Expanding non-aeronautical income

The growing expectation of airport owners is to find ways to expand non-aeronautical income to supplement aircraft landing fees and passenger charges. Traditionally this has been through airport-based experiences such as retail, dining, leisure and entertainment. In the future, this could be quite different.

For instance, what if airports could be the energy agent not just for themselves, but also for the precincts around them? They could be ‘hardened energy nodes’ – microgrids with better-than-average resilience to grid disturbances – able to restore power to the grid network to recover from a total or partial shutdown.

Reimagining an airport, not as a standalone business, but as a highly interconnected, living and adaptive environment reflects a broader trend towards ecosystem thinking. It aligns with the notion that airports are significant socio-economic drawcards to their surrounding areas. They provide direct and indirect employment, as well as social (and economic) benefits to people who fly.

These benefits result from two main areas: 1) construction on site, and daily operation of the airport terminals and ground operations; and 2) flights, access to the airport (cars, buses, trains, parking etc.) and associated projects such as hotels and airport-related precinct developments.

Opportunities to decarbonise

A factor in the successful transformation of airports beyond COVID-19 is the opportunity to decarbonise infrastructure, operations and systems. A decarbonised recovery would ensure that aviation continues to provide economic and social benefits to local, regional and national communities.

It is important to be pragmatic about the short-, medium- and long-term opportunities to decarbonise airports.

Purchasing carbon offsets, for example, is a less preferred approach than direct emissions reduction in reaching long-term goals. Some technology is not yet mature enough to implement across every airport estate successfully and cost-effectively, however with future improvements, implementation may become more viable. Successful initiatives, even small in terms of initial investment and return, can contribute to an altered decarbonisation mindset, inspiring an airport to focus on and monitor, emerging technologies.

The pathway to decarbonisation may not be the same for every region, in particular major city and regional, but that is expected, with some regions achieving their milestones earlier than others.

Short-term opportunities

Measures in the short-term (ie those that can be implemented immediately), which may assist airport owners to decarbonise their operations and reduce climate impacts. Short-term measures applied as a long-term strategy to decarbonisation could be the most productive at laying the foundation for a prosperous and sustainable industry.

Short-term measures applied as a long-term strategy to decarbonisation could be the most productive at laying the foundation for a prosperous and sustainable industry.

3

Inverse runway line marking to reduce the heat island effect from vast expanses of pavement.

2

Electrical fixed ground power and pre-conditioned air provisions to reduce airport auxiliary power unit inefficiencies.

8

Roof water collection in rainwater tanks reduces mains potable water use.

4

Ceramic window films that reflect heat to reduce the greenhouse effects of large, glazed terminal buildings.

9

Deploy passive daylighting systems, using less energy to keep buildings lit.

6

Predictive modelling of heating, ventilation and cooling to vary ambient temperatures and reduce the cooling/heating efforts of these systems, optimising performance and economics.

10

Tactical ground support equipment storage and scheduling to reduce distance driven.

11

Operational planning to reduce aircraft delays.

13

Turn the airport facilities into a smart building with low emissions.

5

Solar canopies on ground-level carparks to offset electricity purchase and power electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.

7

Deploy hybrid / low emissions landside transport and ground support equipment.

12

Planning and design of airside to reduce aircraft taxiing distances and congestion.

1

Ambient temperature reductions at the airport through use of recycled water, pavement sprinklers and introduction of cooling grass crops.

Reduce ambient temperatures with cooling grass crops

Reduce airport auxiliary power unit inefficiencies with fixed ground power

Inverse runway line marking to reduce the heat island effect

Solar canopies on ground-level carparks to offset electricity

Predictive modelling of heating, ventilation and cooling to vary ambient temperatures

Deploy hybrid / low emissions landside transport and ground support equipment

Roof water collection in rainwater tanks reduces mains potable water use

Tactical ground support equipment storage and scheduling to reduce distance driven

Operational planning to reduce aircraft delays

Planning and design of airside to reduce aircraft taxiing distances and congestion

Turn the airport facilities into a smart building with low emissions

Hover over the numbers to reveal the opportunities to decarbonise in the short-term.

