Munich Airport will roll out Assaia’s ApronAI across 150 gates to speed up aircraft turnarounds, improve ramp safety, and raise on‑time performance, the airport announced on August 13, 2025. The project, one of Europe’s largest apron technology deployments, uses live video analytics to spot delay risks early and alert teams before bottlenecks harden. With nearly 42 million passengers in 2024, airport leaders say tighter gate operations should reduce missed connections and shorten time spent waiting on the ramp.
“For Munich Airport, it’s a critical step towards enhancing our operations using data and artificial intelligence. With Assaia’s technology, we’re able to better understand what’s happening on the apron in real time, allowing us to streamline processes and improve decision‑making, ultimately delivering a better experience for our passengers,” said Thomas Hoff Andersson, the airport’s chief operating officer.
“ApronAI doesn’t just monitor, it empowers predictive and proactive decision‑making. With full transparency of operations, airports like MUC can eliminate bottlenecks, boost OTP and grow sustainably without immediate infrastructure developments,” said Jan Willem Kappes, senior vice president for global sales at Assaia.
Rollout scope and goals
The initial deployment covers 150 gates, with room to expand after performance reviews. The airport’s plan centers on three primary aims:
- Higher on‑time performance (OTP)
- Smarter use of staff and equipment
- A smoother passenger experience
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, airports are moving quickly toward AI‑supported ramp control to support growth while keeping delays and emissions down—a trend reflected in Munich Airport’s strategy.
Assaia’s ApronAI monitors key steps in a turnaround—from arrival and chocking to unloading, refueling, catering, boarding, and pushback—using video analytics, computer vision, and machine learning to mark milestones and trigger alerts. If refueling runs late or a boarding start slips, operations teams get notified in time to act. This live picture helps cut gate holds, reduce last‑minute scrambles, and send clearer updates to airlines and ground handlers.
Airports using Assaia’s tools have reported measurable gains, including:
- Ground delays reduced by 6%
- Turnaround time reduced by 4%
Munich Airport aims to meet or beat those benchmarks as the rollout scales. Leaders also emphasize safety and sustainability. ApronAI flags unsafe behavior and potential rule breaks on the ramp, supporting Safety Management Systems (SMS) practices. It can also track auxiliary power unit use, helping limit fuel burn and carbon output during turnarounds.
How the system works and why it matters to travelers and crews
ApronAI sits on top of camera feeds at gates and links with the airport’s existing tools. The approach supports both immediate decision‑making and deeper learning over time.
- In daily operations, live alerts help teams spot issues such as a missing belt loader, a blocked path for catering, or a late cleaning start.
- Over weeks and months, historical data reveals recurring snags so managers can change staffing, equipment staging, or vendor contracts.
Munich Airport outlined a step‑by‑step plan:
- Install ApronAI hardware and software across the first 150 gates.
- Integrate with current operational systems for smooth data flow.
- Train ramp and control‑center staff to read and act on alerts.
- Track results, gather feedback, and adjust processes before expanding coverage.
This model matters to people on the move:
- For families making tight connections, a few minutes saved at the gate can prevent a stressful sprint through the terminal.
- For business travelers, fewer last‑minute delays protect same‑day schedules.
- For crews and ground staff, clearer, earlier signals reduce rushed tasks and create steadier workloads.
- For airline partners, more predictable block times support better crew planning and aircraft rotation.
Regulatory and industry context
The rollout aligns with a wider regulatory push for data‑driven safety. European rules expect airports and operators to run formal SMS programs that spot risks and act before incidents happen. For official background on SMS requirements, see the European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s guidance: https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/domains/safety-management.
Munich Airport’s use of automated alerts and trend tracking supports those standards by giving teams concrete, time‑stamped events to review.
Industry context adds weight to the move. Assaia’s ApronAI has been tested and deployed at major hubs, including JFK and Seattle‑Tacoma in the United States 🇺🇸 and Toronto Pearson in Canada 🇨🇦. Those projects demonstrated how consistent timestamps and alerts can change daily ramp habits and cut hidden delays. Munich’s scale—starting with 150 gates—places it among the leaders working to make real‑time apron visibility the norm.
Sustainability and human factors
Sustainability is a core benefit. Faster, cleaner turnarounds reduce time with engines or auxiliary units running at the gate, trimming fuel use and local emissions. The collected data will also support long‑term planning, such as how many staff to place at particular gates and when to bring in extra equipment to avoid queues.
Officials stress the system supports humans rather than replaces them. ApronAI provides earlier visibility, but dispatchers and ramp supervisors remain central. As part of the rollout:
- Staff will be trained to read alerts, spot false positives, and set local rules that match each airline’s procedures.
- A feedback loop will enable quick fixes and policy changes (e.g., revised service level agreements or new staging zones for ground vehicles).
For travelers and companies watching peak seasons, the practical promise is fewer surprises at the gate and better chances of leaving on time. In a hub with tens of millions of passengers a year, even small gains compound across the day—a two‑minute cut in average turnaround can free up gates, reduce missed slots, and help long‑haul flights depart closer to schedule.
Next steps and where to find more information
Munich Airport framed the rollout as part of a broader digital push to raise performance without waiting for new buildings or extra runways. The airport plans to expand ApronAI beyond the initial 150 gates after testing and review. Assaia continues to host roundtables with airlines and airports to share lessons and refine approaches, with a focus on apron safety and efficiency.
For official information:
– Munich Airport: https://www.munich-airport.com
– Assaia: https://www.assaia.com
Press inquiries can be directed to Munich Airport’s press office and Assaia’s media relations teams.
Key takeaway: Deploying ApronAI across 150 gates aims to deliver measurable improvements in on‑time performance, ramp safety, and sustainability—while keeping humans central to decision‑making and continuous improvement.
This Article in a Nutshell
Munich Airport’s August 13, 2025 deployment of Assaia’s ApronAI across 150 gates uses live video analytics to cut delays, improve safety, and boost on‑time performance while preserving human decision‑making for scalable, sustainable apron operations and measurable efficiency gains.
