Smarter Airports, Stronger Europe: Delivering Aviation Transformation

Smarter Airports, Stronger Europe: Delivering Aviation Transformation, brings together real-world examples of how airports across Europe are using research and innovation to tackle operational challenges and improve performance.

Every airport faces the same challenge: how do you handle more passengers, cut emissions and improve resilience without building more infrastructure? 

Across Europe, airports are already finding answers. Working with partners through the SESAR Joint Undertaking, they are using digital technologies, artificial intelligence and new ways of collaborating to transform the way aviation operates. 

This publication tells those stories. 

It showcases how research and innovation are helping airports gain visibility on their operations and increase efficiency by connecting to the wider network, which ultimately delivers benefits for passengers, communities, and the European economy 1. 

For airports, these stories provide practical examples of how other airports are solving real operational challenges. The aim is not simply to showcase innovation, but to inspire others to adopt solutions that are already proving their value. 

For policymakers, the stories highlight the importance of Europe’s innovation community in driving real change in a crucial sector for the continent’s connectivity, cohesion and competitiveness. These stories show the value of cross-border and cross-sector collaboration and how technological advances translate into practical benefits for citizens, businesses, and regions.