AI firms collaborate with Heathrow to enhance operations
Above: Sarah Owen, Business Development Director, Assaia and Neil Pritchard, Programme Lead, Heathrow.
Courtesy Assaia
The rollout is part of ongoing investment to modernise infrastructure, enhance operations, and support growing passenger numbers. A major focus of the programme is supporting timely take-offs and landings.
Central to the initiative is Assaia’s ApronAI system, an AI-powered video analytics platform that monitors aircraft turnarounds – the critical window between arrival and departure.
The system tracks key turnaround tasks in real time, such as baggage unloading, refuelling and boarding. This gives Heathrow and airline partners – including British Airways – the insights needed to reduce delays, improve gate efficiency and strengthen daily operations.
Christiaan Hen, CEO, Assaia, said: “Heathrow is setting a benchmark for how airports can use intelligent technology to meet today’s operational pressures while preparing for future growth. By deploying ApronAI at scale, Heathrow is improving on-time performance, unlocking valuable gate capacity and enhancing the passenger experience, all without waiting for new infrastructure expansion.”
The deployment builds on a successful first phase at Terminal 5, where Assaia’s ApronAI was integrated into operations in collaboration with British Airways. In this initial rollout, 52 cameras were installed across 17 stands. Each stand is now equipped with approximately three cameras monitoring both the stand and the jetty to track activities that directly influence an aircraft’s readiness for departure.
More than 540 cameras will be installed as the rollout extends across all three terminals, covering 116 gates in total.
Sarah Owen, Business Development Director, Assaia, said: “Our collaboration with IAG and British Airways began through the IAGi Accelerator Programme, which provided an invaluable opportunity to deploy and develop early versions of our solution in real-world operational settings. Since then, our partnership has continued to deepen, with equity investment from IAG and roll out alongside British Airways at Terminal 5.
“ApronAI provides the real-time insights needed to streamline turnaround operations, reduce aircraft idle time and cut unnecessary fuel burn, supporting both operational and environmental goals. This collaboration with Heathrow, British Airways and IAG shows how integrated technology can deliver immediate, measurable results. We’re proud to be supporting this step forward for one of the world’s busiest and most ambitious airports.”
Neil Pritchard, Heathrow Programme Lead, said: “Investing in advanced technologies like AI and computer vision can help enhance planning and the predictability of Heathrow’s daily operations. This collaboration is a strong example of how forward-thinking partnerships are delivering real benefits today and preparing us for the future.”
