Global Airport Development & Operational Technology Updates

ITW GSE, a Danish supplier of ground power and pre-conditioned air systems, has signed a long-term framework agreement with Royal Schiphol Group (Netherlands) to provide fully electric airside equipment. The deal covers the ITW GSE 3500 pre-conditioned air (PCA) unit, which includes automated aircraft type detection and integration with the company’s EcoGate platform, as well as the 3500 Air Coil hose management system designed to reduce energy loss and improve ergonomics. The equipment will replace fossil fuel-based units, lowering CO₂ and NOx emissions while reducing noise and improving working conditions for apron staff.

Schiphol Airport plans to deploy the modular units across different stand layouts, with flexibility for fixed, mobile or passenger boarding bridge-mounted installation. ITW GSE will act as general contractor for supply, with integration managed by a Schiphol-nominated firm and commissioning supported through its Dutch distributor.

The agreement supports Schiphol’s sustainability goals by cutting fossil fuel use and improving airside efficiency. ITW GSE said the collaboration demonstrates how innovative equipment can help airports reduce their environmental footprint while maintaining operational performance.

The consortium of Vanderlande Logistics GmbH and Vanderlande Logistics, Unipessoal Lda has been awarded the contract to design, supply, install, commission, operate and maintain the baggage handling system at the planned CPK Airport (Poland). The competitive dialogue process concluded in July 2025, with Vanderlande offering a bid of EUR 115 million (USD 124 million) for delivery and installation. The consortium also proposed operation and maintenance costs of PLN 97 million (USD 24 million) for the first five years after opening, and PLN 93 million (USD 23 million) for an optional extension. By comparison, BEUMER Group Poland submitted a bid of EUR 198 million (USD 213 million) with higher operational costs.

The baggage handling system will occupy around 80,000 m2 of the terminal, with conveyors stretching more than 16 km. It will use Individual Carrier System technology, ensuring 100% baggage tracking and accuracy, reducing damage risks, and allowing modular expansion as passenger numbers increase.

CPK, a major transport infrastructure project for Central Europe, is designed to integrate air, rail and road networks. Terminal construction is scheduled to begin in 2026, with the underground rail station and tunnel expected by 2029. The airport is planned to open by the end of 2032, together with the first high-speed rail section between Warsaw and Łódź.

Kempegowda International Airport (Karnataka, India) has received six new electric tarmac buses delivered by Eicher Trucks and Buses, a division of VE Commercial Vehicles.

The 12-metre Eicher Skyline Pro-E vehicles will be operated by IndiGo to transport passengers between the terminal and aircraft stands, marking Eicher’s first entry into aviation ground support equipment. Each bus has seating for 17 passengers plus driver, space for 52 standing passengers, lithium-iron phosphate batteries, and CCS2 fast-charging capability.

The delivery was marked by a traditional ceremony at the Bengaluru airport, which handled 42 million passengers last year and has positioned itself as a hub for sustainable operations. Eicher said the move reflects its intention to support greener airport transport in one of India’s busiest gateways.

Smiths Detection, a UK-based provider of threat detection and security screening technologies, has been selected to equip the new Heraklion International Airport (Crete, Greece) with advanced security systems. Working through its Greek distributor PROTON S.A., Smiths Detection will supply equipment including HI-SCAN 10080 XCT systems for hold baggage, HI-SCAN 6040 CTiX scanners for cabin baggage, iLane A20 tray return systems, and scanners for oversized luggage. Artificial intelligence software will also be deployed to automatically identify prohibited items, supporting security staff and improving efficiency.

The contract was awarded by TERNA S.A., the company responsible for constructing the airport, which is considered one of Europe’s largest greenfield aviation projects. Installation is scheduled to begin at the end of 2025 and continue into mid-2026.

Smiths Detection stated that the new systems will provide faster passenger processing, enhanced operational efficiency and improved security outcomes as the airport prepares to open.

Avancon SA, a Swiss conveyor technology company, has developed an automatic tray circuit designed to improve passenger flow at airport security checkpoints using CT scanners. The system, called the Automatic Tray Circuit (ATC), works with new computerised tomography screening machines that allow passengers to keep liquids and electronics in their bags, speeding up checks. Avancon’s tray conveyor automatically circulates trays beneath the scanner, ensuring a continuous supply without the need for manual removal or insertion.

