From bricks to bytes: AI-based airport digital transformation in practice

Air travel is one of the most developed and advanced forms of transport, the success of which is reflected in a high level of innovation and the safety and comfort of passengers. In the context of long-term growth in air travel, constant cost and capacity pressures at airports and rapid advancements in innovative technologies, numerous opportunities arise. The greatest risk for any airport would be to neglect digital transformation. Technological improvements based on innovative, sustainably oriented technologies have significant potential. This paper discusses how to address current challenges at airports using evolving technologies and artificial intelligence (AI). It examines the dynamics of ground handling operations and highlights the transformative impact of technology and innovation. Unlike landside operations, many airside processes at most airports remain manual and inefficient. The paper introduces an advanced solution for monitoring aircraft ground handling, enabling proactive management of flight delays and resource shortages due to changes in flight schedules. This tool offers insights into potential efficiency gains by using a system of cameras and AI for the automatic recognition of the start and end of aircraft turnaround processes, without human intervention in the process itself.