Edinburgh Airport uses AI to reduce turnaround delays

Edinburgh Airport will begin to introduce new AI technology to improve aircraft turnarounds.

Called Deep Turnaround, the new tool aims to overcome capacity limits, boost efficiency and improve the passenger experience.

The technology, developed by Aviation Solutions – a subsidiary of Schiphol Group – utilises AI algorithms, machine learning, and cameras on the apron to automatically detect the start and end times of the ground handling processes.

“Innovation is a key part of our approach at Edinburgh Airport, and using AI to help improve our turnaround times is something we are very excited about,” said Peter Barnes, Head of Business Transformation at Edinburgh Airport. “Deep Turnaround’s systems and use of technology have the potential to make our operations even more efficient, and we look forward to collaborating with our colleagues to bring this to fruition.”

Aviation Solutions says the tool makes it possible to predict delays and have advance visibility of when an aircraft is ready to push. And that it promotes collaboration among airlines and ground handlers, refining airport operations.

How it works

The technology leverages AI to monitor over 30 turnaround processes, integrating this data with flight information to deliver real-time performance insights and predict delays.

The company claims that it can detect delays up to 40 minutes before the scheduled off-block time, enabling proactive operational decisions. Historical data also simplifies post-analysis.

A spokesperson from Edinburgh Airport confirmed to Cities Today that Deep Turnaround is expected to go live in operations early in 2025 and will be rolled out at multiple stands.

“The right insights provided by data help make airport operations more predictable,” said Caroline Massart, Director of Aviation Solutions. “We’re collaborating with multiple airports on Deep Turnaround, and we’re very proud and excited to add Edinburgh to our community of users.”

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