Sustainable and Smart Airport Solutions: AI, Automation, and Connectivity

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (Texas, United States) has introduced six Striker Volterra 6x6 Electric Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting vehicles into frontline service.

The vehicles were manufactured by Oshkosh Airport Products and supplied through Siddons-Martin Emergency Group. The airport has installed 480-volt charging infrastructure at its ARFF stations to support the fleet.

The vehicles feature an electric powertrain with an electro-mechanical transmission, a 3,000-gallon (11,356-litre) water tank, a 420-gallon (1,590-litre) foam tank, a 2,000 gpm pump, a 500 lb (227 kg) dry chemical system, and electronic foam proportioning.

The article states that the vehicles can operate in zero-emission electric mode at low speed and that full-power responses draw automatically from both the battery and internal combustion engine.

The information provided notes that the deployment aligns with the airport’s transition to fluorine-free firefighting foam and that DFW Fire-Rescue supports close to 90 million passengers each year.

Miami International Airport (Florida, United States) has completed an upgrade of one of its busiest passenger security checkpoints, introducing screening technology designed to process passengers 30% faster than traditional lanes. Developed in partnership with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the renovated TSA Checkpoint 2 in Concourse D features four Analogic eXpress passenger screening lanes equipped with 3D computed tomography explosive detection scanners and automated bin return systems capable of handling 500 bins per hour.

The checkpoint reopened on 1 November 2025 after a temporary closure that began in August for renovation works costing USD 5.3 million. The project forms part of the airport’s USD 9 billion Modernization in Action Plan, which aims to upgrade the entire facility within the next decade.

Each screening lane includes automated conveyor belts that transport and return bins and radio frequency identification (RFID) tags for tracking. The bins are about 25% larger than standard ones, and the system allows continuous screening by diverting flagged items to a separate inspection area.

Additional projects under the Modernization in Action Plan include the overhaul of more than 600 elevators, escalators, and moving walkways, construction of a new 2,240-space Ibis parking garage opening in December 2025, expansion of Concourse K scheduled for 2029, and a USD 745 million redevelopment of the Central Terminal expected by 2031.

Bahrain Airport Company, the operator of Bahrain International Airport (Muharraq, Bahrain), is preparing to renew its partnership with Thales, a global high-technology company specialising in defence, aerospace, and digital systems. The agreement, announced at Dubai Airshow, states that Thales will continue maintaining and supporting the airport’s security systems, including security cameras, access control, public announcement systems, and associated integrations.

Bahrain Airport Company and Gulf Air Group representatives noted that the partnership supports the reliability of core airport systems and aligns with national digital infrastructure requirements.

Thales stated that the renewed agreement covers integrated security tools and video analytics designed to manage digital and physical security risks affecting airport operations.

Dubai International Airport (Dubai, United Arab Emirates) has introduced an artificial intelligence-based turnaround management system in partnership with technology firm Assaia. The system is being deployed across all aircraft stands to enhance coordination, operational awareness, and turnaround efficiency.

The initiative, implemented jointly with Emirates, flydubai, dnata, and other service providers, is part of Dubai Airports’ broader digital transformation strategy to improve reliability through real-time data use. The project makes Emirates the only airline operating a fully AI-managed turnaround system across its entire base at Dubai International Airport.

The system aims to reduce ground delays, improve on-time performance, and support the handling of over 90 million passengers annually. It will provide predictive insights to optimise ground handling and support punctuality targets for Emirates’ hub operations.

Assaia’s technology is already in use at major airports including Toronto, New York JFK, Rome, and Seattle. Its deployment at Dubai represents a further step in the emirate’s plan to modernise aviation operations through automation and data analytics.

Dubai Airports has indicated that integrating AI will require organisational adjustments, though the initiative is expected to strengthen the airport’s competitive position in the Gulf region and set new operational benchmarks for efficiency and sustainability.

Aviramp, a UK manufacturer of step-free aircraft boarding ramps, has signed a five-year procurement agreement with dnata (Dubai, United Arab Emirates), allowing dnata stations worldwide to order Aviramp equipment without individual tenders under a fixed annual pricing structure for all models and options. Aviramp states that more than 900 of its ramps are in service globally and that its designs support boarding and disembarkation on remote stands through low-angled, PRM-friendly access, including a solar-powered ramp recently demonstrated at the Dubai Airshow.

Dnata, which is deploying 111 motorised ground support vehicles at Dubai World Central Airport for the Airshow, reports that the fleet includes pushback tractors, ground power units, passenger steps and air-conditioning units, as well as 14 electric, hybrid and solar-powered units forming part of the event’s sustainability showcase. The company adds that it is trialling autonomous and AI-enabled ground handling technologies while maintaining regular operations across Dubai International Airport and Dubai World Central.

Melbourne Airport (Victoria, Australia) has begun testing a new international baggage handling system that will more than double current outbound capacity from 1,800 to over 4,000 bags per hour. The AUD 500 million (USD 326 million) project, supplied by Beumer Group, includes 3.6 kilometres of new baggage lines, tote-based tracking, and an early bag store capable of holding 1,400 bags, enabling real-time monitoring from check-in to aircraft dispatch.

The upgrade is scheduled to enter service in March and is designed to support rising international traffic, with the airport handling 1,032,448 international passengers in October, a 5.9% increase year-on-year.

Sunshine Coast Airport (Queensland, Australia) has selected Elenium Automation, an Australian check-in technology supplier, to provide new equipment for its terminal redevelopment. The company reports that the installation will include 18 self-service kiosks and 10 automated bag-drop units, planned to enter operation in 2026. Elenium states that its systems are used at more than 35 airports worldwide and are managed through its Voyager application suite, which allows airports and airlines to configure and monitor kiosk and bag-drop functions remotely.

Sunshine Coast Airport notes that the upgrade is being introduced as the airport expands its network, which includes services to Adelaide, Auckland, Cairns, Melbourne and Sydney operated by Air New Zealand, Alliance Airlines, Jetstar, Qantas and Virgin Australia.