Airport Demand Forecasting

In our previous blog we identified that in 2024 Airport Capacity Planning will once again be an issue for Airport Operations for the first time since the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. In 2024 passenger volumes are predicted to recover to 2019 levels.

While Demand Forecast Planning has not gone away in that period, indeed it has been a constant and very challenging process used to anticipate changing passenger/cargo volumes, it will come into sharp focus as airports once again work at their limits of capacity. It therefore seems timely for Airports to re-evaluate this fundamental process to check it is fit for purpose.

Read More »

Continued Airport Recovery – a look ahead to 2024 and beyond

There are plenty of reasons to be optimistic as the aviation industry moves towards the end of 2023, not least that it is expected to finally reach a profit this year for the first time since the pandemic.

ACI World Airport Traffic Forecasts 2022-2041:

  • Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, global passenger traffic dropped from 9.2 billion in 2019 to 3.6 billion in 2020, and then recovered to 4.6 billion in 2021, and 6.5 billion in 2022. Over the next five years, traffic is expected to recover from 4.6 billion to 11.0 billion. (See chart below) This equates to a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 19.0% over the 2021–2026 period.
  • It is predicted that in 2024 global airport passenger traffic will return to the volume observed in 2019. Passenger traffic worldwide is expected to reach 19.3 billion in 2041 and 23.9 billion in 2050.

Read More »

Aviation Industry Recovery White Paper

Now that the aviation industry is thankfully well on the road to recovery following the massive disruption of the pandemic we are glad to be in the position of taking a look forward at future challenges rather than back, and anticipating what lies ahead this summer.

So what does this long awaited recovery mean for your operation and what are the challenges you may face this summer?

Download the latest AiQ Aviation Industry Recovery White Paper now.

Read More »

Aviation Industry Recovery – part 1 of 3

Now that the aviation industry is thankfully well on the road to recovery following the massive disruption of the pandemic we are glad to be in the position of taking a look forward at future challenges rather than back, and anticipating what lies ahead this summer.

It has been encouraging to see various industry bodies making forecasts of a complete and sustainable recovery and a growth in air passenger demand in 2023.

Read More »

AiQ update

We don’t know about you but our feet have barely touched the ground in the last 12 months! After weathering the COVID storm we are pleased to have recovered well as a business and are now delighted to be making solid progress once again along with our clients.

We thought it might be useful to detail some of the projects AiQ are involved with to provide some scope on the range of work we can undertake. We continue to work for a variety of airports including Heathrow, Bristol, Schiphol and Farnborough. Our work at Heathrow is across a wide range of programmes, in fact we are involved with 6 of the current H7 programmes.

Read More »

Meet our new Airport Planner – Charlotte Holter

We’re delighted to welcome Charlotte Holter to the AiQ Airport Planning team. Charlotte graduated from Leeds University with a First Class Honours degree in Aviation Technology with Pilot Studies and has obtained her Private Pilots Licence. She has worked for Jet2.com at Leeds Bradford Airport in Customer Support – Landside and Airside and also at TUI as an Airline Operations Controller. Most recently she worked as the Operations Manager for Cranfield Flying School.

Read More »

The iQ to Airports with Cranfield University Alumni

Airport Virtual Reality

The New Year saw the opening of our Cranfield office located in the Innovation Centre on the Cranfield University Technology Park. We bring our operational airport intelligence to support sustainable aviation initiatives, lecturers, and students on the University campus.

Over the past 10 years, we have enjoyed strong links with Cranfield University, sharing operational expertise with students, and recruiting the most talented individuals for our business. As a university that provides high-quality master’s degree qualifications including the Airport Planning and Management course, it’s an excellent fit for AiQ who deliver intelligent airport solutions. This relationship is important to us as our people are the heart of our business – the iQ to airports. Read More »

AiQ brings operational airport intelligence to Cranfield

AiQ - Operational airport intelligence

AiQ is delighted to open a new office at Cranfield University Technology Park. We bring our operational airport intelligence and practical expertise to the leading global aviation research centre.

This office enables our team to support sustainable aviation initiatives and deepen relationships with industry leaders, aviation research and university academics. Our additional office at Heathrow World Business Centre 3 situates us perfectly to support London, UK regional and worldwide airports.

From advancing sustainable aviation initiatives to sharing expertise with lecturers and students, over the years we have enjoyed strong links with Cranfield University. Find out more about these below. Read More »

AiQ commitment to the sustainable future of aviation through eVTOL

Leading airport consultancy AiQ, have been analysing the concept of Electric Vertical Take-off and Landing (eVTOL) since 2018 as our commitment to the sustainable future of aviation. We announced early this year our involvement as a partner in the NASA Transition Vertical Flight Roadmap working group to further explore the potential of vertical flights as a new form of air transportation. As worldwide airport operational experts, AiQ shares knowledge and analytical abilities in specifically exploring the Commercial Intra-City (short-range) potential. Read More »

Leading Innovators of Holistic Airport Operational Planning

The destructive impact of COVID-19 on the aviation industry has dramatically changed airport challenges and priorities. Therefore, operational planning has compelled to evolve as the pandemic grew. As leading innovators of holistic airport operational planning, we explore how COVID-19 has changed the basis of airport planning.

Today, airports are operating with dramatically reduced revenues,  forcing them to radically cut CAPEX and OPEX. Their focus is on complex process change, operating with fluctuating demand and extraordinarily short planning horizons. To optimise resources and save costs across the entire airport, holistic operational planning is essential with the engagement of all stakeholders. This approach teamed with quick, and simple decision validation models has been a shift from airports using time-consuming complex simulation tools and stakeholders working in isolation. Read More »

COVID-19 Airport Efficiency Saving Opportunities for Below Wing

Below Wing Airport Efficiency opportunities

Following on from our previous ‘Above Wing’ efficiency blog we have shared our practical suggestions below on how to make efficiency and cost savings for ‘Below Wing’ throughout the airport.

The statistics published by Eurocontrol and Civil Aviation Authority all indicate that UK airports will be in ‘survival’ to ‘intermittent recovery’ for the rest of 2020 and into 2021. ‘Consistent recovery’ and ‘growth’ may build early in 2021 for summer schedules, but there is still great uncertainty. You can clearly see these phases in our blog ‘Revised route to airport recovery’.

It is therefore clear that airport operators must look at their businesses in this ‘new business environment’. No longer is growth guaranteed. No longer is income from airlines, parking, retail & food & beverage assured. The fixed overheads including your licensing costs continue to run. Revenues and profits will be squeezed. Read More »