Airports need for 5G Connectivity

The list below is based on data from UK CAA which (UK airport data 2023) shows statistics regarding the operational scale for the largest and smallest airports for passengers:

Largest airports (per annum):

1. London Heathrow: 79,000,000 passengers, 456,000 aircraft movements.
2. London Gatwick: 41,000,000 passengers, 256,000 aircraft movements.
3. Manchester Airport: 28,000,000 passengers, 180,000 aircraft movements.

Smallest airports (per annum):

1. Land's End Airport: 54,000 passengers, 7,500 aircraft movements.
2. Alderney Airport: 50,000 passengers, 7,200 aircraft movements.
3. Dundee airport: 38,000 passengers, 6,000 aircraft movements.

The top two airports in the UK for cargo (metric tonnes per year), supporting domestic and international logistics are:

1. Heathrow Airport: 1.7 million.
2. East Midlands Airport: 0.38 million.

Many businesses benefit from the aviation industry for the transport of people and goods and it brings foreign investment to the UK (AirportsUK-aviation-connectivity).

• Aviation supports UK exporters & importers of goods.
• Businesses use face to face travel to connect to customers, trade fairs and service their products.
• 75% of tourists travelling by air to the UK. 
• ACI EUROPE’s evidence shows that GDP grows by approximately 0.5% for every 10% of travel growth.

The largest airports such as Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester are the size of cities. There are hundreds of tenant companies, tens of thousands of employees and millions of passengers who pass through these large international airports each year. There are also large numbers of vehicles operating in the airport environment as well as large numbers of vehicles movements bringing in goods and people to and from the airport. Therefore, efficiency of operation is key to reliable operation to maintain flight schedules, profitability of the overall operation and also substantially contributes to passenger satisfaction.

An airport is a large interdependent ecosystem, with many organisations, all of whom rely on others. Airport operations are particularly relevant to the rapid and efficient turnaround of aircraft. Delays in aircraft departures at any time of the day has a knock-on effect throughout the rest of the day and causes significant logistical issues.

Total airport cost per passenger is increasing, with maintenance and repair increasing and passengers also want less waiting and processing through security and check-in time.

The integration of air transport to the other modes of transport will help to transform UK travel and move towards integrated transport, encouraging more use of public transport. Data sharing and integrated transport at transport hubs such as the airport perimeter is key to meeting this demand. 

There are strategic future demands also likely to emerge in the next 20 years with Urban Air Mobility (UAM). UAM (air taxis) as a concept is developing quickly as a further mode of transport. It is expected to be an integral and important part of the future transport ecosystem, including intra and intercity travel. The integration of this new mode of transport although many years away should be considered for future plans. It is likely UAMS’s will be made up of multiple locations around a city rather than have one or two large locations.

Acknowledgment:

The content of this paper includes excerpts and information from Ericsson, Frost and Sullivan, AoA and GOV.UK. Details of the papers referenced are contained in the Lessons Learned section of this toolkit, which also has the links.

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Images courtesy of Ericsson

Options for connectivity at airports don’t stack up well against 5G:

• Land Mobile Radio (LMR) is a two-way radio system used extensively in airports which is primarily for voice communication for operations and ground staff. These use 2 radio receivers (mobile or static), but data throughput is not fast enough for high data and video that service users (maintenance and security) now require. These legacy systems are aging and operating costs are relatively high. 
• Cabled networks can provide extremely high speeds with excellent predictability, but they lack flexibility and are difficult to modify and scale. 
• Wi-Fi cannot provide the stability of performance airport operations require for the new generation of digital products and services. Interference issues occur and they do not perform well when supporting combined indoor-outdoor services.

5G mobile networks with high reliability and low latency are needed to ensure the aviation ecosystem runs smoothly while providing 100% coverage both indoors and outdoors up to the airport perimeter fence. Airports need networks with good data upload speeds and throughput as well as download due to HD video and other security systems requiring live feeds. 

Cellular 5G connectivity enables high-speed, reliable mobile connectivity. It can support the technical requirements for airports, including AR-enabled services used for maintenance and baggage loading.

Public facing 5G connectivity in the airport environment is public commercial 5G, with the airport operations run through separate private networks to maintain operational resilience and for security.

Tailored connectivity solutions for every airport (role of connectivity in modern airports  - Airport Technology). Airports come in all shapes and sizes, and so do their connectivity needs. 

• Smaller airports:
  • Deploying small cell technology is an efficient and cost-effective way to boost coverage and volume of connected devices providing robust & reliable connectivity, while minimising equipment and installation. Neutral host small cell technology can service multiple telecoms operators, reducing the number of devices deployed.
  • An “integrated” private network could be used to take advantage of the public edge processing and provide separation of operations from the public network for security reasons.
• Larger more complex airports:
  • Multiple terminal buildings and floors, a distributed antenna system (DAS) can be used. Quality coverage throughout the building(s), eliminating localised not spots. Uniform coverage, keeping passengers connected throughout the airport. 
  • “Separated” private network offers a dedicated, low-latency service used for connectivity for thousands of devices, ideal for critical ground operations such as automated vehicles and as well as for optimising processes such as cargo handling.
  • Future proofing could be provided with network slicing of the private network and edge processing which would support advanced services such as drone inspections and automated baggage transport.

