ACI World Airport Innovation Awards

Best Innovation in Airport Passenger Related Processes

Kempegowda International Airport
(operated by Bangalore International Airport Limited)

The Future Checked In: Biometric-enabled Self Baggage Drop

Bangalore International Airport (BIAL) became the first airport in India to implement a truly end-to-end biometric passenger journey with the launch of the Biometric-enabled Self Bag Drop (SBD) initiative.  

Integrated with DigiYatra, this innovation eliminates the need for passengers to present physical ID or boarding passes at any checkpoint—from entry to boarding. The final gap at check-in was addressed through a seamless, paperless, and fully automated baggage drop process powered by facial recognition, identity management, and access control technology. Passengers simply look into a camera, and the system validates identity, retrieves flight data, and completes baggage check-in in under 60 seconds.  

Best Innovation in Airport Operations and Installations Management

Queen Alia International Airport
QAIA Smart Cleaning System: Redefining Facility Management Through Innovation

The Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) launched the Smart Cleaning System (SCS), a real-time, AI-powered platform to deliver faster, smarter, and more responsive service.  

Rather than cleaning on fixed schedules and following traditional reactive approaches, QAIA harnessed AI to proactively plan their cleaning operations. The heart of this system is their Cleaning Control Center (CCC), now operating 24/7 from inside the Operations Control Center (OCC). This move brings their cleaning team closer to airport operations and maintenance.  

The SCS integrates Airport Systems—including flight schedules, passenger flow, IoT sensors and passenger feedback along with, mobile tools and robotic support—into centralized dashboards, ensuring full visibility of cleaning activity and enabling proactive staffing and machine planning, scheduling, and task assignment. 

Best Airport Innovation Leader

Pablo Lopez Loeches
Aena

Pablo Lopez Loeches has reshaped the airport innovation landscape through strategic leadership at Aena. He led the planning and execution of the Innovation and Digital Transformation Strategic Plan, outlining the roadmap for the company in terms of innovation, including the technologies to be incorporated and Aena's investment commitment to innovation. He has also designed and managed Aena’s Open Innovation and Intrapreneurship initiatives, key tools for Aena’s innovative development and for promoting a culture of innovation. The development and consolidation of this innovation strategy have had a clear impact on Aena and the airport sector.  

Under Pablo’s leadership, more than 100 innovative projects have been carried out, having a clear impact across various areas of the organization including customer experience, airport efficiency and sustainability. 

Pablo began his career at Aena in 2016, after working at Airbus. He started as Innovation and Customer Experience Project Manager. In 2021 he was promoted to Head of the Technological Surveillance Department, and in 2023, his career was consolidated in the leadership position he currently holds: Head of the Ideation and Entrepreneurship Division.  

Best Innovation: Airport on the Rise

Roland Garros Airport
Bioclimatic Airport Building

Roland Garros Airport developed the world’s first large-scale bioclimatic terminal in a tropical environment. 

Designed to withstand increasingly intense weather on Réunion Island, it follows the PREBAT-Réunion method (ADEME), aiming for optimal user comfort with minimal energy use. This terminal embodies the airport company’s broader decarbonization strategy and environmental commitment. 

The winning design by AIA Life Designers meets ambitious sustainability goals by harnessing prevailing winds to naturally cool the building, reducing the need for air conditioning. It minimizes solar heat gain while maximizing natural light, ensures thermal comfort through passive design and airflow, incorporates landscaped cool zones to enhance the microclimate, and manages rainwater in ways that also support local biodiversity. 

Best Innovation in Airport Passenger Related Processes

Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL)
3D LED Holographic Signage Fan Displays

DAL introduced 3D LED hologram fan signs in the baggage claim area and near the TSA security checkpoint to announce the new location of the Transportation Network Center (TNC). These signs, displaying images like "Uber" and "Lyft" logos, taxis, people moving systems, and directional arrows, are bright, colorful, and highly visible—providing clearer guidance.

These signs work by spinning LED-embedded blades that emit light to create the illusion of a 3D image floating in mid-air.

