Brussels Airport leads successful multi-stakeholder initiative to digitalize Airport Operations across Europe

Brussels Airport is proud to announce the successful completion of the “Integrating Airport Operations (IAO)” project, an innovative multi-stakeholder initiative aimed at modernizing airport operations and as such optimizing Air Traffic Management (ATM) across Europe. The project involved a collaboration of 14 partners from 8 European countries, with the goal of improving the efficiency, synchronization, and decision-making processes at airports to enhance air travel across borders.

Launched in 2018 with the support of the Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) program and funding from the European Commission, the IAO project represents a significant step forward in the digitalization of airport operations. The project has had a direct impact on improving airport operations, enhancing cross-border collaboration, and ultimately improving the passenger experience. The total combined ATM modernization investment made by all partners involved, amounts up to € 90 mio with 50% of co-funding by the European Commission.

Key achievements of the IAO Project:

• Optimization of Airport Operations: The implementation of the Initial Airport Operations Plan (iAOP) across 12 airports and 2 Air Navigation Service Providers has helped to streamline decision-making processes making it more pro-active and data-driven, ensuring more efficient use of airport resources, improved airport performance and better coordination with the European ATM network.
• Enhanced Passenger Experience: Modernizing ATM systems and procedures has reduced flight delays, improved resource planning, and increased overall operational efficiency, leading to shorter waiting times and smoother passenger journeys across Europe.
• Cross-Border Collaboration: The IAO initiative has significantly reduced fragmentation in air traffic management and improved connections between international, national, and regional traffic across the 8 participating EU countries.
• Improved Data Sharing: Airports involved in the project now have better access to predictive and real-time data, which allows for more proactive planning and data-driven decision-making. This has led to enhanced synchronisation between airport operations, within the complex ecosystem of airport partners and the broader European ATM network.

Brussels Airport as lead partner

As the lead partner, Brussels Airport played a key role in coordinating the efforts of all stakeholders involved and synchronizing the future way of airport operational management. The success of the IAO project demonstrates the importance of collaboration and information sharing in achieving seamless airport operations across borders.

“We are thrilled to have led this transformative project. The IAO project has been an excellent example of how airports and air navigation service providers can work together to drive innovation in  airport operations. This collaboration has not only enhanced local airport operations, offering a smoother journey for our passengers, but also serves as a prime example for the entire European ATM network,” said Arnaud Feist, CEO, Brussels Airport.

A platform for future innovation

The success of the IAO project has laid the foundation for future initiatives, with the lessons learned from this partnership already being applied to new projects like BEACON and EXOPAN where the foundations of the IAO project are used as a base to further propel digitalization in airport operations.

Project partners and their contributions

The success of the IAO project is the result of collaboration between the following partners, each of whom played a vital role in achieving the project’s objectives:

1. Brussels Airport (Belgium) – Lead partner; coordinated the overall project and led the effort to synchronise airport operations and enhance cross-border collaboration, while implementing a groundbreaking iAOP to support the Brussels APOC and the entire ecosystem with actionable insights that trigger pro-active decisions ensuring passenger experience.
2. Fiumicino (FCO) Airport (Italy) – Implemented a new Airport Operations Center (APOC) and streamlined transfer processes, maximizing capacity and resilience.
3. Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (France) – Launched an APOC to optimize both landside and airside operations, improving real-time data sharing and air traffic predictability.
4. Copenhagen Airport (Denmark) – Focused on improving API (Arrival Planning Information) information sharing with the EUROCONTROL Network and enhanced resource utilization through better real-time data and collaborative decision-making.
5. Dublin Airport (Ireland) – Introduced the iAOP rolling plan for better resource forecasting, automation of manual processes, and improving passenger experience.
6. ENAV (Italy) – Provided critical Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) input, collaborating with Milan and Rome airports to ensure efficient data sharing and alignment with SESAR goals.
7. Frankfurt Airport (Germany) – Developed a tactical iAOP dashboard to enhance situational awareness, improving synchronization between AOP and NOP data.
8. Aéroports de Paris (ADP) (France) – Strengthened resilience through the integration of the iAOP database and performance assessment tools, improving European network coordination.
9. Manchester and London Stansted Airports (United Kingdom) – Focused on harmonizing airport operations, improving predictability, and ensuring operational resilience during disruptions.
10. SEA Milan (Italy) – Enhanced data sharing and stakeholder collaboration, contributing to more sustainable operations and improved passenger experiences.
11. skeyes (Belgium) – Improved situational awareness by enhancing local weather data sharing and supporting the integration of Network Manager B2B services.
12. Swedavia (Stockholm Arlanda Airport, Sweden) – Improved operational efficiency by enhancing gate and stand capacity management, contributing to the smooth flow of air traffic across the European network.
13. Munich Airport (Germany) – Focused on improving situational awareness and decision-making by promoting collaboration between stakeholders through early involvement and alignment.
14. SESAR Deployment Manager (EU) – Coordinated the project at the European level, ensuring alignment with the Single European Sky objectives and managing cross-border collaboration.

Looking ahead

As the IAO project concludes, Brussels Airport and its partners celebrate the progress made in enhancing ATM efficiency, which has improved the overall travel experience for millions of passengers. By setting a new standard for collaboration and operational excellence, this initiative has provided a strong foundation for ongoing improvements in European aviation.

More information on the project?