5G, robots, automation: How will airports look 10 years into the future?

by | Jan 20, 2025 | Airports, Digital Transformation, Interviews, On-demand, Travel Tech

At World Aviation Festival, Ismihan Baysal Anderson, IT and Automation Director, ISG – Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport shared a vision for airports of the future and revealed how ISG stays ahead of evolving technology,

Highlighting a few key strategies for keeping up to date with the rapidly changing landscape, Anderson showed how working with start ups, connecting with other industries, and establishing a dedicated team has driven innovation at the airport.

Focusing in on the specific technologies that underpin efficiency at the airport, Anderson talked through the benefits of automation, biometrics, and establishing a common data platform. Thinking about where this may go in the future, Anderson explained:

“I’m a bit of a dreamer. In the next, I think, 10 years, I see that the apron—the airfield—as fully autonomous. All the equipment driving themselves, robots working alone with humans, collaborating while loading the baggage or, you know, doing the catering service and everything. And 5G will help with the communication—because for autonomous driving and for robots to operate, you need real-time and minimum latency network—5G is going to help us with that one.”

 

Questions asked include:

  • With technology evolving so rapidly, how do you ensure you do not lag behind? Is there truly a way of “future-proof” innovation at an airport? ​
  • Where are we seeing automation having the greatest impact in terms of airport operations? How do you see this evolving in the future?​
  • Can you give any specific examples where automation is making a tangible difference?​
  • Which technologies or innovations do you believe have the greatest potential to transform the industry? And when do you think we will see these harnessed to their full potential?​

 

 

For more from onsite at World Aviation Festival:

 

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