How new technology is helping airports operate more efficiently

Airports around the world are reevaluating the traveler experience, especially considering an anticipated record-high 4.96 billion travelers expected in 2024.[i] With the global passenger demand increasing, some airports find themselves understaffed and hard-pressed to fill vacancies.

Globally, the aviation industry shed a total of 2.3 million jobs[ii] during the pandemic, with security and ground handling experiencing the most losses. There are also 1,200 fewer air traffic controllers[iii] today than a decade ago.

The airline industry is also focused on reducing CO2 emissions. For instance, the amount of time a plane spends idling on the tarmac can increase the carbon footprint of that flight. If airports can eliminate inefficiencies, fewer planes will needlessly burn fuel as they sit on the tarmac or wait in long lines to take off.

Innovation is key to helping airports operate more efficiently. Here are three ways that technology can help airports overcome their current obstacles.

1: Streamline aircraft docking

Airports can deliver a better passenger experience even with increasing air traffic by optimizing gate operations. Technology can help speed up turnaround operations, getting aircraft ready for departure faster.

With more planes on the runways, avoiding incidents on the runway operations is paramount to safe and efficient airport operations. In the United States alone, there were 23 serious runway incidents in fiscal year 2023, up from 16 the previous year[iv]. Systems like the Honeywell’s NAVITAS suite are designed to provide improved situational awareness to air traffic controllers, pilots and other personnel during take-off, taxiing and landing.

Traditionally, airports have a team of flag wavers and wing walkers to safely guide planes to their assigned gates or runways. Today, many airports are turning to technology to dock inbound aircraft more efficiently.

A solution like Honeywell’s NAVITAS Smart Visual Docking can help provide airports precise guidance for safer docking through improved situational awareness for the apron controllers. The NAVITAS system provides integration with advanced surface movement guidance systems and can scan for any obstacles an aircraft might encounter while it is docking and instantly raises alerts. It can also monitor an aircraft’s wingtips to avoid potential collisions.

Advanced safety algorithms such as continuous obstacle detection and adjacent stand validation can help further enhance safety during the docking process.

2: Reduce aircraft turnaround times

The ground support team swings into action as soon as an arriving airliner reaches the gate. There is not a minute to spare to get the aircraft ready for its next flight. Efficient turnaround operations are critical to increasing the number of flights per day and minimizing the amount of time that aircraft remain on the ground. The faster an airport’s turnaround operations, the better the travel experience is for passengers.

The turnaround process includes a number of complex and difficult tasks, including passenger disembarkation, baggage handling, aircraft cleaning, refueling, maintenance checks, restocking of food and beverage supplies, and more.

Each of these tasks, done well, can contribute to the overall efficiency of the turnaround process and technology is playing an increasingly important role in making it happen. In particular, the Honeywell Turnaround Manager (TMAN) – part of the Honeywell NAVITAS Suite – has capabilities to track all the above-mentioned activities and make sure they are being completed as efficiently as possible, thus helping to reduce turnaround time.

The TMAN solution can help reduce downtime [v] by increasing the speed and visibility of turnaround operations. It can provide advanced support maintenance functions to help engineering crews react faster to faults and deliver greater uptime and ground operational effectiveness. The solution relies on modern 3D technology and multiple-source data collection to clearly display operations messages to pilots and ground handlers during the turnaround process. This helps optimize resource allocation and helps keep every part of the turnaround process on track minimize flight delays.

3: Optimize auxiliary power

Airports are embracing the need to manage carbon emissions. One way they can do this is by optimizing the use of auxiliary power. When an aircraft is parked at the gate, it typically requires power to maintain onboard systems. Traditionally, this power comes from an auxiliary power unit which burns fuel and emits carbon. Many airports are now implementing ground power units and preconditioned air systems as lower-emission alternatives.

To monitor and quantify the on-ground environment, the Honeywell NAVITAS Suite uses microphones mounted at the gate to detect various sounds on the aircraft. By analyzing these sounds, airports can determine whether the auxiliary unit is powering the air conditioning or if the aircraft is connected to ground power and benefiting from preconditioned air. By tracking this power usage, airports can better calculate emissions and make more informed decisions that help support more sustainable practices.

Honeywell delivers what airports need

To function smoothly and cost effectively in the future, airports will need a strong operational backbone that prioritizes efficiency and flexibility to adapt to the daily requirements of travelers and employees. The Honeywell NAVITAS software suite supports airport operations and helps drive decreased operational expenses, all while promoting a higher level of safety, security and uptime, and an improved experience for travelers and employees.

Learn more by connecting with a Honeywell expert today. Safe & Efficient Airside Operations | Honeywell Building Technologies

[i] Iata, Airline Profitability Outlook Improves for 2024, June, 2024, [Accessed August 6, 2024]

[ii] Ideagen, Aviation staff shortages – shoring up quality and safety, [Accessed August 6, 2024]

[iii] Travelpulse, US Travel Association Predicts Summer Travel Boom and Plenty of Challenges, [Accessed August 6, 2024]

[iv] National Transportation Safety Board, Testimony of Chair National Transportation Safety Board, [Accessed August 6, 2024]

[v] Honeywell, Turnaround Efficiency Ready for Take Off, [Accessed August 6, 2024]