Gatwick turns to artificial intelligence to ease security pinch points

Airport to introduce a ‘passenger predictability’ solution as volumes recover

Gatwick is to deploy AI-powered technology to improve passenger flows at security pinch points.

A ‘passenger predictability’ solution will be introduced as the airport rebuilds operations from the pandemic.

The system provided by UK tech firm Veovo aims to provide real-time awareness of movement by passengers in security areas at Gatwick’s two terminals.

“This insight guides the airport to plan layout and lane openings, predict bottlenecks, and make informed decisions on the go,” the company said.

Gatwick joins other major airports, including Manchester, Newark and Amsterdam Schiphol, in adopting the solution.

Airport development director Bronwen Jones said the cloud solution “will help to make our business more resilient by allowing us to accurately measure passenger flow so that we can respond quickly and efficiently to any changes”.

She added: “The new technology will not only lead to smoother journeys for our passengers by increasing automation and optimising our processes, but it is also future-proofed, scalable and, by being cloud-hosted off-site, supports our commitment to sustainability by reducing our energy footprint.”

Veovo chief executive James Williamson said the technology will to help make the security checkpoint experience “as efficient and smooth as possible”.

He said: “Harnessing all available data, together with behavioural science, will enable the airport to better learn from the past, predict the future, and make more informed decisions.

“We are confident that it will present a unique opportunity for the airport to optimise processes and improve people flow.”