Sustainable Airport Operations: Electric Buses and AI Solutions at Oslo and Bristol
Oslo Airport (Norway) will be subject to a new long-term parking operations and development contract announced by Avinor on 12 December 2025. Avinor, the state-owned operator of Norway’s airport network, stated that the contract will cover the operation and commercial development of approximately 21,000 parking spaces at Oslo Airport between 1 January 2027 and 31 December 2031. The contract is valued at around NOK 3.5 billion (approximately USD 330 million) and includes facilities such as the P10 car park, which accounts for about 25% of Avinor’s total parking revenue, with parking at Oslo Airport generating more than 50% of the group’s overall parking income.
The tender will be open to all qualified bidders under public procurement rules and was scheduled for publication via Doffin and TED on 12 December 2025.
Bristol Airport (United Kingdom) plans to introduce 21 electric Airport Flyer buses in 2026 as part of its programme to achieve net zero airport operations by 2030.
The transition from diesel to electric buses is expected to reduce emissions by approximately 74%, equivalent to an annual saving of around 1,327 tonnes of CO2e, which the airport equates to 4.83 million miles driven by a petrol car.
The airport intends to convert its entire Airport Flyer fleet to electric vehicles, providing lower-emission, quieter ground transport for passengers travelling to and from the South West’s main air transport hub.
The new buses will include Wi-Fi, USB charging points, disabled access and space for guide dogs.
Bristol Airport currently operates 11 electric buses for terminal, aircraft and car park transfers, alongside seven electric vehicles used for ground services, with a further six electric buses scheduled to enter service in early 2026.
The two Airport Flyer routes served by the fleet carried more than 1,170,000 passengers and staff during 2025, making it the airport’s busiest year to date for bus usage.
The investment forms part of a wider privately funded programme to reduce emissions across both airside and landside vehicle fleets while improving the passenger transport experience.
Aurrigo International, a United Kingdom-based developer of autonomous and connected airport technologies, has launched an international licensing and hub programme to accelerate its global expansion. The initiative follows the company’s GBP 14.1 million (USD 18 million) fundraise completed in September 2025 and aims to expand deployment of its Auto-DollyTug, Auto-Cargo, Auto-Shuttle and Auto-Sim systems across airports and ground handling operators worldwide.
Under the new framework, Aurrigo will partner with regional entities through commercial or strategic agreements, providing local funding, operations, and manufacturing capacity, while the company contributes its intellectual property and technical expertise. Four regional hubs will be established in North America, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Europe, with specific locations including Cincinnati, Singapore, Malaysia, Dubai and Amsterdam. The Middle East hub, expected to be based in Dubai, will manage commercial development and client support across the Gulf region.
Each hub will integrate localised manufacturing and deployment partnerships to position production closer to key markets, reduce transport costs, and align with regional regulations while maintaining centralised design standards.
Aurrigo’s headquarters and advanced manufacturing centre in Coventry will increase production volumes to support early commercial rollout and international customer programmes.
Driving the Future of Airport Innovation
October 12 - 14, 2027 | Munich Trade Fair Centre, Germany
Assaia, an aviation technology company based in Zurich (Switzerland), has raised USD 26.6 million in an oversubscribed Series B funding round led by European investment firm Armira Growth, with participation from existing investors. The funding will enable the company to expand its artificial intelligence platform globally and develop new solutions for airports, airlines and ground handlers. Assaia’s technology provides real-time visibility and automation of aircraft turnaround operations and is already in use at major international airports, including New York JFK, London Heathrow, Dubai International and Toronto Pearson.
Part of the new investment will support the launch of StandManager, an AI-based planning tool for optimising gate and stand allocation before aircraft arrival, improving gate usage and operational predictability in congested environments.
Armira Growth, which specialises in scaling technology businesses, will provide both capital and advisory support. Its involvement reflects rising demand for AI-driven operational systems as the aviation sector faces increasing traffic volumes and limited staffing resources.
Assaia stated that the investment will strengthen its market presence, accelerate technology rollout, and advance adoption of intelligent automation in major airport networks.
Leonardo, an Italian aerospace and systems manufacturer, has secured two baggage handling system contracts in the United States valued at a combined USD 120 million, covering projects at Houston Hobby Airport (Texas) and Melbourne Orlando International Airport (Florida). At Houston Hobby Airport, Leonardo will deliver a full replacement of the existing baggage handling system, including two cross-belt sorters integrated with the TSA-compliant checked baggage inspection system, early bag storage, extensive inbound and outbound conveyor networks, manual encoding stations, and a fully integrated SAC and SCADA software platform for real-time monitoring and control.
At Melbourne Orlando International Airport, the company will install a 100% TSA-approved checked baggage inspection system built around a compact cross-belt sorter, integrated explosive detection systems, automatic tag reading, oversized baggage handling, and SCADA-based diagnostics, enabling installation within the existing terminal footprint.
