International Airport Review
Gabriel Higgins
27 May 2025
Ten leading airports select innovative startups to pilot solutions in AI, luggage handling, navigation, and green energy across real-world environments.
Airports for Innovation (A4I), a coalition of ten leading global airport operators, has announced the winners of its first joint call for startups, marking a major step in industry-wide innovation. The initiative, launched between 12 September and 28 October 2024, sought pioneering digital solutions to address four key challenges in aviation, including sustainability, AI and passenger experience. A total of 292 proposals from 283 startups across 36 countries were submitted, with 25 finalists presenting their ideas during Pitch Days held on 27–29 January 2025.
The ten founding members of A4I are Aeroporti di Roma, Aena, Athens International Airport, Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Vancouver International Airport, Munich Airport, Dubai Airports, Oman Airports, and Narita International Airport. Their shared goal is to test and eventually scale innovative solutions that enhance operations, improve sustainability, and deliver superior passenger experiences.