Best Innovation in Airport Operations and Installations Management

Toronto Pearson International Airport
Optimizing Turnaround Operations Using Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Toronto Pearson is Canada’s largest airport and among the busiest globally. So, any inefficiency can affect flight schedules worldwide. It was among the first airports to adopt AI-powered turnaround management software, ApronAIBase by Assaia, to proactively resolve critical issues on the tarmac and improve their on-time performance (OTP).

ApronAIBase is integrated into daily operations across Toronto Pearson Airport to make smart decisions beyond the apron and uses the tool’s data with Terminal Service Representatives to increase efficiency and productivity by decreasing staff downtime in swing areas. The airport is also using the software data to develop a semi-automated towing solution. Their innovative use of ApronAIBase creates greater predictability for their partners, fewer delays, and a better passenger experience.

Best Airport Innovation Leader

Emanuele Calà
Aeroporti di Roma

Mr. Emanuele Calà, Vice President of Innovation & Quality at Aeroporti di Roma (ADR), has become a driving force for progress in the aviation industry. Under his leadership, ADR has shed its traditional airport operator image and transformed into a global innovation hub.

This shift began with his spearheading of an acceleration program that attracted approximately 1,000 international startups in three years. Furthermore, he established ADR Ventures, a venture capital arm strategically investing in aviation, passenger experience, and sustainability startups.

Mr. Calà also established the Airports for Innovations network, a collaborative airports ecosystem that transcends geographical borders by bringing together industry leaders, paving the way for the industry's first-ever joint Call for Startups to accelerate innovation on a global scale.

Best Small and Emerging Airport Innovation

Gerald R. Ford International Airport
Ford Launchpad for Innovative Technologies and Entrepreneurship (FLITE)

As one of the first airport-based innovation programs, the Ford Launchpad for Innovative Technologies and Entrepreneurship (FLITE) focuses on propelling the transformation of aviation by providing grant funding and live environment testing opportunities to companies focused on bringing emerging air travel technologies and solutions to market.

The Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority, in collaboration with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), Seamless Ventures, Southwest Airlines, the West Michigan Aviation Academy and Avflight, provide both funding and resources to the success of FLITE. FLITE has provided support to more than 20 companies, awarding more than $750,000 in total grant funds.

Best Innovation in Airport Passenger Related Processes

Incheon International Airport
Incheon Airport XR Metaverse Services, Connecting Virtuality and Reality

This project is a new and innovative metaverse-based service that allows passengers to enjoy Incheon Airport easily, smartly, and comfortably.

The Incheon Airport XR Metaverse consists of a 3D spatial metaverse environment providing an indoor wayfinding service of the actual passenger terminals (T1, T2 and Concourse), covering about 1.4 million square metres. It is based on 3D spatial data and augmented reality (AR) technology and offers a virtual experience of Incheon Airport using VR technology.

Furthermore, AR-based indoor wayfinding allows users to visit the digital version of the airport from home and get the necessary information by virtually experiencing various facilities and processes within the airport.

Best Innovation in Airport Operations and Installations Management

Hong Kong International Airport
Digital Apron and Tower Management System

This initiative represents the first airport and Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) collaboration system with a single digital platform.

Capitalizing on the latest digital video technology and in line with the ICAO Global Air Navigation Plan, Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) collaborated with the Civil Aviation Department (CAD) of Hong Kong to implement the Digital Apron and Tower Management Systems (DATMS) for Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA).

It allows the parties to overcome physical visual constraints by supplementing the out-of-window view with ultra-high-definition camera views on displays, overlaid with essential aircraft information to substantially enhance visual surveillance by airport and aerodrome operators.

Best Airport Innovation Leader

Maurice Jenkins, IAP, C.M.
Chief Innovation Officer, Miami International Airport

Maurice Jenkins is charismatic leader, masterful problem solver, and creator of technical foundations and innovative initiatives that bridge the gap between business needs and transformational solutions.

Jenkins has more than thirty years of experience and sustained superior performance directly linked to Miami International Airport's strategic growth and realization of its innovative objectives.

He has envisioned new technologies that improve business processes and customer experience and has been a keen adopter of self-service technologies, while also encouraging airlines serving the airport to embrace innovation.

Jenkins has also applied his expertise to help drive improvements for the benefit of the wider industry as Past Chairman of ACI North America’s Business Information Technology (BIT) Committee, which sponsors initiatives to develop ground-breaking airport technology-based service models and works with members and partners to encourage innovation in the industry.

