Terminal

Airports across the globe are in a transition towards more sustainable and resilient terminal operations. In Europe this development is substantially driven by the European Green Deal, which aims to drastically reduce the emissions from the continent's transport sector until 2050. Airport terminals, for both passengers and cargo, are required to implement measures to meet these targets with little room to compromise their basic operational objectives of sustaining an efficient throughput of passengers and/or cargo. Within the next decade the operational impact at airports will be twofold. On the one hand they are inclined to transform their operations towards net zero emission and zero waste targets. On the other they need to prepare for a changing landscape of risks related to climate change and increasing hybrid threats like cyber-attacks. Airports are currently developing strategies to ensure the reliability and profitability of their primary functionality, while simultaneously adapting their operations as a reaction to the global challenges of climate change and systemic risks. Smart and Sustainable Terminal Management has a crucial role in this transition.

Our department combines extensive knowledge on processes and needs of airport terminal management for both passengers and cargo with the regulative frameworks and strategies at international, European and national level. We specialise in future oriented research and development of concepts and technologies that support the industry’s clean energy transition and sustainable airport operations until 2030 and beyond. The IML is committed to provide holistic solutions to sustain and improve the efficiency in passenger and cargo flows at airport terminals. 

The main objective is to align existing terminal infrastructure and handling processes as well as safety and security aspects related to border control with the overarching requirements to reduce environmental impacts and business continuity risks coming from natural disasters, manmade disruptions or slow onsetting risks like the shortage in qualified labour. 

Airports, regulators and the aviation industry are likely to find a competent partner with the IML when looking for a specific solution e.g. Airport specific or technology specific that needs to work in in the larger context of Aviations.