Airports are some of the most complex operational environments in the world. With hundreds of systems, stakeholders, and business models all working simultaneously, making coordinated, data-driven decisions is a challenge.
Recently, I had the pleasure of joining a panel discussion with speakers from Zurich Airport, Munich Airport, and Fraport for a webinar hosted by International Airport Review to discuss the topic of ‘Breaking down silos and orchestrating data to unlock a smarter airport’.
If you weren’t able to join us live, you can watch the on-demand session here. In the meantime, I wanted to reflect on a few key takeaways that stood out most during our conversation.
Key takeaways from the webinar:
1. Trust and clear responsibility are the foundation
What makes a smart airport smart? It’s situational awareness, powered by reliable, well-orchestrated data that enables every stakeholder, from ground handlers to gate allocators, to act, not react.
The use of case-driven approaches are key here as they help teams understand ‘the why’ behind data sharing and generate early buy-in. So, trust isn’t just about believing that the data or the system is accurate, but rather about knowing how it will be used and that clear ownership and responsibility are in place.
“We’ve talked a lot about trust, but it’s also about responsibility. What we’re trying to push now is a clear data owner/data steward mindset so that people feel responsible not just for data quality, but also for the usability of their data.”
2. A shared understanding of available data is key
A recurring challenge raised during the discussion was surprisingly simple: people can’t use data they don’t know exists. Even within a single airport, teams are often unaware of what data is being collected elsewhere or how it could support their work.
So, moving toward the smart airport vision isn’t just about sharing datasets, it’s about sharing knowledge about data and how it can be orchestrated for impact. Creating accessible data catalogues, clarifying ownership, and making data discoverable are essential steps toward more effective collaboration.
“For years, we’ve been talking about the need for a data catalogue at the airport so that everyone knows what data exists, its quality, and who owns it. We’re working on it, but it’s a real challenge.”
3. Involving end users early is crucial
Whether developing decision-support tools, data platforms, or AI-driven systems, early end user engagement leads to better outcomes.
New IT tools should be intuitive and useful in day-to-day operations, with minimal reliance on training or manuals. Involving users from the start also helps ease the transition to new ways of working because people are more likely to embrace change when they’ve helped shape it.
“You need to involve users early, show them your prototypes, gather feedback, refine, and bring each version closer to their reality. That’s how you build acceptance and grow your user base.”
4. AI and GenAI are reshaping roles within the airport
AI is already starting to change how decisions are made at airports. Decision-making is shifting from manual, operator-driven processes to AI-supported systems, where humans take on supervisory and orchestration roles, rather than managing every detail themselves.
At the same time, the rise of GenAI is transforming how we access data. As Thilo pointed out, we’ll soon increasingly interact with data using natural language. But this creates a challenge as the AI can only deliver meaningful results if the underlying data is clearly described and well-structured. That means stronger governance and semantic consistency are more important than ever.
Zühlke’s perspective: active data governance is the secret weapon
We concluded the webinar by sharing one piece of advice on creating truly smart airports that could be helpful to the audience. In my view, it all has to start with strong data governance.
This doesn’t mean rigid bureaucracy. It means active, hands-on stewardship that empowers departments to own and share high-quality data. It’s the practical but somewhat unglamorous secret weapon that airports can really deploy.
If you’d like to dive deeper into the topic – watch the full webinar here. Or, feel free to reach out to our transport innovation team, or drop me a line directly.