Ambient temperature reductions at the airport through use of recycled water, pavement sprinklers and introduction of cooling grass crops.
Electrical fixed ground power and pre-conditioned air provisions to reduce airport auxiliary power unit inefficiencies.
Inverse runway line marking to reduce the heat island effect from vast expanses of pavement.
Ceramic window films that reflect heat to reduce the greenhouse effects of large, glazed terminal buildings.
Solar canopies on ground-level carparks to offset electricity purchase and power electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.
Predictive modelling of heating, ventilation and cooling to vary ambient temperatures and reduce the cooling/heating efforts of these systems, optimising performance and economics.
Deploy hybrid / low emissions landside transport and ground support equipment.
Roof water collection in rainwater tanks reduces mains potable water use.
Deploy passive daylighting systems, using less energy to keep buildings lit.
Tactical ground support equipment storage and scheduling to reduce distance driven.
Operational planning to reduce aircraft delays.
Planning and design of airside to reduce aircraft taxiing distances and congestion.
Turn the airport facilities into a smart building with low emissions.

Medium-term opportunities

Measures in the medium-term (ie those that are feasible with new assets or modifications to traditional assets), which may assist airports to decarbonise their operations and reduce climate impacts. To succeed in putting the aviation industry on a pathway to decarbonisation, new types of alternative fuels need to be introduced in the medium-term, alongside consideration of heat recovery systems.

Measures in the medium-term which may assist airports to decarbonise their operations and reduce climate impacts.

4

Natural ventilation system that drives fresh air into the building, while the warm, stuffy air inside rises and is expelled.

5

Passive heating and cooling systems reduce total annual energy consumption.

2

Vehicle to grid, allowing electric vehicles with known multi-day idle times (based on passenger itinerary) to be part of the on-site electricity storage system.

7

Improved public transport infrastructure to and from the airport.

6

Supply of sustainable aviation fuel, such as biofuel.

8

Heat recovery from chiller plants to generate hot water for buildings.

1

Biofuel (biomass) energy supplementation/generation, instead of diesel, to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and provide additional revenue and cost savings by participating in grid services markets.

3

Increased electrification of ground transport using mix of battery-electric and hydrogen.

9

Farms and agricultural production in surrounding areas to reduce food transport distance for distribution by air.

10

Alternative airfield construction methods to lower material use, transport and waste along the supply chain supporting the airport.

11

Centralised waste and recycling facility – capture waste for energy, and recycle energy.

12

Recycled stormwater to irrigate vegetative cover to lower air temperature on hot days.

Biofuel (biomass) energy supplementation/generation

Vehicle to grid, allowing electric vehicles with known multi-day idle times

Increased electrification of ground transport using mix of battery-electric and hydrogen

Natural ventilation system that drives fresh air into the building

Passive heating and cooling systems reduce total annual energy consumption

Supply of sustainable aviation fuel, such as biofuel

Improved public transport infrastructure to and from the airport

Heat recovery from chiller plants to generate hot water for buildings

Farms and agricultural production in surrounding areas to reduce food transport distance for distribution by air

Alternative airfield construction methods to lower material use

Centralised waste and recycling facility – capture waste for energy, and recycle energy

Recycled stormwater to irrigate vegetative cover to lower air temperature on hot days

Hover over the numbers to reveal the opportunities to decarbonise in the medium-term.

Biofuel (biomass) energy supplementation/generation, instead of diesel, to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and provide additional revenue and cost savings by participating in grid services markets.
Vehicle to grid, allowing electric vehicles with known multi-day idle times (based on passenger itinerary) to be part of the on-site electricity storage system.
Increased electrification of ground transport using mix of battery-electric and hydrogen.
Natural ventilation system that drives fresh air into the building, while the warm, stuffy air inside rises and is expelled.
Passive heating and cooling systems reduce total annual energy consumption.
Supply of sustainable aviation fuel, such as biofuel.
Improved public transport infrastructure to and from the airport.
Heat recovery from chiller plants to generate hot water for buildings.
Farms and agricultural production in surrounding areas to reduce food transport distance for distribution by air.
Alternative airfield construction methods to lower material use, transport and waste along the supply chain supporting the airport.
Centralised waste and recycling facility – capture waste for energy, and recycle energy.
Recycled stormwater to irrigate vegetative cover to lower air temperature on hot days.

