The aviation sector has suffered from the dramatic effects of the COVID-19 crisis. Airports face serious financial risks as most of them struggle to cover their basic operating costs. But while their ability to finance capital projects may pose another financial risk, airports have reasons to maintain and develop their infrastructure. We look at three reasons.
Before the crisis, airport spending was focused on capacity and sustainability – how to increase capacity and how to decarbonise the airport. But over the past year, the challenge for airports has been to adapt their operations to the “new normal” while trying to move forward.
The COVID-19 crisis has forced many airports to pause infrastructure development – either postponing expansion projects or scaling back projects deemed less important.
But despite the financial crisis, it is advisable for airports to maintain infrastructure development for the following reasons.
- SOCIAL DISTANCING RULES
First, there is no doubt that there will be regulatory changes ahead that will affect the safety and well-being of passengers and airport staff. Social distancing measures will have an immediate impact on terminal capacity in relation to traffic.
Regulatory requirements requiring healthy distancing will be felt, for example, during baggage check-in and baggage return. Hence, a baggage handling system (BHS) that can ensure this will be important in particular:
Security during check-in: a solution for contactless bag drop will be needed here. Crisbag® self drop drop, for example, simplifies and streamlines the check-in process and allows passengers to quickly move to less crowded areas of the airport. In addition, it requires minimal maintenance, which can be performed by one employee.
Security on arrival: similarly, a remote return system will be required. An automated on-demand return solution will allow passengers to keep track of their luggage throughout their journey and avoid crowding at one return location, ensuring the safety of both arriving passengers and staff.
- OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY
Secondly, it is more important than ever that operators invest in airport infrastructure to reduce their costs and increase efficiency to return profits. And some terminal upgrades are now only possible during low traffic times. Airports will need to consider technologies and system designs that can achieve long-term operational efficiencies. In their BHS, this may require, for example:
Optimised baggage screening: improved screening technology that does not lose track, is faster and requires fewer screening units.
Batch bagging: faster, more efficient, space saving, operator driven, flexible and resource optimizing.
Multi-purpose baggage storage: combined with batch construction, it can improve handling processes and make better use of staff and building space.
Video encoding technology: to encode illegible tags on the bag, which improves productivity and optimizes resources.
Data analysis: to improve and predict maintenance, operation and management problems in their BHS.
- COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY
Thirdly, while the ongoing crisis also challenges plans to upgrade airport infrastructure for sustainability and resilience, the global airport community remains committed to Sustainable Development Goal 9. As such, investment in infrastructure will be needed more than ever to accelerate recovery and stimulate job creation.
Airport infrastructure projects, such as the Individual Carrier System (ICS) technology at BHS, can help operators meet SDG 9 targets. ICS technologies can deliver energy savings of up to 60 percent compared to conventional belt technology.
There are good reasons why airports must continue to develop their infrastructure in times of low traffic and revenue. When operations resume, safe distances for passengers and staff will be a prerequisite. It will be more important than ever that airports can operate at optimal efficiency to make up for lost revenue. And airports will need to continue to prioritise sustainability and their SDG 9 commitments. Given the importance that airport infrastructure such as BHS will give to these imperatives, it is arguable that infrastructure development should be prioritised.