The new white paper by the Société Internationale de Télécommunications Aéronautiques (SITA) highlights how coordination between different departments and operations is necessary at airports in order to optimise performance and maximise productivity.
The Current Challenges Hindering Coordination
SITA has highlighted that nowadays there are three main issues that have a negative impact on performance and prevent it from being optimised. The first issue is the lack of coordination between the different departments at an airport, as it causes disruptions in departments to spread to others in the operation chain. The second challenge highlighted is that visibility into other departments does not mean coordination. Active collaboration between departments requires a shared outlook on operations with specific goals and preemptive insight, which leads to faster decision-making and optimisation of responses. Thirdly, the systems in place at airports that manage daily operations should not be replaced, but enhanced by operational data.
“Airports operate as interconnected systems. When operations are supported by predictive insights and optimisation, teams can see pressure building earlier and respond before disruption spreads. That shift strengthens punctuality, improves resource use and supports a better passenger experience,” says the Senior Vice President of Airports at SITA, Nathalie Altwegg.
The approach suggested by SITA, Total Airport Management, not only connects all departments within the airport ecosystem, but also transforms the airport experience for passengers, providing comfort and smooth transitions throughout their journey.
Proven Success of Improved Performance
In Abu Dhabi, where the practices that can improve performance have already been put into place, the airport is able to facilitate operational growth through the utilisation of connected data and systems across various teams and departments. This information is used to inform decision-making, which can enhance early resolutions and prevent congestion.
“This is about helping airports grow with control. Infrastructure investment remains essential. But infrastructure alone does not guarantee performance,” Altwegg says.
The amount of passengers is predicted to be doubled by the year 2045, according to the World Airport Traffic Forecasts 2025-2054 by ACI World. Optimising growth is becoming a priority for airports, in order to be able to accommodate for the increasing amount of customers in the near future.
How have congestion and delays affected your journeys in the past, and are you looking forward to potentially smoother travel? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below.