Long-term opportunities

Measures in the long-term (ie those that are reliant on emerging technologies still to mature), which may assist airports to decarbonise their operations and reduce climate impacts.

A collaborative approach is essential to achieving the opportunities to decarbonise, and to deliver a framework that benefits economies and societies. Net zero carbon emissions at airports is achievable, but it will take hard work.

Measures in the long-term which may assist airports to decarbonise their operations and reduce climate impacts.

1

Use onsite power generation as an alternative source of income.

3

SkyCity developments close to airports to increase public transport use and accommodate population growth.

2

Green hydrogen production from onsite renewables, for use in e.g. ground support vehicles.

6

Green finance loans to develop and deliver non-aviation income projects. Interest calculated from annual assessment of the airport’s overall environmental, social and governance risk and performance.

5

Fully electrified ground transport, and serving as zero-emissions charging/fuelling hub for precinct transport networks.

4

‘Meet and Greet’ scheme. Aircraft main engine shut down after arrival with electric or hydrogen-powered tug tow to gate.

7

Develop airside movement infrastructure that reduces taxiing times and minimises the length of time that aircraft spend circling the airport while waiting to land.

8

Re-purpose traditional aviation assets as some people choose not to fly, instead, accepting virtual reality and augmented reality experiences.

Use onsite power generation as an alternative source of income

Green hydrogen production from onsite renewables, for use in e.g. ground support vehicles

‘Meet and Greet’ scheme. Aircraft main engine shut down after arrival with electric or hydrogen-powered tug tow to gate.

Green finance loans to develop and deliver non-aviation income projects

Develop airside movement infrastructure that reduces taxiing times and minimises

Re-purpose traditional aviation assets as some people choose not to fly

Hover over the numbers to reveal the opportunities to decarbonise in the long-term.

Use onsite power generation as an alternative source of income.
Green hydrogen production from onsite renewables, for use in e.g. ground support vehicles.
SkyCity developments close to airports to increase public transport use and accommodate population growth.
‘Meet and Greet’ scheme. Aircraft main engine shut down after arrival with electric or hydrogen-powered tug tow to gate.
Fully electrified ground transport, and serving as zero-emissions charging/fuelling hub for precinct transport networks.
Green finance loans to develop and deliver non-aviation income projects. Interest calculated from annual assessment of the airport’s overall environmental, social and governance risk and performance.
Develop airside movement infrastructure that reduces taxiing times and minimises the length of time that aircraft spend circling the airport while waiting to land.
Re-purpose traditional aviation assets as some people choose not to fly, instead, accepting virtual reality and augmented reality experiences.

Airports as influencers of decarbonisation

Addressing the challenge of climate change will require investments in energy-efficient terminals, runways, land development and building systems. It is essential that we explain how changes to airports ‒ just like more efficient aircraft ‒ will actually advance the case of decarbonisation.

If investments are focused on future-proofing an airport, from an environmental, economic and social perspective, they will make use of a range of technologies, some of which may not be fully matured.

To decarbonise, airports and their partners in the aviation industry need the support of appropriate regulation and government policies to facilitate real change.

Appropriate government support and facilitation will help the aviation industry to transition energy sources from fossil fuel to sustainable aviation fuel, as well as accelerate research and development of electric, hybrid and hydrogen aircraft, and vehicles. We are seeing partnerships evolving on a range of green energy projects for the aviation sector, including the development of sustainable fuels for the industry that target net-zero emissions.

In the short-, medium- and long-term, airports have opportunities to demonstrate their ability to combine innovation and technology, to mitigate against and to reduce the effects of climate change, and to create modern state-of-the-art destinations that people will celebrate as they power a region’s growth and resilience into the future.

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