Leonardo stated that the cross-belt design at Melbourne Orlando International Airport reduced construction costs by around 16% and shortened the project schedule by approximately six months while maintaining full regulatory compliance.
Grantley Adams International Airport (Christ Church, Barbados) has partnered with Copenhagen Optimization, a Danish airport operations software company, to introduce a new real-time resource management system. The cloud-based platform will support baggage handling, check-in and gate management, enabling automated operational reallocations and improving efficiency across the airport. It integrates with existing data systems to provide real-time visibility and collaborative planning tools for airport teams.
The system is scheduled to go live in early 2026, ahead of the peak winter travel season. It will operate under a software-as-a-service model, allowing continuous updates and feature enhancements during the contract period.
Copenhagen Optimization, which has recently deployed similar solutions at Dallas Fort Worth Airport and New York JFK Terminal 4 (United States), stated that the system is designed to improve resource planning and data-driven decision-making for airports of all sizes.
Grantley Adams International Airport’s management said the new system will enhance operational precision, agility, and service quality for airlines and passengers while supporting long-term efficiency and capacity growth.
Oshkosh AeroTech, a United States-based manufacturer of airport ground support equipment, has introduced the Tempest-si compact aircraft deicer designed for narrowbody operations at regional airports and fixed-base operators. The unit combines high deicing capability with manoeuvrability in confined ramp areas. It features a compact structure, stainless steel body panels for durability in winter conditions, and a single hand-held nozzle for both deicing and anti-icing functions.
Operator-focused elements include simplified controls, wide cab visibility and ground-level access to key components to ease maintenance and reduce downtime. The Tempest-si is intended to provide a long-service, high-performance solution for airports requiring efficient deicing within limited space.
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Melbourne Airport (Australia) will upgrade its entire self-service bag-drop system using Amadeus’ Seamless Bag Drop S7 Air and S7 Air Hybrid models, becoming the first airport to deploy this technology. Serving more than 35 million passengers in 2024, the airport will install over 70 next-generation units designed to optimise terminal space, increase check-in capacity and reduce queues. Around half of the new installations will operate in hybrid mode, allowing the airport to alternate between agent-assisted and fully autonomous operation.
The system features a side-loading design that improves accessibility for passengers using wheelchairs, pushchairs or trolleys and automatically detects incorrectly positioned bags or those requiring tubs, reducing manual intervention.
Melbourne Airport stated that the new equipment supports its objective of improving accessibility and passenger flow. Amadeus, a Spain-based travel technology provider, noted that the S7 Air models incorporate audio and visual interfaces to support passengers requiring special assistance.
BEUMER Group reported record financial results in 2024 while expanding its manufacturing footprint in India with a new production facility in Haryana. BEUMER Group, headquartered in Beckum, achieved an order intake of EUR 1.39 billion (USD 1.5 billion) and revenue of EUR 1.23 billion (USD 1.33 billion) in 2024, supported by a global workforce of 5,700 employees, and expects further order growth in 2025.
The company, founded in 1935 and now operating around 40 subsidiaries worldwide, attributes its performance to long-term independent ownership, global diversification and sustained investment in innovation, including digital products developed through its internal venture and research units.
In India, BEUMER Group has opened a new manufacturing facility at Reliance’s Model Economic Township in Jhajjar (Haryana, India), representing an investment of INR 2 billion (USD 24 million) and marking its first production site at the township.
The facility will manufacture airport baggage handling systems, logistics conveying and sorting equipment, cement packing and loading systems, and machinery for the minerals and mining sector, serving Indian demand and selected international projects.
The new plant is intended to increase local production capacity, shorten delivery lead times and strengthen regional supply chains, coinciding with the twentieth anniversary of BEUMER India, which was established in 2003 and now employs more than 400 people.
Smiths Detection has secured approval for its SDX 100100 DV HC X-ray system for use in the United States air cargo sector, while its parent group has agreed to sell the business to a private equity buyer. Smiths Detection confirmed that the SDX 100100 DV HC has been added to the Transportation Security Administration Air Cargo Screening Technology List, enabling regulated cargo operators across the United States to deploy the system in compliance with federal screening requirements.
The scanner uses dual 160 kV X-ray generators to capture simultaneous horizontal and vertical images, allowing dense cargo to be inspected in a single pass, with high steel penetration, enhanced image quality and improved maintenance access.
The approval expands the availability of Smiths Detection’s certified air cargo screening technologies in the US market, where the company supplies screening systems for cabin baggage, hold baggage and cargo.
Separately, Smiths Group has agreed to sell Smiths Detection to funds advised by CVC Capital Partners for an enterprise value of GBP 2.0 billion (USD 2.6 billion).
Smiths Detection employs approximately 3,400 people across Europe, the United States and Asia and provides security screening equipment to 47 of the world’s 50 largest airports, with the transaction expected to complete in the second half of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.
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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