Marios Sentris discusses sustainability, artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles and other factors shaping the airport of the future.
What will sustainable practices look like in the ‘future airport’? And which sustainability practices that leading airports are currently implementing do you think we will see more of?
There are several drivers towards greener airports in the future. I believe airports follow the progress made in the aviation industry. In recent years, we have witnessed more efficient engines that can go longer distances, pollute less, make less noise and are faster. The drive to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 has resulted in aviation manufacturers, ground handlers, airports and technologists collaborating to achieve this major milestone.
The second driver is age. Generation Z and the new generation born from 2010 onwards (Gen Alpha) are extremely sensitive to issues concerning the protection of the environment; even basing their decisions when it comes to travelling on the sustainability practices adopted by airports and airlines.
Thirdly, there are guidelines in design, construction and operations, such as LEED certifications. These guidelines stipulate the use of sustainable practices such as the implementation of solar panels, MEP efficient equipment and fully treated and recycled wastewater. They also promote the use of locally sourced materials, fuel efficient vehicles and recycling construction waste. Two of the projects we are involved in, Abu Dhabi International Airport and Kuwait International Airport, have been designed and are operated with energy efficient and sustainable practices at their core.
Another important driver is global warming. Natural weather conditions are changing – take the recent floods in Dubai in April 2024, or the hurricanes in the USA for example. The challenge for designers and engineers is to deliver facilities that are more sustainable but also more resilient, so that they can withstand more severe weather conditions. Our environmental teams also contribute to the design, either on an urban master planning level or on a project-based scale, and take these elements into consideration during their design activity.
It is important to note that there are two types of airport construction project: on the one hand, we have massive greenfield mega projects, especially in the Middle East: and on the other hand, we have brownfield developments, especially in Europe – 90% of the projects in Europe are terminal upgrades, runway upgrades, or systems upgrades. For these projects, the incorporation of sustainable practices comes as an add-on and is more of a compromise. On greenfield projects, sustainability is integrated within the design and construction of the facilities as an embedded component.
Information data is another key factor in the airports of the future. While airport operators are making efforts to reduce energy consumption from legacy equipment, an emerging energy source comes from data processing. With the emergence of AI and large volumes of airport data, we will be spending more energy on processing data and less on actual facilities. Parsons is an industry leader in asset management. We work with clients to assess the efficiency of their assets; propose meaningful equipment replacement and optimized investment plans; and monitor the operation of a facility.
How will passenger processes will look in 30-40 years? How will AI affect these changes?
At Parsons, we believe that there will be considerable progress in passenger processing because of the broader use of AI and digital twin technologies.
Passenger processes in the future will focus more on the experience rather than the functional element of traveling. AI will commoditize the journey. Complex processes that are in place now, especially concerning security or baggage handling or overall predictability, will be simplified and the passenger will focus on the experience rather than on customs, immigration, check-in and boarding.
I foresee passengers being linked with digital tokens from the moment they enter the terminal until the moment they board their flight. This token will follow passengers through their journey so that passports, boarding passes or credit cards will not be required and traveling and shopping will all be linked with this digital identity.
One of the biggest challenges in airports today is the establishment of a ‘trinity’ collaboration environment between airlines, airports and retailers. AI can help improve cross-sales or up-sales by integrating data processes.
There has been considerable progress with the use of AI and digital twin technology in the airline industry. We have witnessed the implementation of autonomous flights, albeit still in the pilot stage. Manufacturers already use AI and digital twin technologies to simulate complex assembly models, receiving real-time information from sensors to predict errors, which saves considerable time and cost.
The concept of AI-powered autonomous flying vehicles has gained traction in recent years. A range of proposed uses has been put forward, from a continuously engaged autopilot designed to handle all necessary flight tasks to a means by which first responders can combat road congestion in busy cities. While certifications and regulations are underway, it is clear this type of technology stands to aid commercial, cargo and even military flights.
Machine learning, AI and digital twin technologies are also being integrated into new airport software platforms offered by the industry. While airports are looking at these solutions with great interest, their adoption has been slightly slower than expected, due to legacy applications already in operation. Looking ahead, I expect AI and machine learning will be fully integrated into airport operation processes, from accurately predicting flight delays and preparing flight schedules to developing smart customer care centers with AI-enabled chatbots and virtual attendants.
I also foresee that baggage will be split from the passenger. Airlines will offer door-to-door delivery services with accredited logistics companies and passengers will travel separately, which will likely result in smaller passenger terminals and larger cargo terminals.
What systems do you think we could expect to see automated in the future airport? Will this have an impact on airports jobs – will we see more roles replaced by automated systems?
On the one hand, we see a generation that is more familiar with technology (Generation Z and soon Generation Alpha); on the other hand, strong industry leaders (such as Nvidia and OpenAI) create technology that can automate processes including check-in, baggage handling, security checks and boarding. Job profiles will need to change to keep pace with the implementation of technology in future airports. AI is here to stay, and will execute faster processes and make decisions on our behalf.
I heard on a podcast recently that AI is not necessarily coming to take everyone’s jobs but that people who know how to use it are. We each have a responsibility to educate ourselves, and stay on top of, how AI can be leveraged in the most effective and responsible way possible.
We still need regulation of AI to allow its development, and I believe this will happen in the next few years.
How do you think vertical landing and take-off will look in the airport of the future?
I think vertical landings and take-offs will revolutionize the airport industry.
With the rise in vertical city developments, like The Line in Saudi Arabia which Parsons is proudly working on, and airports being built and embedded within cities, such as King Salman International Airport in Riyadh, I anticipate an innovative approach to commuting will emerge.
I envision large international hubs will remain commonplace and become more technologically driven, and vertical or autonomous vehicles will begin to operate within a broad range, of say 200k, of these hubs.
In which areas do you think we could expect to see higher levels of digitalization in the future airport? And what areas could benefit from further digitalization?
I believe there are three areas which we can expect to see higher levels of digitalization in.
Airport operations. Airports are all about predictability – operators avoid unknown and disruptive elements at all costs. AI and digital twin technologies can optimize operations using simulated scenarios. I have read about use cases, especially in Saudi Arabia, involving the implementation of virtual towers instead of traditional, fully manned air traffic control towers.
Airport maintenance. Asset management, digital twin and AI-based applications can help improve the efficiency of airfields, especially in the repair and maintenance of pavements, runways and taxiways.
Customer experience. Machine learning technology can predict airport capacity, people and movement flows and service usage patterns, which are as important in airport infrastructure planning as they are in all public realm environments. In this respect digital twins enable all stakeholders to access the expanding range of information flows increasingly necessary for effective operations.
What do you think the PPP model in airports will look like in 30–40 years, and how do you think this could help to attract investment?
Airports are large investments but they are profitable. Investors were focused previously on ROI, financial metrics and business plans. Now, there are other elements in terms of risk management that are also taken into consideration: ensuring the supply chain and availability of equipment and/or manpower; agility in the buildings (especially after the pandemic) and re-purposing areas (e.g., duty-free area or a passenger gate); constant reassessment of construction and operation; and efficiency in operations with the use of technology.