Best Innovation in Airport Passenger Related Processes

Barcelona Airport
AENA Biometric journey from home to aircraft

AENA launched its third biometric project at Barcelona Airport for the Barcelona – Malaga Vueling route. This project is the most complete, covering the full passenger journey from home to the boarding gate.

Passengers enroll in the biometric program through the AENA app at home or at a check-in kiosk at the airport. The passengers use biometrics for the Self Bag Drop, to access the security control, and to board the plane.

Fully complying with data protection laws, the project allows passengers to travel without the need to show ID documents or a boarding pass at any point in the airport—enabling a seamless, touchless, and more agile experience at the airport.

 

 

 

 

 

Best Innovation in Airport Operations and Installations management

Incheon Airport
Data Sandbox

Incheon Airport developed a big data platform and launched the Airport Data Sandbox service to facilitate data collection and provide an analytics service to stakeholders in a user-friendly environment.

The analytics provide actionable information to stakeholders for areas such as real-time passenger flow, terminal congestion, delay forecast upon adverse weather, traffic forecast, transportation forecast, and Home-to-Airport service.

Airport Data Sandbox represents a massive step forward for interactive collaboration across the airport community, helping to better allocate resources, manage staff, customize the airport journey for customers, reduce costs, and improve operational efficiency.

Best Airport Innovation Leader

Suhail Kamil Kadri
Senior Vice President, Technology & Innovation at Hamad International Airport

Suhail is a leader among his peers for his career achievements and leadership in industry advisory boards and committees. His strong knowledge of the airport business, intuition for what technology will add value, and ability to forge strong partnerships has earned him multiple accolades and awards over the years.

Kadri led Hamad International Airport to become the first airport to successfully trial a single biometric passenger journey, making travelling through airport processes seamless, touchless, and digital. He served on the ACI World IT Standing Committee for many years as Vice Chair and now as Chair where he provided support to may initiatives such as ACRIS to drive standardization, interoperability and lower the cost of airport IT systems.

Suhail also encourages young companies through various means including securing corporate sponsorship and supporting emerging talent and future leaders of the industry.

Best Airport Innovation Leader

Mr. Dave Wilson
Director, Airport Innovation at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

Mr. Wilson has a long track record of innovation and promoting innovation within the global airport community.

During the pandemic, Wilson led the development of ACI’s Check & Fly app, which allows users to check ACI’s Health Measures Portal for the status of COVID-19 measures at hundreds of airports worldwide. Throughout the project, Wilson worked with a team of international airports to innovate this solution.

Among many initiatives, Wilson has contributed to ACI’s Community Recommended Information Services (ACRIS) and has worked tirelessly with airports, airlines, business partners and regulators to promote solutions like online car parking reservations, airport digital maps, online food ordering and food delivery robots. He has also served on several ACI and other committees promoting the adoption of new technologies in aviation.

Best Innovation in Airport Operations and Installations management

Frankfurt Airport
LuRAI – Luggage Recognition Artificial Intelligence

To reduce the percentage of misrouted bags, Frankfurt Airport’s operator Fraport developed a solution for baggage recognition based on Computer Vision Technology. Leveraging cameras that create a “digital fingerprint” of luggage, the system identifies mismatched bags in the baggage handling system (BHS) and automatically corrects any errors, hence minimizing the need for manual re-checking.

In the first three months of operation, the AI automatically detected and corrected 92% of all tracking errors, eliminating approximately 12,000 manual rechecks.

Best Innovation in Airport Passenger Related Processes

Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA)
Single Token Journey

Hong Kong International Airport’s Single Token Journey (STJ) enables passengers to pass through departure checkpoints simply by showing their faces.

Once a passenger has completed the check-in process using a smart check-in kiosk, a digital token is created at the backend by extracting the passenger’s passport and boarding pass information. The passenger can then use his/her face as identification and breeze throughout the airport—from bag drop to security checkpoint and boarding—eliminating the need to show travel documents and boarding pass again. The digital tokens are created without taking photos of the passengers, making the process less intrusive and increasing the enrolment rate.