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Markets
Transportation
Roger Cruickshank
Senior Director, Dubai, UAE contact form+971 4 405 9300
The flying experience is important for the majority of people. Whether for business or personal trips, both the airport and inflight now significantly impact the choices passengers make about both airports and airlines.
Aviation multimodal access is the seamless integration of numerous transportation modes, including air, rail, road, and sea, to enhance connectivity for passengers. The ultimate aim is to ensure an efficient transfer between these different modes of transport, reducing travel time and improving convenience. Perhaps most importantly, it contributes towards positive customer and staff satisfaction.
The main themes are moving passengers around effectively, including airport connectivity; intermodal hubs - acting as multimodal transport centres with taxis, buses, rental cars, and ride-sharing services, with unified ticketing systems in one transaction.From early design work to more of an advisory and refinement capacity, AtkinsRéalis is regularly involved in the development timeline for both small and large airports globally. Current and recent projects include Dubai International Airport, and supporting Abu Dhabi with master planning and its potential connectivity with the proposed highspeed railway between Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Current challenges and the differing needs of air travel
Roger Cruickshank, Senior Director and Transportation Market Lead at AtkinsRéalis, leads on Middle East aviation multimodal access with a focus on aviation rail and mobility.
He explained that one of the major challenges for airports is surface access - the idea of how individuals gain access using road, rail, bus or any other means possible.
He says, “I believe a challenge in our world today is that we have developed very large airport facilities which often have a number of unclear processes that people have to go through. Some of those interactions are better than others.
“When people are making their way to airports much of their emotion can be dread. Our role as designers and advisors is to make significant improvements, bearing in mind that everyone - from those that fly twice a year, weekly, or every three years - have varying experiential needs, and all must be considered.”
Essentially, while some want speed and convenience, others are looking for an extension to their overall holiday experience.
The importance of information, wayfinding and navigation
Many may not consider that travel starts at home, with useful information provided to customers so that they feel informed and in control; what form of transport to take, if roads are congested and the necessary train timetables. While all involved - airports, airlines, and other suppliers do their best to inform the public about what the barriers are, more could be done in the future to make the process easier and more seamless.
Navigating an airport can be confusing and frustrating at a time where emotions run high and the pressure is on to make flights on time. Many sites were initially built then gradually evolved so that current layouts don't work in what would be planned from a clean-slate approach; legacy airports can really struggle with this and have to work harder to ensure challenges are minimised in terms of passengers arriving at the right terminal and getting to their gate on time.
Obstacles are something Roger needs to focus on in his work, and he reflects: “I often refer to my 9.6m phenomena - this is based on five doors of differing widths.
“The first door is the main entrance. The next is into immigration to stamp your passport, and then customs. Once you have your airline ticket you go through the gate, and the last door is the plane itself. But everything in between…what's it for? If this was purely functional, it would just come down to this 9.6m of doorways.”
“Now we have shops, restaurants, bars, beauty salons, business lounges - it’s what’s expected and needed. An airport has become something of a phenomena, an exciting place to go. But, there are instances where a business man - like me - just wants to pass through very quickly so we need to deliver on all of these fronts.”
All these paths and purposes need to be considered.
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The information provided by Virtua Research cited herein is provided “as is” and “as available” without warranty of any kind. Use of any Virtua Research data is at a user’s own risk and Virtua Research disclaims any liability for use of the Virtua Research data. Although the information is obtained or compiled from reliable sources Virtua Research neither can nor does guarantee or make any representation or warranty, either express or implied, as to the accuracy, validity, sequence, timeliness, completeness or continued availability of any information or data, including third-party content, made available herein. In no event shall Virtua Research be liable for any decision made or action or inaction taken in reliance on any information or data, including third-party content. Virtua Research further explicitly disclaims, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any warranty of any kind, whether express or implied, including warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement.
The consensus estimate provided by Virtua Research is based on estimates, forecasts and predictions made by third party financial analysts, as described above. It is not prepared based on information provided by AtkinsRéalis and can only be seen as a consensus view on AtkinsRéalis' possible future results from an outside perspective. AtkinsRéalis has not provided input on these forecasts, except by referring to past publicly disclosed information. AtkinsRéalis does not accept any responsibility for the quality or accuracy of any individual or average of forecasts or estimates. This web page contains forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by third parties. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between AtkinsRéalis' actual future results, financial situation, development or performance, and the estimates given here.
What’s next?
With airports like Dubai International aiming to become the largest in the world, there are likely to be volumes moving from 93 million passengers a year towards 260 million - a staggering 700,000 people a day. The general rule of thumb being that every one million passengers necessitates 1,000 staff means that over 200,000 employees could be on site each day, delivering catering, cleaning, duty free, spas, lounges, security and so much more.
This will potentially be the case at many worldwide locations and needs smart thinking simply to create the space and infrastructure to bring all these people on site every day. Here, again, information will hold a crucial role. Smaller sites are at an advantage in this regard, and don’t face the same challenges.
