you upgrade your airport operating systems? 

Modern airports are no longer physical gateways. Instead, their biggest headache can be their massive, living data ecosystems. When you rely on old, outdated technology, it can lead to frustrations and inconsistencies across the whole airport. Upgrading to cloud-native airport operating systems isn’t just about keeping up with technology, but it can completely transform the way in which your airport is run. 

Here’s why your airport could benefit from modern airport management solutions:

• Improved airport operational efficiency across airside and landside teams 
• The ability to handle sudden spikes in passenger volumes with ease 
• Minimized costly flight delays and tighter aircraft turnaround times 
• Seamless passenger experiences from curb to gate 
• Access to real-time data that is a source of truth 
• & plenty more 

5 solutions from AeroCloud that can improve your airport efficiency 

With that being said, let’s take a look at 5 of the core AeroCloud solutions that have been designed with efficiency in mind. We’re redefining airport management with our modular, cloud-native systems powered by predictive AI and machine learning. 

We’ve got 3 core solutions: 

• Airport operation systems 
• Passenger processing systems 
• Passenger flow monitoring 

Let’s have a look at some of our products in a bit more detail. 

• Cloud native passenger processing (CUPPS) 

Our cloud-native CUPPS solutions shift all the computing power used in airports from heavy on-site hardware to the cloud. It means that any airline, ground handler, or airport agent can log into a specific system from any device, at any desk, or at any gate, via a secure, virtual web browser environment. So, instead of allocating permanent dedicated check-in desks or gates that only work for specific airlines, CUPPS creates a dynamic, shared environment that improves efficiency by letting any airline use any desk. If a line forms, a desk can simply be opened up, and passengers can check in with ease. 

Learn more aboutthe benefits of CUPPS for airports right here.

Computer vision and real-time passenger flow 

Looking for an ultimate tool for spatial awareness in a modern airport? Then make sure you rely on computer vision (CV) and real-time passenger flow management. Instead of relying on manual costs or delayed data, our solutions use AI to analyze live video feeds from your airport’s existing CCTV cameras, turning visual video frames into anonymous, numerical data regarding how many people move from the curb to the boarding gate. 

In particular, AeroCloud Optic is an award-winning passenger flow monitoring system that is fully GDPR-compliant and can track anonymous dots or moving vectors across a digital layout of the terminal. It can measure speed, crowd density, and dwell times, and improves efficiency by eliminating queue bottlenecks and optimizing staff allocation. 

• AI-driven gate and asset allocation 

Asset allocations decide exactly where multi-million dollar physical assets, like aircraft, boarding gates, ground crews, and more, need to be at any given second. AI-driven resource management systems can continuously recalculate variables in real-time to prevent gridlock. Traditionally, airports assigned gates in advance using static spreadsheets and fixed buffer times. However, when a morning storm delays ten incoming flights, that static schedule can collapse into chaos. 

Our airport gate management systems make it easier for you to manage gates fast. And, they can be used from anywhere on any device. You can easily set gate restrictions, plan for future maintenance outages, and schedule gate closures all in an instant. This will ensure smoother operations and means that your airport can run more efficiently. 

• Self-service automation 

While AI asset managers handle the planes outside, self-service automation directly hands operational control over to the passengers themselves. Historically, every checkpoint required a human interaction, whether that’s to print a boarding pass or to scan a bag. Self-service automation replaces these manual checkpoints with a continuous hardware and software-driven ecosystem. 

Make sure you take a look at our self-service check-in kiosks. They’re just one solution for better efficiency, as they can reduce queue times, improve passenger flow, and create a smoother experience across your whole terminal. Passengers now have the freedom to check in independently using a kiosk or mobile device. 

• Centralized data orchestration 

And finally, another way to improve airport efficiency is through centralized data orchestration. Here at AeroCloud, we specifically aim to break the stranglehold of legacy, siloed airport hardware vendors. Therefore, centralized data orchestration is the literal blueprint of all of our core product offerings. For example, our AOS solution acts as the central brain of airports, ingesting data and creating a single, live dashboard. 

By gathering data from airside and landside, we eliminate those communication gaps that can typically occur in airports, and reclaim any ‘wasted’ staff time. In fact, our solutions have been proven to save airports up to 45 days (that’s over 360 hours) of manual staff time annually, allowing staff to focus more on active passenger management. 

What are some common challenges that get in the way of airport efficiency? 

There’s no denying that digital transformation in airports has a lot of potential. However, when it comes to actually implementing changes, it might not be as straightforward as it seems. Some of the most frequent challenges that airports face include: 

• Fragmented data – Most airports still operate with disconnected systems across airlines, baggage handling, passenger services, and operations. Data might therefore be hard to translate from one system to another. However, when data flows smoothly across systems, like how it can with our operating systems, airports can forecast demand spikes, adjust staff in real time, and reroute passengers before congestion happens. 
• Constrained budgets – Lots of airports, especially ones in smaller cities or regional hubs, simply might not have the resources available to roll out large-scale tech programs. When budgets are stretched to the maximum, even highly proven solutions can get postponed in favor of urgent maintenance that simply can’t wait. However, airports can start with low-cost initiatives that can result in downtime reductions. 
• Complex stakeholder coordination – Airports are complicated systems, and any sort of change requires alignment across airlines, airport staff, handlers, and regulators. However, having shared data platforms from AeroCloud can align actions in real time, accelerating operations, reducing miscommunication, and allowing faster recovery times from disruptions. When delays occur, the ripple effect is evident. Avoid that with the help of our Common Use eDesktop. 

Improve airports with the help of AeroCloud 

And there you have it… 5 ways to improve airport efficiency. If you’re looking for better airport operational efficiency, there’s no time like the present to invest in digital solutions that can completely transform airport management. 

Here at AeroCloud, we can make that vision a reality. Discover why you should choose AeroCloud and what it means to upgrade your airport operations, making each journey run smoothly. 

Ready to take control of your airport? Get in touch with our team for more information or to book your demo today.