Collaboration in aviation is invariably a topic of discussion when airport leaders come together. Airport Collaborative Decision Making (A-CDM) is a practical expansion of this discussion. It aims to improve efficiency at airports – many of which are increasingly congested. Data is shared as A-CDM is implemented between a number of different partners at airports.
At Airport Show in Dubai the topic involved looking at how far the success of A-CDM is communicated to passengers. Or, even when it fails, this should be shared with the passenger. For example, delays are often not wholly explained to passengers leaving them frustrated and querying the airport for answers.
Firstly, it is worthwhile to note the specific examples of how A-CDM has been used in airports.
Former managing director of Airport Coordination Limited (ACL), Chris Bosworth, notes that A-CDM was used at Heathrow to secure new slots for the first time in 15 years when it was implemented. Senior Adviser to the Board at Finavia, Kari Savolainen stated that “half of the year we have snow in Helsinki”, yet A-CDM allows the airports to plan de-icing operations and maintain reliable schedules.
emaratech, general director, H.E. Thani Al Zaffin stated that Dubai International Airport is now handling one passenger per every six seconds, therefore A-CDM is implemented to maintain efficiency at DXB as numbers grow. A-CDM, was able to be produced because there is “no technology barrier anymore”, according to Al Zaffin.
Involving the airlines in the process is another side to the discussion, however. Al Zaffin noted that “[the] airport must offer a financial incentive to airlines in order to share data,” and consider the best way to use the data in the first place.
Savolainen, speaking from the perspective of Helsinki Airport, partly answered this question. He noted that dynamic flight information systems at the airport were bringing the airline and airport together to expose passengers to more targeted advertising.
For example, once passengers disembark from a flight from, say, Russia, airport advertisements will advertise products specific to those passengers and include information in the Russian language. This is the same for Chinese, European and other passengers.
As collaboration is a topic of discussion across the globe, there are still considerations when it is implemented. CAPA’s forum in Dubai highlighted this.
