The UK Government’s innovation accelerator agency, Connected Places Catapult, has agreed a multi-year partnership with Glasgow Airport to create the country’s first Connected Airport Living Lab.
The living lab will play host to new technologies, innovations, systems and processes designed to enhance the passenger experience and freight management. It aims to boost productivity and will accelerate decarbonisation of ground and air operations, including the electrification of flight, the use of hydrogen, automation data analytics and multimodal connected surface-level access.
Central to the project will be a holistic vision of the airport as a highly innovative net zero place, that plays an important part in developing the city-region’s skills-base and full economic potential. The Catapult will use its global reach to highlight international examples of airports successfully integrating amenities such as university campuses and entertainment venues into their offering.
“New technologies have the power to transform the experience of everyone who interacts with the airport,” Andy Cliffe, CEO of AGS Airports. “As passenger numbers continue to recover after the pandemic, we want to develop a more inclusive passenger experience and as Scotland’s largest cargo airport by freight value, there is an opportunity to grow the volume of imports and exports moving through Glasgow.”
He added that making Glasgow the UK’s first Connected Airport Living Lab will put the airpot at the forefront of new developments that can make journeys and freight movements smoother. “This partnership also aligns with our own sustainability commitments to balance the undoubted economic and social benefits the airport delivers with our climate change responsibilities,” he concluded.
