Keep Score: Data Driven Operations

PT World | January 2026
12 Dec 2025

Data-driven operations: how real-time platforms are redefining airport management

According to an October 2025 report by McKinsey & Company, airports using the right technology in the right way can boost EBITDA by 6-8%. The right technology is, of course, different for each individual airport, but some overriding solutions that have high potential to improve airport revenue, productivity and efficiency emerged in McKinsey’s analysis, including digital twins, sensorization, Gen AI, capacity planning and optimization, and infrastructure predictive maintenance.

However, McKinsey & Company’s report suggests that many airports around the world are “overdue for a digital transformation” with some “hampered by legacy software systems, scattered data and stalled projects that seem stuck in pilot mode.”

One of the key takeaways from the report is the need to encourage airport management to look at other advanced airports to help accelerate the digital transformation. PT World spoke to two standout examples, Houston Airport System (HAS) in the USA and Finavia in Finland, which have overcome the scattered data challenge with smart, in-house innovation, providing key insights into operational efficiency and passenger experience.

Keep Score: Data Driven Operations - PT World | January 2026 - 12 Dec 2025