New Release of "The Future of Airports: A Vision of 2040 and 2070"

The Future of Airport: A Vision of 2040 and 2070 has reached an important milestone with the new release of its final report and posters. This initiative has been the signature research project of the Airport Think Tank of ENAC Alumni for the past six years. It started in 2019 with the goal of investigating the long-term challenges and opportunities the industry will face over the next coming decades. The project turned to be a half-a-decade-long endeavor that has engaged with over a hundred of aviation leaders around the world.

Marc HOUALLA (IENAC 82/IAC 89), President of ENAC Alumni, considers that “this report is an important document with meaningful guidance and tools to help aviation stakeholders identify, assess, and prepare for the changes to come. I am grateful to the authors and participants who have done a remarkable work. I invite everyone working in aviation to read and use this prospective study.”

The new version of the report explores the 11 strategic topics identified during the initial investigations. Gaël LE BRIS (IENAC 07T), Vice President of ENAC Alumni and Principal Investigator of The Future of Airports, reflects on the key findings of the research: “At the 2040 and 2070 horizons, there will be over 10 billion people with different demography and social expectations. Intelligence systems will be part of our daily life. Our world is changing, and so should our industry. At the same time, we see disruptive innovations and major trends happening in all domains of the broader airport realm. These dramatic changes, their simultaneousness, and the resulting complexity in terms of change management will be the markers of this period of time in the history of civil aviation.”

Reducing the negative externalities is one of the main driver of innovation in aviation. Loup-Giang NGUYEN (IENAC 15 AVI) served as deputy project manager for The Future of Airports. As he explains, “with more people flying in the coming years, we shall keep our promise to reduce aviation’s environmental impacts while enhancing global connectivity. This implies successfully transitioning aviation to sustainable technologies. However, these exciting advancements come with complex challenges, requiring innovative solutions and collaboration to ensure an inclusive and secure pathway.”

The new report also features several technical appendices providing information on practical issues. They will be useful resources to practitioners looking for data on trends and innovations. A particular attention was given to documenting the impact of emerging and future aircraft technologies. Strategies are suggested to facilitate their integration into aviation systems and to ensure airport compatibility.

DOWNLOAD THE REPORT AND POSTERS HERE