How do you enhance operational efficiency at your airport?

Every day, the modern airport sees tens of thousands of passengers through to their final destination. With passenger numbers expected only to increase, finding ways to continuously improve airport operational efficiency is more important than ever.In this article, we’ll cover what it takes to improve the passenger experience and enhance operational efficiency in the modern airport

Airport operational efficiency starts with automation

The continuous increase in passenger numbers poses new challenges for airport operators and airlines. This is where automation comes in.

Automation streamlines passenger processing, reducing the time passengers spend at various checkpoints throughout the airport. Not only does this increase airport operational efficiency — it also increases passenger satisfaction by providing a smoother airport experience.

The many benefits of implementing more automation throughout the airport passenger experience include:

• Forecasting: By basing their forecasting of both passenger and baggage flows on automation, airports are able to predict when and where bottlenecks will develop. This enables them to plan and prioritize staff, infrastructure, and resource allocation more efficiently, helping to prevent unnecessary delays.
• Data insights: Automated systems can collect and analyze data more efficiently than manual processes. These data can provide valuable insights into passenger behavior, traffic patterns, and operational performance, enabling airports to make informed decisions to improve services and infrastructure.
• Improved accuracy: Compared to manual processes, automated systems are less prone to errors. This improves the accuracy in tasks such as baggage handling, security screening, and boarding procedures, decreasing the likelihood of mistakes or delays, as well as helping to enhance security measures.
• Staff and capacity optimization: Automation can help airports optimize their staff allocation and capacity utilization and better manage passenger flow — particularly during peak travel times. This ensures that airports can handle increasing passenger volumes without compromising efficiency or safety and security.
• Enhanced passenger experience: Automation offers faster and more convenient processes. This leads to a more positive overall travel experience, as passengers experience less stress and frustration on their journey. Automation can also provide passengers with greater control over their journey, reducing the likelihood of missed flights or connections.
• Adaptability and flexibility: Automated systems provide a greater level of flexibility and adaptability to changing circumstances — e.g., a sudden increase in passenger traffic or evolving security requirements. This increased agility allows airports to respond quickly and effectively to dynamic situations, ensuring continuity of operations.

You might also be interested in: What is a resource management system (RMS)?

Three ways to optimize airport efficiency through automation

1. Passenger processing

Automation is becoming increasingly prevalent at check-in, with passenger processing systems such as Better Check-in optimizing passenger processing, handling, and flow through automated counter allocation.

Passenger processing systems such as Better Check-in also support the implementation of common use self-service (CUSS) kiosks and automated baggage drop points in airports. Solutions such as these use advanced technologies to scan passports, print boarding passes, and tag luggage. This significantly streamlines the check-in process, helping to optimize airport efficiency.

Increased use of CUSS kiosks also enables airports to reduce unnecessary queuing and crowding in transit areas. This helps to ensure a faster, easier passenger journey and improve flexibility, planning, and airport operational efficiency.

You might also be interested in Modern strategies to streamline airport security checkpoints in 2024

2. Baggage handling

In baggage handling, automation enables airports to make data-driven short- and long-term decisions. By analyzing baggage load and passenger arrival curves, solutions such as Better Baggage make it possible for airports to optimize the flow of baggage handling and streamline the reclaim experience.

A baggage handling system such as Better Baggage ensures that all users are looking at and working with the same updated plan at all times. The plan automatically updates based on the latest arrival times, bag load, and passenger data.

When a belt does get congested, the system automatically alerts operators so that the issue can be resolved quickly. This increases airport efficiency and helps to reduce wait times, free up capacity, and improve passenger satisfaction.

You might also be interested in: 5 airport technology trends to watch 2024

3. Virtual queuing

Virtual queuing is a cutting-edge technology that creates a virtual line or waiting space for passengers.

The virtual queue can be managed in a variety of ways depending on the solution, including:

• Through an app
• By phone
• Via email
• Via the airline’s website
• Via SMS

Technology such as Better Virtual Queuing allows passengers to pre-book a slot — typically offered in 15-minute intervals — in the virtual queue. This allows airports to better manage passenger demand and improve airport operational efficiency.

With software such as Better Virtual Queuing, airport operations and passengers alike gain a variety of benefits, including improved passenger flow, increased passenger satisfaction, and reduced wait times. By providing data that can be used to optimize staffing and reduce bottlenecks, virtual queuing also enables airports and airlines to better manage their resources and improve operational efficiency.

Read more about virtual queuing in our article: Airport queue management: What is virtual queuing?

Optimize your airport operational efficiency with Copenhagen Optimization

Imagine an airport where core operations are not conducted in silos. An airport that benefits from automation, and where operations, analysis, and planning are connected. An airport where outcomes from individual processes are fed into subsequent processes to optimize both operational efficiency and the overall airport experience.

For the modern airport to reach its full potential of operational efficiency, its operations must be connected. This is why Copenhagen Optimization has developed Better Airport®: a cloud-based airport management SaaS platform that gives all airports, regardless of size, a simpler way to run core operations.

Better Airport utilizes all the data points that your airport has access to, enabling your airport to get the most value out of the available data. This allows you to better manage your operations — from forecasting and planning to day-of-operation and real-time adjustments — and enhance the value of your AODB.

As a common operating platform, the system enables everyone you collaborate with, both internally and externally, to easily access and use all functionality. This ensures cohesive, efficient airport operations, as well as a shared understanding of operational goals and challenges across all areas of your airport operations.

Featuring nine core modules for airport optimization — including Better Virtual Queuing, Better Check-in, and Better Baggage — Better Airport allows you to mix and match modules to create a solution perfectly suited to the specific needs of your airport. Every module can be connected, making it easy to forecast, understand, and plan passenger and baggage flows throughout the airport. We call this way of working Connected Operations — and we believe it’s the future of airport technology.

Also check out some of our case studies and read about how we have improved the operational efficiency in more than 50 airports globally.