Airport Technology News

Dealing with increased volumes of passengers, ever more advanced security threats and environmental challenges is driving innovation in the aviation technology sector. The demands of modern travel habits and budget airlines mean that airports in particular are having to adopt and trial new technologies to keep pace with the fast-changing industry.

Passengers around the world are familiar with airport technologies including x-ray machines and boarding-card scanners. However, in recent years, airports have adopted full body scanners, facial recognition and automated custom controls; all designed to improve passenger flow through the airport and improve on security. Whilst these technologies are yet to become ubiquitous within the industry, there has been a broad acceptance by airports and passengers alike as bottlenecks and pain points are addressed, costs are reduced, and passenger experiences are improved.

This page covers the technologies being trialled by major international airports around the world, from new security checks and protocols to environmental initiatives and logistics. For more of the latest airport news from around the globe, take a look at our Airport News page.

Wizz Air selects L3Harris Technologies for multi-year pilot training agreement

The training services will support the airline’s Airbus A320 and A320neo-family fleet

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Getting to the Green Coast

Brazil’s Costa Verde is a popular holiday hotspot, thanks to its beautiful beaches and landscape. However, two of its aerial gateways, Angra dos Reis and Paraty, have often lacked scheduled air links. This all changed in December 2020, as Daniel R Carneiro finds out

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How airports are recouping COVID losses

During March and April of this year, a £5 charge for vehicles dropping off passengers at both of Gatwick’s North and South Terminals was introduced. Are operators really this strapped for cash? Tara Craig examines how some gateways are recouping the dramatic losses of 2020

The innovative way to reduce airport runway congestion

As soon as we’re allowed to fly again, a problem that’s been getting steadily worse for decades will be back: severe congestion on our airport runways. But it doesn’t have to be that way, argues Professor Richard Steinberg

L3Harris and Air Tractor launch Sky Warden ISR aircraft

L3Harris Technologies and Air Tractor have teamed up to produce the AT-802U Sky Warden, which they describe to be an affordable, production-ready aircraft designed for airborne ISR and other missions in extreme combat environments

L3Harris and Bye to develop all-electric multi-mission aircraft

L3Harris Technologies and Bye Aerospace have signed an agreement to develop an all-electric, multi-mission aircraft, which will provide ISR capabilities for domestic and international operators

Revealed: World airport traffic rankings for 2020

The results show that the recovery has not been uniform around the world

Amadeus and dnata refresh partnership with new contract

The technology firm’s software will continue to underpin the ground handling company’s services at Dubai Airports and other key facilities around the world

Altitude Angel launches next-gen airspace management for airports

Altitude Angel announced a next-generation airspace management solution to be initially deployed to support regional and local airports and airfields

FREQUENTIS acquires parts of the ATM product segment from L3Harris Technologies

Frequentis AG will acquire the ATM voice communications and arrival management product business from L3Harris Technologies

All the Latest Airport Technology Trends in One Place

Key airport technology trends often align with the pressures felt by airports to remain profitable whilst meeting the high standards expected and required by the industry in areas including security, safety and environmental credentials. Often airlines can drive change as they begin to introduce technologies to their dedicated terminals, gates and airport lounges. The major international airlines act as a global network enabling the spread of these technologies as they introduce them from one airport to another.

Passengers too can be a big driver of change as they come to expect certain technologies to be available including online check in and frictionless procedures and facilities from security checks to the departure gate. The articles in this section reflect upon and document this technological progress as more airports and airlines begin to adopt and trial the latest cutting-edge technologies.

The introduction of these technologies can often raise issues between improving efficiency and reducing costs and improving security and passenger safety. This dichotomy in itself is driving innovation and increasing technology adoption rates across the industry as airports strive to find solutions to new problems whilst keeping their costs down.

Aviation Industry News

If you’re looking for more articles on the commercial aviation industry and news from airports and airlines across the globe, why not take a look at some of our other commercial aviation pages? We write about Airport News from domestic and international airports around the world, Commercial Aviation News and Aviation Engineering News.

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