Connecting regional airports to the European aviation network

By providing regional airports with digital solutions to better estimate departure times, the PEACOCK Digital Sky Demonstrator is optimising performance across Europe's aviation network while also reducing the sector's environmental footprint. Accounting for nearly 90% of the European aviation network, regional airports drive local economic growth, link remote areas and support social cohesion. Yet despite their vital role, these airports remain largely disconnected from the Network Manager (NM) and thus lack access to the advanced operational systems that larger hubs use.

"Regional airports simply don't have the resources to invest in the IT solutions needed to achieve better NM connectivity," says Thomas Bengtsson, project coordinator at Swedavia.

Lacking a reliable connection, these regional airports often can't send accurate departure estimates to the NM. This in turn impacts the NM's ability to coordinate airspace capacity, handle disruptions and optimise network performance - potentially causing delays across the entire network.

Helping to improve this connection is the PEACOCK, one of several Digital Sky Demonstrators. These demonstrators are large-scale projects designed to accelerate the deployment of innovative ATM and aviation technologies in operational environments, with the objective of making European aviation more digital, efficient and sustainable. PEACOCK is co-funded by the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), managed by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), and supported by the SESAR JU.

Digital solutions for better network connectivity

Bringing together both major hubs and smaller airports, the SESAR JU -supported project aims to demonstrate how regional airports can be better connected to the European network through cost-effective digital solutions.

One key enabler is automation. "We successfully showed how airports can provide more accurate departure estimates using automated processes rather than relying on manual inputs," explains Bengtsson.

The demonstrator also developed innovative methods for predicting the impact winter de-icing operations have on flight departures. The methods were demonstrated at regional airports in Sweden, Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania and Greece.

Most recently, the project started operational demonstrations using AI-supported turnaround monitoring. The tool is designed to help regional airports gain better visibility of ground handling activities and improve predictions of when an aircraft will actually be ready for departure.

"Together, these digital solutions significantly help regional airports better predict departure times - information that then helps the NM plan more efficiently," adds Bengtsson.

Turning better information into lower emissions

In combination with its operational improvements, PEACOCK is validating solutions to help regional airports reduce aircraft emissions and noise. For instance, its environmental dashboard provides airports with new ways of analysing emissions and the impact of noise, helping them better understand the environmental consequences of their operational decisions.

"By improving predictability, we can reduce the inefficiencies that lead to unnecessary fuel burn and emissions," notes Bengtsson. "Better information across the network enables better planning and can reduce delays and associated environmental impacts."

Showing that small airports can innovate too

Although a work-in-progress, PEACOCK has already demonstrated that regional airports can become more digitally connected, more predictable and more environmentally aware without requiring the same level of investment as major hub airports.

"The project shows that innovation in aviation is not only for the largest airports," concludes Bengtsson. "Regional airports play an important role in Europe's connectivity and helping them access advanced digital capabilities can generate benefits across the entire network."

It's also providing practical evidence that environmental performance can be monitored and managed alongside operational performance.

Looking ahead, project partners will focus on expanding demonstrations and gathering evidence from operational environments. They will also continue laying the groundwork for wider deployment across Europe.

You can follow the project's progress here.