This week's insights: Tourism boosts, AI in airports, and sustainable innovations reshape the aviation industry.

Welcome to this week's edition of the International Airport Review newsletter. This week highlights key trends shaping the aviation industry. Sports and music tourism are driving significant economic growth for airports, with sports fans leading in travel spending. Baggage handling, however, faces challenges with outdated systems and rising mishandling rates, urging a push for technological innovation. Sustainability is a priority, as seen in Narita Airport's carbon-neutral initiatives. AI and machine learning are transforming airport operations, enhancing efficiency and security. Non-aeronautical revenue, as discussed by Milan Bergamo Airport, is crucial for growth, while iGA Istanbul and Schiphol Airports focus on future innovations and industry collaboration. Newcastle Airport’s post-pandemic recovery showcases the power of strategic airline partnerships and customer service advancements.

???Latest articles: Dive into our Editor’s picks

?? New report shows economic growth for airports due to sports and music tourism

Sports and music tourism has seen huge growth with high projections for the future, with sports fans spending the most on travel, according to latest report by Collinson International that benefit the airport economy.

Sports and music tourism has seen huge growth, with sports tourism being valued at $564.7b in 2023, with the value projected to double by 2032 to $1.33t. Music tourism is also on an upward trend with forecasts of $13.8b by 2032.

Sports fans compared to music fans, however, are clearly the biggest spenders globally when it comes to travel, according to the latest research from Collinson International, who are the owners and operator of Priority Pass and LoungeKey. In its report ‘The Value of Sports and Music Tourism’, 57% of Asia Pacific’s (APAC) sports travellers are spending more than $500 per trips, per person.

?? Baggage trends shaping the aviation industry

In air travel, efficient baggage handling stands as a linchpin for ensuring seamless journeys and satisfied passengers. According to SITA’s Baggage IT insights 2023 report, after more than a decade of reduction in mishandled bags, the global mishandling rate surged to 7.6 bags per thousand passengers in 2022 which is 74.7% more than 2021. This has led to bad press with global headlines and passenger stories being highlighted in the tabloid newspapers.

Baggage handling is still done largely in the same way as it was decades ago and has not modernised at the same pace as other industries, like manufacturing for example. The baggage sector is ripe for change, investment and technological innovation. The evolution is primarily propelled by technological advancements, shifting consumer expectations, and an unwavering commitment to heightened security measures. In this article, we examine the baggage trends shaping the aviation industry.

?? Unifying under the shared goal of Narita 2050: A sustainability story

International Airport Review caught up with Narita International Airport Corporation’s Chief of Sustainability, Takeshi Ishiguro. In this exclusive Q&A, we hear from Ishiguro about the small but powerful changes the company is making to manage emissions.

Tell us about yourself and your role at the airport.

My name is Takeshi Ishiguro and I am a member of the sustainability department at Narita International Airport Corporation (NAA).

Since joining the company, I have been engaged in a project to replace aviation lights with everyday lights, which are necessary for the safe take-off and landing of aircraft. I also supervise the construction of aviation light renewal work, new taxiway and apron maintenance work and develop renewal paths for existing facilities. Since being assigned to the airport sustainability department in December 2022, I have been working mainly on carbon neutralisation project for airport vehicles.

?? The power of AI and?machine learning for?airport operations

Mahmood AlSeddiqi, former Vice President of IT for Bahrain Airport Company, writes exclusively for International Airport Review on the different scenarios in which airports can leverage the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning and the fundamentals that all airports must have, to accept the new changes.

The dynamic world we are living in, and especially in an airport environment, requires seamless co-ordination of numerous operations to ensure efficiency, security and passenger satisfaction. In this era of technological advancement, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) stand as transformative tools offering a surplus of applications to enhance airport operations.

From optimising resource allocation to strengthening security measures and enhancing passenger experiences, AI and ML solutions are revolutionising the way airports operate, and it is time for airports to take this evolution seriously.

?? VIDEO: Milan Bergamo Airport’s Giacomo Cattaneo on non-aeronautical revenue

International Airport Review’s Editorial Assistant Chunekshi Wimalasuriya attended this year’s Routes Europe summit, held in Aarhus, Denmark. Here, she caught up with Giacomo Catteneo, the Director of Commercial Aviation at Milan Bergamo Airport, discussing the importance of non-aeronautical revenue, working with shareholders and factoring in auxiliaries.

?? VIDEO: iGA Istanbul’s Ismail Polat on innovations of the future

International Airport Review’s Editorial Assistant Emily Budgen attended this year’s ACI Europe’s Annual Congress, held in Istanbul. Here, she spoke to iGA Istanbul Airport’s Chief Planning Officer Ismail Polat about future innovations in the aviation market and plans for the airport.

?? VIDEO: Schiphol’s Gertjan Bluemink on collaboration in the industry

Gertjan Bluemink, the Business Development Director of Passenger Experience at Schiphol, spoke to International Airport Review’s Editorial Assistant Chunekshi Wimalasuriya at this year’s Passenger Terminal Expo, discussing the need for collaboration in the industry and dealing with summer holiday season.

?? PODCAST: Unlocking airport growth: Inside Newcastle’s aviation strategy

Listen to this exclusive podcast which was recorded at Routes Europe 2024. Join us in this episode recorded at Routes Europe in Aarhus, Denmark, where International Airport Review Editorial Assistant Chunekshi Wimalasuriya, sat down with Leon McQuaid, Director of Aviation Development at Newcastle Airport. Leon shares invaluable insights into the strategies that have propelled Newcastle Airport to the forefront of aviation development in the UK. We explore the airport’s impressive recovery post-pandemic, driven by strong airline partnerships and innovative customer service initiatives.

?? Curb to Gate: Smart Airports eReport 2024

As we step towards 2025, the aviation industry continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, driven by technological advancements that are transforming every aspect of the airport experience. This year’s edition of the Curb to Gate Smart Airports eReport provides a comprehensive overview of the innovations shaping the future of airports and offers a detailed analysis of how these technologies are being integrated to enhance operational efficiency, security, and passenger satisfaction.

In this report, you’ll read exclusive articles from:

Avinor, Tallinn Airport, JFK International Air Terminal LLC (JFKIAT), SEA Milan Airports, Oman Airports & El Dorado International Airport