Our favorite proven AI solutions for airport operations

Manuel van Lijf
17 Feb 2025

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is continuing to revolutionizing airport operations in 2025. Quite a few companies have started building, testing and deploying AI solutions way before the hype and now have mature products that are dramatically making impact. At nlmtd (Unlimited) we are huge fans of these successful AI applications that are bringing much needed changes in airport operating models. Some of our favourite technologies are:

1. AI-Assisted Air Traffic Control at London Heathrow Airport

London Heathrow Airport has piloted an AI system named AIMEE to assist Air Traffic Controllers. AIMEE integrates radar and video data to monitor aircraft movements, providing a comprehensive visualization of their positions. This system has been tested on 40,000 flights, demonstrating its capability to enhance safety and reduce controller workload.

oag.com

2. AI in Predictive Maintenance

Airlines are utilizing AI for predictive maintenance by analysing data from aircraft sensors to predict potential failures before they occur. This proactive approach reduces unscheduled maintenance and associated costs. For instance, Lufthansa Technik’s Condition Analytics solution employs machine learning algorithms to predict maintenance requirements with high accuracy.

addepto.com

3. Bag Biometrics

Bag biometrics is an AI powered technology that recognises a piece of luggage based on a photo. It started as a technology aimed at replacing the paper bagtag it quickly ran into the same system issues as RFID had in the past: not tagging luggage in one airport will lead to problems in the next. However, the technology is now mature enough to perform at a “read rate” close to 100%. This means that with this technology airports can now accurately identify the location of all luggage in their system In 2020, the company BagsID installed four imaging arches at Eindhoven Airport in the Netherlands. These arches captured images of bags to create unique digital fingerprints, enabling precise tracking throughout the baggage handling process. In a pilot setup, the technology achieved a reading accuracy of 99.03%.

infrajournal.com

4) AI Turnaround

We have come across several mature products of what is now called “AI Turnaround”. These products utilize artificial intelligence and computer vision to analyse real-time video data from airport aprons. This technology enables airlines and airports to monitor and optimize various ground operations, such as aircraft refuelling, baggage handling, and passenger boarding. By converting video feeds into structured data AI turnaround provides insights that help improve on-time performance, enhance safety, and reduce operational costs. For instance, it can predict potential delays by analysing turnaround activities, allowing for proactive management and resource allocation. Additionally, the system can detect safety hazards on the apron, enabling timely interventions to prevent accidents.

airport-technology.com

5) AI powered resource planning for airport operations

Neural Lab has developed AI-driven solutions to enhance airport ground operations. Their Ops Assistsystem employs artificial intelligence to optimize baggage transfers at major airport hubs. By analysing various operational metrics, Ops Assist identifies high-priority flights, ensures timely handling of critical baggage, and provides AI-generated recommendations to streamline complex scenarios. The scheduling and deployment of staff, powered by their algorithm can lead to significant staff savings as well as improved operational on-time performance.