Airports adopt artificial intelligence for managing increasing global air travel demand

Airports Worldwide Invest in AI Technology to Enhance Efficiency and Passenger Experience

Global air passenger traffic is projected to reach 10.2 billion by 2026, a 3.9 percent year-over-year increase. To address the growing demand, airports are investing heavily in infrastructure upgrades and adopting artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to improve operational efficiency.

According to data from Airport Council International, AI is being integrated into airport workflows to optimize passenger flow management, airside maintenance, cybersecurity, lost luggage tracking, and customer experience enhancements. The use of AI-powered analytics is also helping airports anticipate congestion at security, immigration, and boarding points, reducing the likelihood of delays.

Airports are allocating resources to shift from reactive crowd management to predictive operations, utilizing AI-powered baggage optimization tools and biometric processing to streamline passenger experiences. These advancements include automated check-ins and boardings, improved baggage handling and tracking, and enhanced predictive maintenance capabilities.

Industry experts, including Amad Malik, chief AI officer at Airport AI Exchange, note that the adoption of AI in aviation has accelerated significantly over the past few years. However, some argue that the industry’s reliance on legacy systems and safety-critical nature have limited its ability to adopt new technologies quickly.

Malik stated that while AI has made significant progress, “aviation’s use of AI is still negligible” compared to other industries. He attributed this gap to the sector’s cautious operating model and the need to prioritize safety and regulation over speed of innovation.

Source: Al Jazeera