One concept that can play a fundamental role in the solution is a Total Airport Management System (TAM). This is an integrated platform designed to optimise and automate operations, with the aim of improving efficiency, safety, and passenger enjoyment. It enables real-time data sharing among stakeholders including airlines, ground handlers, air traffic control, and security.
Everything operates under one platform, speaking to each other in the same way. With machine learning, it will be possible going forward to inform some decision making based on monitoring all previous activity. This is something that AtkinsRéalis’ have contributed towards, utilising automation and AI to save time and improve processes.
Of course, the future must consider sustainability. Aviation clearly contributes to climate issues, something that must be addressed in all plans. Airports are responding positively to net-zero issues, introducing Sustainable Mobility Solutions like electric tugs to move aircraft from place to place, as well as electric shuttles, autonomous vehicles, and eco-friendly transit options.
But, plans are ambitious. In 20 years from now, it could be the case that cars aren’t owned, but a vehicle, even a pod is ordered and collects passengers. They would then take you to the airport - perhaps even the aircraft - and then move on to their next task; another journey. There are questions around where these would be stored, but freeing up legacy infrastructure could open up many opportunities.
Roger says: “I hope the future is that we take a journey directly from home to the airport by a little pod that we order, and don't actually take any baggage with us - just our passport, phone and a toothbrush. We get on the plane and then when we arrive in New York or Los Angeles, there are suitable clothes and items waiting for us at the other end.”
Although currently this might sound unimaginable for most of us, Roger argues that everything else is superfluous. The idea is to save on luggage costs and space, therefore reducing flight prices, to then enable either the hire or purchase of clothes that could be waiting for you in your hotel room. This will undoubtedly be a transition, but one that might happen sooner than most expect.
With the range of size, scale and age of airports across the world, connecting ways to move around effectively does not have a one-size-fits-all solution. Each is infinitely unique not only with diverse requirements, but different ambitions to grow and so needs the support to realise goals effectively and provide the best customer service possible for travellers of all types.
Please note that you are now leaving the AtkinsRéalis website (legal name: AtkinsRéalis Group inc.) and entering a website maintained by a third party (the "External Website") and that you do so at your own risk.
AtkinsRéalis has no control over the External Website, any data or other content contained therein or any additional linked websites. The link to the External Website is provided for convenience purposes only. By clicking "Accept" you acknowledge and agree that AtkinsRéalis is not responsible, and does not accept or assume any responsibility or liability whatsoever for the data protection policy, the content, the data or the technical operation of the External Website and/or any linked websites and that AtkinsRéalis is not liable for the terms and conditions (or terms of use) of the External Website. Further, you acknowledge and agree that you assume all risks resulting from entering and/or using the External Website and/or any linked websites.
BY ENTERING THE EXTERNAL WEBSITE, YOU ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT YOU COMPLETELY AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVE ANY AND ALL RIGHTS AND CLAIMS AGAINST ATKINSRÉALIS, AND RELEASE, DISCHARGE, INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS ATKINSRÉALIS, ITS OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, DIRECTORS AND AGENTS FROM ANY AND ALL LIABILITY INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LIABILITY FOR LOSS, DAMAGES, EXPENSES AND COSTS ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH ENTERING AND/OR USING THE EXTERNAL WEBSITE AND/OR ANY LINKED WEBSITES AND ANY DATA AND/OR CONTENT CONTAINED THEREIN.
Such waiver and release specifically includes, without limitation, any and all rights and claims pertaining to reliance on the data or content of the External Website, or claims pertaining to the processing of personal data, including but not limited to any rights under any applicable data protection statute. You also recognize by clicking “Accept” that the terms of this disclaimer are reasonable.
The information provided by Virtua Research cited herein is provided “as is” and “as available” without warranty of any kind. Use of any Virtua Research data is at a user’s own risk and Virtua Research disclaims any liability for use of the Virtua Research data. Although the information is obtained or compiled from reliable sources Virtua Research neither can nor does guarantee or make any representation or warranty, either express or implied, as to the accuracy, validity, sequence, timeliness, completeness or continued availability of any information or data, including third-party content, made available herein. In no event shall Virtua Research be liable for any decision made or action or inaction taken in reliance on any information or data, including third-party content. Virtua Research further explicitly disclaims, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any warranty of any kind, whether express or implied, including warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement.
The consensus estimate provided by Virtua Research is based on estimates, forecasts and predictions made by third party financial analysts, as described above. It is not prepared based on information provided by AtkinsRéalis and can only be seen as a consensus view on AtkinsRéalis' possible future results from an outside perspective. AtkinsRéalis has not provided input on these forecasts, except by referring to past publicly disclosed information. AtkinsRéalis does not accept any responsibility for the quality or accuracy of any individual or average of forecasts or estimates. This web page contains forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by third parties. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between AtkinsRéalis' actual future results, financial situation, development or performance, and the estimates given here.
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