II - Tools to support more efficient airport multimodality
These early-stage solutions will help to shape the direction of upcoming innovation in multimodal airport access.
Juan Blasco, MAIA technical coordinator
Air passengers rely on ground-based transport to get to and from the airport. These services need to be flexible and adaptive to take full account of fluctuating demand and specific mobility issues. With this in mind, EU initiatives such as Connected, Cooperative and Automated Mobility (CCAM)(opens in new window) and Urban Air Mobility (UAM)(opens in new window) aim to improve airport connectivity and increase journey resilience, while reducing environmental impact. The project MAIA(opens in new window), supported by SESAR JU(opens in new window), was launched to support the integration of these initiatives into airport access planning, through the development of advanced data analysis and modelling tools. “The project is currently in its final phase,” says technical coordinator Juan Blasco, from Nommon Solutions and Technologies(opens in new window) in Spain. Three solutions have been developed to date. MAIA-Engine offers data analytics and modelling capabilities to understand passenger expectations and simulate their behaviour. MAIA-CCAM supports the operation of shared autonomous vehicle fleets for airport access. And MAIA-UAM is designed to facilitate the deployment of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) services for airport access, by identifying optimal locations that balance passenger convenience with operational requirements.
Shifting away from private car use
Using these, MAIA aims to maximise the contribution of innovative mobility solutions to the competitiveness and sustainability of the European aviation sector. “The three solutions were trialled in two real-world case studies in Brussels and Madrid,” notes Blasco. “We assessed the potential for enhancing passenger experience, increasing capacity and improving environmental sustainability in airport access.” While the tools are not yet ready for industrial deployment, they represent an important foundation for future applied research. “These early-stage solutions will help to shape the direction of upcoming innovation in multimodal airport access,” adds Blasco. “They show how CCAM and UAM services can be configured and integrated within existing transport systems.” The ultimate goal is to enable the design of airport access services that offer compelling alternatives to private car use and enhance the passenger experience. “This modal shift will directly contribute to lower CO2 emissions associated with airport access, supporting broader environmental and climate objectives within the transport sector,” says Blasco.