Ericsson recommends 5G based mobile communications implementation for effective Digital Airspace:

“enabling the digitization journey cost-effectively, an airport operator might start their cellular journey by connecting operational assets via network slicing services over a public network. Larger or more digital enabled airports could choose hybrid or fully isolated non-public network intended for operational use. 

Hybrid networks leverage operator expertise and provide a wide range of spectrum portfolio. They enable high data isolation, security, privacy and further service level agreement (SLA) customization including availability and reliability. Plus, they are interoperable with a public network for wide area service. On-site edge computing gateways enable very low-latency and fully localized processing and data storage, while edge computing on the mobile network operator edge and a network slice enables low latency and local storage/ processing. 

Dedicated Private network, provide dedicated resources which enables high security and privacy, along with access to a broad range of spectrum options from operators. It provides full control over design, timeline, SLAs and operations. Aviation stakeholders can outsource some or all of the design and management of the network to mobile network operators, system integrators or choose to build the competence in house.”

Ericsson have also provided further input to this publication to say “5G advanced localisation services can provide precision location capabilities and a spoof-free solution not dependent on GPS anymore (a growing concern highlighted by conflict zones of the world). 5G private networks can significantly improve operational efficiency for emerging Advanced Mobility and Vertiports. 5G offers co-location, providing 5G precision location for AirTaxis. Remote drone operations from airport security command centre for perimeter surveillance could also be enabled with 5G network slicing as well as Quality of Service on demand capabilities.”

Security must be robust due to the level of threats airports face due to the range of attacks and threats that are a regular occurrence. 5G offers the protection required with private networks offering isolation from internet accessed attacks.

5G private and public networks provide the flexibility for IoT and high date rate devices required to support the many new products and services already deployed plus the new generation of services being developed. The opportunity to eliminate LMR at the same time is an obvious cost offset.

Recommendations:

However, airport ownership and operation models vary significantly with large commercial collaborations such as Heathrow, Stansted, Gatwick and Manchester but smaller regional airports are funded by local authorities (e.g. Teesside international). This leads to variations in the ability to fund and adapt to the future, especially while operational performance and business throughput in passenger numbers and cargo is challenging for the smaller airports.

It is not clear how new products developments are being promoted to the industry to support the growth and improvement in performance of the airline industry. For the airports to upgrade at this critical time and with air transport a key factor for the UK economic growth, dialogue between central government DSIT, DfT and the CAA is crucial. Airports UK as the airports representative group should also be consulted as there are likely policy implications. Airlines should also be included in this consultation as major stakeholders and operators within the airports environment.

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Image courtesy of Ericsson

In anticipation of a full recovery of passenger volumes and to boost economic growth the UK government has also announced support to Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted for infrastructure and runway upgrades/expansion (Q1, 2025). According to UK government (Jan 2025, Update on airport expansion - GOV.UK)

“The UK has the third largest aviation network in the world after the USA and China…..The government is committed to securing the long-term future of the UK’s aviation sector and if the UK is to remain competitive as a global leader in aviation, it’s crucial that aviation infrastructure remains world-class.

Capacity constraints are hindering the country’s ability to reap the growth benefits of aviation. Heathrow is the largest airport in Europe by passenger traffic and one of the busiest in the world and is running at nearly full capacity …

UK’s position as a hub for global trade through air freight, which represented 57% of the UK’s non-EU exports by value in 2023. Air freight is particularly important for supporting export-led growth in sectors where goods are of high value or time critical.

The international connectivity provided by the aviation industry drives investment in the UK, granting global companies access to British markets, and adds billions to the UK economy through tourism. In 2023, overseas residents spent over £31 billion on their visits to the UK.

According to the Department for Transport (DfT) analysis of Office for National Statistics (ONS) statistics, the air transport sector directly contributed £14 billion to UK GDP in 2023 and provided over 140,000 jobs across the UK in 2022, supporting many more jobs indirectly.”

Aviation contributed more than £92bn to the UK economy pre-pandemic. This industry supports more than a million jobs overall and provides more than £8 billion in tax revenues to the government in the UK (AirportsUK-aviation-connectivity).

Air freight transport revenue was approximately £990 million in 2022 (Air freight transport market-Statista).

UK airports handle a significant amount of cargo and passengers annually. According to the latest data from the Civil Aviation Authority, in 2024, UK airports managed approximately:

• 2.0 million tonnes of cargo
• 226 million terminal passengers

The UK has 40 large commercial airports for passengers and cargo and many more much smaller airports primarily used for leisure. These large airports vary significantly in size and passenger traffic. The top 10 largest airports in the UK, ranked by total passenger traffic:

1. London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
2. London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
3. Manchester Airport (MAN)
4. London Stansted Airport (STN)
5. London Luton Airport (LTN)
6. Edinburgh Airport (EDI)
7. Birmingham Airport (BHX)
8. Bristol Airport (BRS)
9. Glasgow Airport (GLA)
10. Belfast International Airport (BFS)

The business operation is best illustrated by looking at the scale of the operation for the largest and smallest airport. 

