Efficient airports
Airports are among the most complex and high volume transport hubs, and efficient operations require an optimal mix of assets, systems, process, people and culture.
We work to ensure all dimensions of airport operational life are aligned and harmonious, leading to an organisation that’s ready to address operational challenges and infrastructure changes, from senior leadership down to frontline operatives.
Operational performance improvement
Detailed, holistic understanding of a business is essential to successful, sustained performance improvement. We provide operations consulting services to support airlines and airport operators in the planning, implementation and ongoing improvement of their operations. We help our clients to establish and deliver sustainable business improvement through a combination of specific aviation sector experience in operations management and performance improvement with wider cross-industry expertise.
Asset management
Our teams develop robust and reliable asset management solutions essential for long-term business stability, preservation and resilience. Our analysis examines whole life considerations of critical assets to ensure they meet the needs of the business and remain valuable for the long term. We assist our clients to make informed decisions in line with their business objectives, linking the top-level drivers with Asset Management activities as they are carried out on the ground. This “line of sight” enables the management of assets to be optimised over the entire asset life cycle based on informed decisions and to ensure the tools are in place to implement these decisions–all within a strategic business framework and best practice asset management principles.
Baggage handling systems
Baggage handling is central to the success and efficiency of airport operations. With a team of experts drawn from airlines, airports and system suppliers, we are able to provide an independent and pragmatic approach to planning, design and implementation of systems and operations. We are uniquely able to develop solutions, fully integrated and coordinated with passenger processes and IT systems with terminal and airside infrastructure, be they for new facilitates or upgrades of existing installations.
Logistics
Our logistics team helps airports to ensure the efficient inward and outward movement of goods, people, waste and resources. We develop efficient and effective logistics strategies for retail, servicing, trolleys and ground support equipment, which inform the planning, design and operation of airport infrastructure. Clients gain a sustainable goods in/waste out logistics design, analysis and plan tailored to existing and future airport operations.
Operational readiness, activation and transition (ORAT)
Airports are under increasing competitive pressures to enhance the passenger, visitor and staff experience. They need to become operationally more efficient and effective. There are opportunities to generate new revenues from technology-driven services. There are challenges to effectively integrate technology into capital programmes. And every airport eventually faces the need to successfully bring new terminals and related facilities into operation.
Our ORAT process prepares airport operators for all of these and many other challenges. We combine our understanding of the built environment, with the operational needs of an airport, our in-depth technical knowledge and our people and process specialists to provide a globally experienced team that mitigates client risk to provide a successful opening day of a new facility.
In 2019, in response to increasing population growth, work commenced on a $260 million terminal expansion - adding 30,000 square metres of space.
Our operational consultants worked closely with the airport as a trusted advisor and developed a detailed operational readiness strategy. The project management team supported the implementation by upskilling the airport’s operational team and managing a rigorous trial programme.
Together, over 30 trials were conducted to test all aspects of the strategy in isolation to uncover risks, such as check-in and boarding.
Learn more
To find out more about our aviation experience and how we can help, download our aviation brochure.
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Explore
Learn more about our work and how our services can support your project
Projects
Explore more aviation projects:
Transforming the travel experience at Zayed International Airport
Zayed International Airport Terminal A, United Arab Emirates
Crafting a New York–inspired atmosphere for passengers traveling through JFK’s global gateway to the world
JFK New Terminal One Art, Branding, and Digital Experience Program, USA
Helping Vancouver International Airport to prepare for unexpected weather
Vancouver International Airport After Action Review, Canada
Seamless redevelopment and renovation at George Bush Intercontinental Airport
IAH Terminal Redevelopment Program, USA
Aviation
Arup is a global leader in airport master planning, airport terminal and support facility designs and many other specialist services the industry relies on.