How far can we push the boundaries of airport efficiency?
Sarah F Procter
Transforming Airports by utilizing data and technology for a better, more efficient, and friction-free passenger journey.
Author: Sarah F. Procter: Transforming Airports by utilizing data and technology for a better, more efficient, and friction-free passenger journey.
Have you ever watched one of those time-lapse videos of a large crowd of people in a public square, a music venue or maybe an airport? At first, it looks completely random how people move and where they go, but after a while, a pattern emerges.
Actually, there is no—or at least there shouldn’t be—randomness to the flow of people in large venues, especially at airports. Most airports work tirelessly to ensure efficiency and avoid queues. Not only, because all aspects of the airport are connected, meaning if people are standing in line in one area, it will result in delays in another.
As someone who's passionate about transforming airport efficiency, I’ve seen firsthand how critical it is for airports to utilize their data effectively, and this was something that Manchester Airport Group (MAG) wanted to excel at. On the quest to become a world leader in airport facilities and travel services, MAG reached out to us at Copenhagen Optimization to help deliver Connected Operations throughout the airports.
How do you enable airport operators to think holistically?
At Copenhagen Optimization, we have coined the term ‘Connected Operations’ to describe an operational environment where the airport views its operations holistically and applies solutions to empower all employees and stakeholders to make the right decisions. Manchester Airport Group (MAG), has been experiencing increased passenger numbers and felt the increasing demand for efficiency and the need to move from short-term thinking to long-term planning.
We partnered with MAG to support them on the transformation journey. They knew they needed to move their mindset from reactive, short-term fixes to a more connected, proactive approach that embraces long-term planning.
Becoming the most Intelligent Airport
This shift empowers MAG to make informed decisions in real time, optimizing infrastructure utilization and enhancing the overall passenger experience. I’ve been proud to see how our collaboration has started to transform their airport operations.
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The key to Connected Operations at MAG’s airports is integrating MAG’s existing airport systems with our Better Airport software . Together, MAG’s existing tech stack and our Better Airport software now make up MAG’s Airport Intelligence Platform. The platform gathers data from disparate sources throughout the airport and feeds it to the relevant subsystems, transforming it into predictive and prescriptive analytics.
So, to answer the question, ‘How do you enable airport operators to think holistically?
The key step is to ensure all stakeholders have access to real-time data, allowing them to:
1.???? produce accurate forecasts
2.???? react to changes and
3.???? always optimize operations
Seeing the results - measuring the benefits.
Looking at the results, I’m in awe of how far we’ve come. MAG now manages its operations by focusing on two critical flows: passenger flow and aircraft flow, and it’s fantastic to see how much more efficient the whole operation has become. The shift has empowered their teams to optimize critical processes—from check-in and security to baggage handling and gate management—leading to significant improvements in operational efficiency.
But efficiency is just one part of the equation. What’s truly exciting is how our improvements enhance the overall passenger journey, making it smoother and more friction-free. Our work with MAG is ongoing as we add new modules and capabilities to the Airport Intelligence Platform. These will further integrate complex processes, ensuring that every aspect of airport management is optimized in real time. Let the journey begin!
As I look to the future, I can’t help but wonder—how far can we push the boundaries of airport efficiency and passenger satisfaction? I believe that with collaboration and continuous innovation, we’re just scratching the surface. What are your thoughts? How do you think we can further enhance the airport experience through better data utilization? I’d love to hear your ideas!
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Great article, Sarah! Like most of your connections, I agree that a holistic mindset is key. To even further enhance the airport experience, there are many software tools that play a crucial role in streamlining operations - i.e. an AODB (Airport Operational Database) -?the hub of all airport operations that connects all IT systems throughout an airport. Oh and the article image you used is AMAZING!
Total Airport Management (TAM) evangelist; A-CDM, Airport Operations and ATM Expert; supporting multimodality and ATI sustainability goals
1 个月I do apprechiate the work done in the ATI for improving airport operations and as a consequence improving whole ATI, but let us not mess up wordings for the sake of marketing. Introducing new wording will only confuse and/or distract those who are searching for a solution for the real issues to be solved. Basically it is still ‘collaboration’ we are talking about when trying to get everyone involved and affected when managing operations. But the term collaboration had been misused too often and is somehow missleading - this is known since we started to review the operational concepts in airport operations in the early 2000s. There is a concept on the table, invented in 2005 already and continuously developed further and this concept is TAM - Total Airport Management! The above is TAM, nothing invented new! (my personal opinion!)
Here to help airports and policymakers strike the right balance between environmental planning and the local community.
1 个月Sarah F very nice article on airport operations. Forecasts should be accurate but I do know that isn’t the case when the schedule is actually flown. And this difference is also important to manage.
KAM TrueCommerce Europe - +45 6160 0929 [ EDI | Business integration | ERP integration | Partner Activation | Workflow Automation | Business optimization Strategy ]
1 个月Interesting article from an interesting company, especially for my colleagues in Manchester.. and all of us traveling there soon...
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1 个月C u at FTE?