London Heathrow Airport (The largest in UK)

• Employees: Around 75,000 employees.
• Businesses: Over 500 businesses operating within the airport.

• Revenue: Estimated at £3 billion annually.

   

Land's End Airport (One of the smallest)

• Employees: Approximately 50 employees.
• Businesses: Fewer than 10 businesses operating within the airport.
• Revenue: Estimated at £1 million annually.

Costs and opportunities cited by Ericsson for the U.S. airport industry provides an indication of the opportunities for the UK, a very similar operating environment:

• Turnaround delay costs approximately 10% of US aviation revenue. 
• Airport total cost per passenger is increasing while industry return on invested capital (6.6%) and airlines net profit margin (3.1%) is declining year-on-year. 
• Maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) demand and hence labour is increasing. 
• 1.5% increase of airport revenue came from 1% customer satisfaction improvement, compared to 0.7% revenue increase from a 1% increase in passenger numbers. 

On time performance of flights leaving within a 15 minute window of scheduled departure time was running at 65% in 2024, with an average flight delay of 19 minutes (Quarterly statistics | Civil Aviation Authority).

To add context to operational efficiency drive, passenger numbers are expected to surpass pre pandemic numbers in the UK next year and continue to grow beyond that (Bain-Travel Forecast to 2030). Travel from Africa and Asia-Pacific will as well as domestic population especially in younger population will drive a growth in passengers (IATA - Air passenger forecasting 2024-2044).

Aviation accounts for between 2.5% to 3% of global CO2 emissions and it is expected that the contribution of aviation will likely increase in the future with increased demand for air travel (Frost&Sullivan-Innovations-in-Airport-Digitalization ). Airports and their substantial operations contribute to this and need to make improvements to sustainability and CO2as defined by the UK governments “Jet Zero Strategy” which defines a target of reaching net zero emissions by 2050. 

If Urban Air Mobility adoption starts to establish in the next few years, this will have a knock-on impact by encouraging localised travel and promoting air travel. It will also be an arterial to airports as another source of passengers.

Punctuality trends

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Images courtesy of CAA

Operational insights to know how everything is functioning which enables improved reliability and efficiency through the insights gained: 

• Airside Operations to improve reliability & efficiency of aircraft turnaround.
• Airport Operations to improve efficiency & robustness of passenger and goods throughput.
• CO2 and sustainability to optimise heating, cooling, ventilation, vehicles and emissions.
• Safety and wellbeing of operational staff in airports.

Passenger experience:

• Improving security efficiency and speed of check-in, reduces wait time and leads to happier passengers. More relaxed passengers within the airport retail operation will tend to spend more money as they have more time for recreation, food and shopping. 
• Customer satisfaction of joined up data and information across the full journey from home to destination.

From Frost & Sullivan, Airport Show 2022, various benefits are claimed based on digital connectivity and intelligent data: 

• 25% reduction in misplaced baggage through use of RFID for baggage tracking.
• 30-40% reduction in passenger screening and passenger check-in times uses data analytics.
• 30% improved boarding time through data analytics and biometrics.
• 30% improvement in retail revenue due to shorter security queue wait times due to better passenger management using passenger counting & movement tracking with IoT devices.
• 50% improved parking capacity using autonomous robots for car manoeuvring/towing.
• 85% reduction in emissions through use of automated and electric vehicles.
• 80% improvement in detection of illegal substances using nano technology services vs ion spectrometry devices. 

Use cases that focus on “Efficiency, Operations and Safety” Airside and in the Airport includes many monitoring and digital interface systems

• Asset monitoring using IoT devices:
  • Assets locations such as aircraft access stairways, cargo, baggage, vehicles to optimise the logistics to ensure assets are at the right place at the right time.
  • Passenger crowding monitoring and staff tracking and utilisation.
  • Passenger conveniences monitoring bins, washrooms, floors etc to optimise cleaning
  • Storage of goods within the airport e.g. perishable goods, food, pharmaceuticals.
• Condition monitoring of airport infrastructure, service vehicles & machinery to improve preventative maintenance.
• Risks and hazards (people, animals & weather) monitoring within airport environment. 
• Airport emissions / pollution and energy useage monitoring.
• Digital recording of aircraft preparation and checks, from food to fuel and aircraft control system to eliminate mistakes in inventory & record management (remove paper trails).
• Full journey tracking for cargo, linking air, rail, road to optimise transport times.
• Baggage handling and loading both in the aircraft and at the baggage reclaim.
• Single device interface for staff, removing push to talk systems.

In addition, there is a significant opportunity for AUTOMATION in the larger commercial airports. This grouping of products and services requires low latency and reliable data, with high reliability to support remote control and supervision of vehicles and equipment. Significant automation product examples include:

• Automated baggage handling vehicles between the aircraft and the passenger terminal.
• Automated transport vehicles to shuttle personnel around the airport on demand. 
• Infrastructure & asset monitoring such as drone inspections.
• Flight data off load

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Image courtesy of Frost & Sullivan (Frost&Sullivan - Digitalization-and-Urban-Air-Mobility