Bordeaux Airport, which handles six million passengers a year across 92 destinations, has announced plans to pilot an AI tool that uses a digital twin of its terminal to improve passenger flow and resource deployment.

Developed in partnership with technology firm Outsight, the tool will initially model movements within Hall A of the terminal. Passenger flows are digitised anonymously within a shared spatial repository system, allowing the airport to analyse queue formation, density changes, and area usage in real time – giving teams the visibility to adjust resources according to demand.

In an environment where infrastructure is inherently constrained, the airport said that optimising existing spaces, managing queues, and anticipating congestion points are essential to maintaining the smooth running of the terminal.

Talel Jaouad, head of the airport process department at Bordeaux Airport, said the pilot would allow the airport to improve its understanding and control of passenger flow.

"The ultimate goal, of course, is passenger satisfaction," he added. "For our staff, as well as our partners operating in the terminals – airlines, service providers, and retailers – this pilot represents an undeniable advantage for fine-tuning their actions in real time and within a framework of continuous improvement."

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