MAIA: Tools to support more efficient airport multimodality

Advanced data analysis pioneered by the MAIA project will help airports to integrate more efficient and passenger-friendly means of access.

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) and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) aim to improve airport connectivity and increase journey resilience, while reducing environmental impact.

The SESAR JU -supported MAIA project 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 JuanBlasco, from Nommon Solutions andTechnologies in Spain.

Three solutions have been developed to date. MAIA-Engine offers data analytics and modellingcapabilities to understand passenger expectationsand simulate their behaviour. MAIA-CCAM supportsthe operationof sharedautonomous 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, MAIAaims tomaximise the contribution of innovativemobility 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.

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