Designing the Airports of Tomorrow: Trends in Terminal Operations and Architecture

• The need to future-proof airports
• Challenges to airport design & operations
• 5 trends in airport design & operations
• A head start on the future

Strict regulations ensuring passenger health and safety are a key priority in designing airports and their operations. Systems that focus on managing health metrics and KPIs, whether it’s on-air quality, terminal capacities, or all-around building disinfection, are major considerations.

2. Complex operations & security checks

The issues of long lines, confusing boarding gates, and repetitive security checks are hurdles that airports constantly face. The rise in preference for contactless and self-service procedures is seen today, all while still ensuring safety and security.

3. Infrastructure connectivity & capacity

Infrastructure challenges, aside from the layout of general facilities, encompass designing runways, terminals, air traffic control systems, and parking. Providing a remarkable journey for customers means ensuring infrastructure connectivity for intermodal transportation, planning for passenger influx to avoid overcrowding, and crafting spaces that are multipurpose and adaptable to future needs.

4. Environmental impacts

The green transition is also setting challenges for existing and future airports. Optimisation of infrastructure design, vehicles, and operations become a pressing need not only due to carbon neutrality goals but also due to:

a. natural disasters ushered by climate change that may affect airports, flights, and power supply;
b. and government policy modifications to cater to sustainability and taxation of carbon emissions.

1. Solar Panels & Wind Turbines

Other means of power generation are being explored by airports whether upon design and construction or improving existing facilities. Air hubs like Boston Logan International Airport and the Galápagos Ecological Airport use solar panels and wind turbines to power their respective airports.

This solution provides 3% of the power required by the former and for the latter, 65% from windmills and 35% from photovoltaic panels.

2. Ideal passenger flow-based designs

Airport designs that target an ideal passenger flow avoid bottlenecks, long lines, and confusing facility-navigation. This shows a commitment to crafting a hassle-free travel experience, efficient operations, and a well-thought-out infrastructure.

3. Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Advances in artificial intelligence are good news for air travel, with a survey revealing that 45% of passengers are ready to drop physical passports when they travel. AI integrated into biometrics, facial recognition systems, and self-service kiosks help streamline airport operations. The use of AI will help ease passenger congestion and lines, lessen the workload for onsite employees, and encourage a hassle-free experience for travellers.

4. Use of airport robots

Easing airport operations and the workload on employees using robots has been a significant change in the sector. These innovations have been seen to assist in check-ins and security, aid in language translations, and even deliver food and drinks to flyers. Other robots are also used in the service of maintaining airport sanitation, baggage handling, and infrastructure construction and maintenance.

5. Intermodal transportation

Airport connectivity with other transport hubs is becoming a major consideration for passengers, as it provides ease of access. Airports for construction or renovation are furthering the seamless links between their facilities and bus stations, trains and railways, and terminals. This also stimulates economic and tourism growth.

Designing and planning for an airport and its operations is a complex undertaking. Ensuring a safe and hassle-free travel experience for passengers, all while accomplishing sustainability goals and the challenges of tomorrow, requires innovation and forward thinking.

The use of AI, robots, and employing purposive designs are what airports and their stakeholders should focus on. For it is through this that they become future-proof.