Author | Jaime Ramos

Airports have gradually gone on to form small communities uniting cities and the world through air travel. Within their anticipated evolution, they are expected to play an even more crucial role in the development of smart cities.

The aviation industry, in general, is currently experiencing a technological dynamism, with drones and eVTOL, launching a solid stance on Urban Air Mobility and which is hoped to give a boost to new types of infrastructures.

Smart airports and their internal mechanisms

Airports, in turn, are seeking to maintain their old relationships with cities and advance towards the concept of smart airports. To achieve this, many are focusing their efforts beyond their original operations or, even, sustainability. This is why the concept of airports as small cities with their own economic and community flows, is becoming more common.

This affects passengers in the form of new infrastructures and technologies that enable them to work, meet up, sleep, eat or enjoy leisure activities within the airport’s “reduced” perimeter of influence. This concept currently constitutes a very promising business area with a projected annual growth rate of 10.5%.

Airports actually fulfill countless urban functions including transit, parking, health services, logistics and supply chain, as well as operational, commercial and security functions.

Airports should not only be functional but also efficient and intuitive, minimizing the time spent on each process and ideally eliminating the need for procedures like manual passenger control. The digital transformation of airports enhances process automation, leading to greater efficiency and accuracy while minimizing the risk of errors. This is made possible by technological advancements, particularly in the fields of IoT, artificial intelligence, and robots.

These are some of the key applications of digital transformation in smart airports:

Optimized operations

The application of AI has significantly reduced the time passengers need to arrive at the airport before their flights. This has resulted in time savings and a reduction in queues at boarding gates. Hamad International Airport in Doha features a self-check-in kiosk system and a self-bag-drop system equipped with biometric technology. This integration has significantly reduced passenger waiting times. It is estimated that travelers can complete the luggage check-in process in as little as 50 seconds.

The user experience at Dubai International Airport has also improved with the introduction of Dubai Pay Blockchain. This system allows passengers to make payments and complete transactions without the need for cash or cards, reducing the time spent on payments and transactions while enhancing convenience and overall user satisfaction.

The deployment of robots for tasks such as cleaning, security, and customer service is another prime example of the digital transformation shaping smart airports. Munich Airport has piloted the use of robots to transport luggage in cargo terminals.

Increased security

Biometric technology has unlocked new possibilities for optimizing passenger control. A prime example of this is the use of automatic biometric boarding gates and automated border controls with electronic gates.

Dubai Airport features a Smart Tunnel that facilitates passenger control in just 15 seconds, completely eliminating the need for human intervention. Shenzhen Airport in China utilizes a smart flight information visualization system that recognizes passengers’ faces.

Sustainable airports

Sustainability is another critical area that has improved in smart airports. Sensors and devices connected to an integrated platform have significantly enhanced energy efficiency and sustainability in smart airports. Airport infrastructures are becoming more sustainable by incorporating features such as solar panels, LED lighting, and optimized water systems, all of which are digitally controlled. Furthermore, by measuring temperature, air quality, and ventilation in real time, airports can achieve more optimized temperature control.

Changi Airport in Singapore is installing a  photovoltaic solar system on the rooftops of its buildings, aiming to reduce carbon emissions by approximately 20,000 tons per year.

Advanced communication systems

These systems also facilitate communication between passengers, airport staff, and airline personnel. Mobile applications provide passengers with real-time notifications on flight status, boarding gates, delays, and other critical updates, improving the customer experience. Connected Device Management (CDM) systems enhance coordination between airlines, air traffic control, and ground services, leading to more efficient flight operations and fewer delays.

This is how it is affecting travelers

From a traveler’s perspective, some of these innovations are more visible and particularly affect the transit experience. However, the most significant change that is being introduced is related to facial recognition systems. It is hoped that they will reduce waiting times for passing security checks.

In the United States, there are 25 airports using this technology. However, aviation authorities have introduced them with a degree of flexibility, given the increasing security and privacy dilemma. This is why, at the moment, the system will be optional for passengers. It is a global debate that is also present in China, the country that remains ahead of the world in the implementation of this technology.

Apart from security, technology is also serving other purposes, such as commercial uses. In London Gatwick airport, for example, they have introduced an electronic wallet based on blockchain technology to access discounts and promotions.

Implications of new airports in cities

In a wider urban context, the implications of the technological revolution in smart airports for cities are complex. There are regions of the world in which some of these trends are being applied, which place airports at the center of urban activities. It is what is known as an aerotropolis.

This concept, from a practical perspective, is being implemented in certain areas of India. In these cities, airports are becoming a powerful resource for channeling economic growth and demographic explosion. Over the next two decades, the number of airports is expected to increase from 133 to 500. The plan is related to the projection of satellite towns around mega-cities that have their own airports.

What is clear is that the specific importance of airports in terms of economic, social and sustainability aspects within the urban geography, is set to increase. Many cities will find themselves with the challenge of rethinking the role of their infrastructures, as illustrated in this study, which explores the situation with London airports as places in which to boost ecological and social justice.

Images | Freepik/lifestylememory, Freepik/freepik, Nichika Sakurai, Ashim D’Silva