Airports could unlock additional capacity and improve punctuality by coordinating operations in real time rather than expanding infrastructure alone, according to a new white paper from aviation technology firm SITA.
The report argues that modern airport performance is increasingly limited not by physical infrastructure such as runways or terminals, but by how effectively operational decisions are aligned across different teams and partners.
As global passenger numbers continue to rise and airport operations become more complex, fragmented decision-making between departments and organisations is emerging as a major operational bottleneck.
Moving beyond isolated optimisation
The study says focusing on improving individual processes is no longer sufficient. Instead, airports must connect operational data across airlines, ground handlers, air traffic control and government agencies to support coordinated decision-making.
By combining shared data with predictive analytics and optimisation tools, a Total Airport Management approach could help airports identify problems earlier, improve on-time performance and use existing infrastructure more efficiently.
According to SITA, this model allows operational teams to predict disruptions earlier and respond before delays spread across the airport system.
Example in Abu Dhabi
One example highlighted in the report is the operational data platform used in Abu Dhabi, where airlines, airport authorities, ground handlers and air traffic control share real-time information.
The platform integrates data from multiple operational systems, allowing stakeholders to align decisions earlier and improve resilience across the airport ecosystem.
Three key challenges
The report identifies three structural barriers that currently limit operational coordination at many airports.
First, departments often focus only on their own performance indicators. For example, check-in, security, gate management and airside operations may each optimise their own targets, which can shift pressure elsewhere in the system rather than resolving it.
Second, many airports have visibility through dashboards and control centres but lack a shared operational framework that allows teams to act together.
Industry initiatives such as Airport Collaborative Decision Making (A-CDM) — supported by organisations including Airports Council International, International Air Transport Association, International Civil Aviation Organisation and Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation — aim to address this issue by aligning decisions across stakeholders.
Third, airports must introduce new operational systems without disrupting existing infrastructure, which remains essential for day-to-day operations.
Disruption affecting millions of passengers
Operational disruptions are already affecting a significant proportion of travellers.
A global report by passenger rights organisation AirHelp found that nearly one in four airline passengers worldwide experienced delays or cancellations during the first half of 2025.
The SITA paper argues that predictive coordination could help prevent such disruptions from spreading through airport systems.
Growing demand for smarter operations
Nathalie Altwegg, senior vice president for airports at SITA, said infrastructure investment alone will not guarantee smooth operations as aviation demand continues to grow.
She said airports operate as interconnected systems and that predictive insights can help operational teams identify pressure points earlier and allocate resources more effectively.
According to the report, airports that align operations across stakeholders in real time could protect capacity, reduce congestion and improve the overall passenger experience, even as traffic volumes increase.
