At PTE World 2026 in London, SITA has revealed new insights into how airports can improve performance through better operational coordination, highlighting findings from its latest white paper on total airport management.
According to the company, airport performance is increasingly limited not by physical infrastructure such as runways, gates and terminals, but by how effectively airport operations are coordinated. As passenger volumes rise and airport ecosystems become more complex, fragmented decision-making across departments and systems is emerging as a key operational challenge.
The white paper argues that optimizing individual processes alone is no longer sufficient. Instead, airports need to align operational decisions in real time by connecting data, teams and partners across the airport ecosystem. Using predictive analytics and optimization tools, airports can respond to disruptions earlier, improve on-time performance and make better use of existing infrastructure.
SITA says the approach is already being implemented at Abu Dhabi, where a shared operational data platform connects airlines, ground handlers, air traffic control, government agencies and airport systems. The platform enables stakeholders to coordinate decisions earlier, helping the airport respond more effectively to operational pressures while supporting long-term growth.
The white paper highlights three structural challenges that currently limit coordination at many airports.
First, when departments focus only on their own performance indicators, overall airport performance can decline. Pressure in one part of the operation often shifts downstream rather than being resolved. A delay at check-in, for example, may lead to congestion at security or the gates.
Operational disruption remains widespread. According to a global disruption report by AirHelp, nearly 25% of passengers worldwide were affected by flight delays or cancellations in the first half of 2025.
Second, the paper notes that visibility alone does not guarantee coordinated action. Although many airports now use dashboards and control rooms to monitor operations, performance improvements only occur when teams operate from a shared operational picture linked to common targets and predictive insights.
This approach aligns with the principles of airport collaborative decision-making (A-CDM), supported by organizations including ACI World, IATA, ICAO and CANSO.
Third, any operational transformation must work alongside existing systems. SITA says intelligent total airport management builds on current infrastructure by integrating operational data into a shared source of information and using optimization tools to recommend actions without disrupting ongoing operations.
Nathalie Altwegg, SVP of airports at SITA, said, “Infrastructure investment remains essential. But infrastructure alone does not guarantee performance. Airports operate as interconnected systems.
“When operations are supported by predictive insights and optimization, teams can see pressure building earlier and respond before disruption spreads. That shift strengthens punctuality, improves resource use and supports a better passenger experience.”
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