A new publication by CORDIS, the European Commission's primary source for information on projects funded by the EU's research and innovation framework, is showcasing how the SESAR Joint Undertaking is making airports smarter and more connected, offering passengers more reliable and resilient transport.

Airports are at the heart of Europe’s transport system. As the European Union works to deliver smarter, more sustainable and connected mobility, transforming airport operations and linking air travel with other transport modes is essential. The Info Pack highlights 12 projects supported by the SESAR Joint Undertaking that are helping to make this transformation a reality – enhancing airside efficiency, improving traffic management in and around airports, and enabling seamless multimodal journeys. Europe’s sustainable and smart mobility strategy envisages seamless travel from door to door. Along with the European Green Deal and Fit for 55 plan, it calls for smarter, more sustainable aviation operations on the ground and in the air.

Airports sit at the intersection of these ambitions, acting as vital hubs within the transport network. The projects highlighted in the Pack work to improve multimodal mobility by linking airports with ground transport modes such as rail and bus lines. Data sharing allows smooth transfers between modes of transport, reducing travel times, and booking platforms that enable single-ticket journeys across multiple modes of transport. Innovations in digitalisation and AI enhance the efficiency of airport operations, offering improvements in collaboration across airports, situational awareness, managing possible disruptions, and passenger flow management.

They also ensure that airports operate as integral components of a broader European transport ecosystem, while preparing for the integration of new technologies such as unpiloted aircraft. Research and demonstration projects powered by SESAR are instrumental in testing new ideas and concepts in real-world airport environments.

These efforts are vital in making Europe’s transport system more resilient, efficient and environmentally sustainable, ensuring it meets the demands of the future.

Read the Projects Info Pack