Gatwick has become the first airport to use cloud-based technology supplied by Amadeus, that will allow it to significantly increase the number of flights it handles.
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Gatwick pioneers Amadeus cloud-based tech to improve efficiency
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Gatwick has become the first airport to use cloud-based technology supplied by Amadeus, that will allow it to significantly increase the number of flights it handles.
The Airport-Collaborative Decision Making Portal (A-CDM) will enable the airport to manage 55 flights per hour and cater for an additional two million passengers a year on its single runway, already the world’s busiest single runway.
Gatwick is among a small group of airports to join the Europe-wide A-CDM standard, with others including Munich, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Madrid and Zurich.
Gatwick opted to use Amadeus’ cost effective cloud technology to speed up the implementation time of A-CDM. As a result it was able to roll out the portal to 300 users in just eight weeks.
A-CDM has been designed to make airports operate more efficiently and transparently by sharing accurate information with key stakeholders in a timely manner.
Amadeus said this should result in better air traffic management with fewer delays and increased capacity, as well as an improved passenger experience.
The Amadeus A-CDM Portal can predict future flight problems over a three-to-four hour period, identifying which flights might be delayed and how they can be turned around faster to make sure they leave on time, even if they arrived late.
With accurate data stakeholders can make cooperative decisions to rapidly deal with operational issues.
Michael Ibbitson, chief information officer of London Gatwick Airport, said: “We have received extremely positive feedback from our Amadeus A-CDM Portal stakeholders.
“It is easy to use and enables them to make better decisions that contribute to smoother and more efficient operations.
“The portal supports all partners at the airport involved in activities from refuelling and de-icing and to ground handling and cargo. Those employees have access to real-time data about what’s happening across London Gatwick – it’s a game changer.
“We constantly strive to embrace new technologies at London Gatwick that will improve the travel experience and operating environment.
“We estimate that thanks to Amadeus’ A-CDM Portal, we will be able to increase capacity to more than 40 million passengers on a single runway following wider adoption of the portal in the next year or so.”
John Jarrell, Amadeus’s head of airport IT, added: “Communication gaps still prevail in the airport ecosystem – a collaborative approach is key to align on aspects such as disruptions, flight information, number of bags on board and passengers in transit. We hope to see other airports follow Gatwick’s innovative use of the Amadeus A-CDM Portal to facilitate improved communications and operational efficiency.”
