Airports are increasingly identifying the need to switch to the latest cloud systems in order to improve operational efficiencies and compete “challenging marketplace”, according to an Amadeus report.
The study, IT make sense to share: making the case for the cloud in common use airport technology, collects the viewpoints of more than 20 senior IT leaders from the airport industry to investigate the business case for adopting cloud based common use systems at airports.
The report found that rising business pressures from stakeholders and competitors mean airports must make the most efficient use of IT resources to operate effectively, and work more collaboratively with airlines, while looking for alternative revenue streams to remain competitive.
The paper states the industry is ready to adopt "next generation" solutions to maximise the operational and commercial performance of the sector. However, some airports still have doubts stemming from concerns about resilience, privacy, security and risk – although the report states “attitudes to these are gradually changing”.
London Gatwick airport’s CIO Michael Ibbitson said: “Today’s setup is reliant on out-dated technology and is not really embracing the revolutionary capability of the Internet.
“Each airline using [Amadeus’] Common Use Passenger Processing Systems (CUPPS) system needs to build integration locally, on-site.
“The aviation industry has tried to address the problem with the development of CUPPS standards but, in doing so, seems to have reinforced the existing structure rather than instigate change.”
Ibbitson added: “It is time to embrace technology as quickly as possible, and develop a fundamental shift in aviation IT.”
Amadeus’ head of airport IT John Jarrell said airports need to look for new way to compete and maximise the value of their resources.
“Dedicated cloud providers can lower costs for airports thanks to economies of scale, among many other benefits that allow airports the flexibility to service their customers better.”