The ATC is based on Avancon’s zone powered conveyor (ZPC) technology, which provides zero-pressure accumulation. This mechanism allows trays to queue without collisions or blockages and reduces the need for complex or costly control systems. Each conveyor section is modular, with built-in motors, cables, and software, making the system simple to install, expand, or adapt.

Safety and efficiency are enhanced with integrated cameras, sensors, and software that regulate tray flow, detect left-behind items, and manage passenger interference. The design includes durable materials such as polyamide rollers with polyurethane tyres and omnidirectional transfer units to move trays smoothly in multiple directions within tight spaces.

Avancon developed the ATC in close cooperation with CT scanner manufacturers to ensure compatibility. The system offers straightforward mechanical and electronic integration with screening machines, enabling equipment suppliers to deliver complete checkpoint solutions.

The company has already supplied more than 450 conveyor lines for airports in the United States and Europe through its partners, including Analogic and Rapiscan. Avancon describes its approach as combining functional efficiency with ease of maintenance and modern design.

Global airports are entering what the Beumer Group, a German engineering company specialising in intralogistics and automation systems, describes as the “age of live innovation,” where traditional long-term master plans are giving way to more flexible, modular approaches. The report argues that by 2026, airports must adapt continuously to shifting passenger demand, evolving regulations, and rapid technological change. This means developing infrastructure that is modular and scalable, using real-time data to manage operations, and prioritising agile planning over rigid forecasting.

Passenger experience is placed at the centre of future airport strategies. Seamless journeys supported by biometrics, automation and digital engagement are highlighted as essential to attracting and retaining travellers, alongside new designs focused on comfort and wellbeing.

Operational resilience is another focus, with modular terminals, adaptable baggage systems and scalable digital platforms presented as ways to handle disruption more effectively. Sustainability is also identified as a strategic imperative, requiring airports to reduce emissions, adopt green building standards, and move towards circular economy practices.

The report stresses the importance of collaboration between airports, airlines, regulators and technology providers to jointly pilot new solutions, creating testbeds and innovation ecosystems that accelerate adoption.

By 2026, airports that embrace this model of continuous “live innovation” are expected to improve efficiency, safeguard resilience, and strengthen competitiveness in a volatile global aviation environment. Read the report here.

INFORM, a software company based in Aachen (Germany) that develops AI-driven optimisation systems, will present its GroundStar Suite at inter airport Europe in Munich (Bavaria, Germany) from 7 to 9 October 2025. The company’s “Airport of the Future” concept is built on four pillars. These include digital transformation through smarter resource use, passenger-centred operations, sustainability, and improved planning for passengers with reduced mobility. INFORM argues that these areas must be prioritised as airports face rising expectations, workforce shortages and sustainability requirements.

Johannes Richenhagen, Executive Lead Transformation at INFORM Aviation, will lead a public discussion on 8 October explaining how the four pillars address operational and environmental pressures. The approach, however, requires substantial investment, regulatory alignment and organisational adaptation.

INFORM will also demonstrate its GroundStar Suite at the exhibition, showcasing how the platform manages ground operations more efficiently and sustainably. On 9 October, Ginesh Koottakara, Head of Sales Europe, will join a panel on future workforce challenges, discussing methods of attracting and retaining employees in the aviation sector.

Publisher’s note: The articles in this special report, compiled for inter airport Europe, are a few select samples from the biweekly Momberger Airport Information newsletter, published since 1973. The newsletter is an advertising-free, global airport news service that consists of 9 modules and allows subscribers to customize their own newsletter package. The modules that make up the biweekly newsletter are: Airport Development (DEV), Calendar of Events (CAL), and the subscriber-selectable modules Airport Operations (OPS), Management, Ownership & Finance (MGT), Ground Support Equipment (GSE), Air Traffic Services (ATC), Consultant & Contractor / Sustainable Aviation (CON), Airport Information Technology (AIT), and Maintenance Base & FBO (MRO). For more information, a sample of a complete newsletter issue, and to order an annual subscription, please visit www.mombergerairport.info.

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