Airports worldwide accelerate digital transformation, positioning data as a core asset for efficiency and passenger experience, yet many fail to convert volumes of information into operational gains. This challenge dominated a fireside chat titled “Data is the new jet fuel: how advanced analytics are powering the next-gen airport” at the International Airport Summit 2025 in Berlin.
Moderated by Gerri Sinclair, Chief Prioritisation, Planning and Performance Optimisation Officer at Vancouver International Airport Authority, the panel included Josh Parkinson, Principal Data Consultant at Zuhlke, and Samuel Ehrat, Senior Project Leader at Zurich Airport. Sinclair questioned the “jet fuel” analogy, noting data has long informed aviation but now gains value through cross-system connectivity and rapid insights. “Data grows in value when reused, combined and governed properly,” she stated, unlike consumable fuel.
Parkinson highlighted persistent issues like data trustworthiness, echoing challenges in the 1086 Domesday Book with inconsistent definitions. “There’s a tendency to chase the new thing. But the core problems haven’t changed,” he said. Ehrat stressed data governance over flashy dashboards: “It’s difficult to explain to senior leadership why you need to spend money on fundamentals.”
AI ambitions falter without reliable data, Sinclair warned: “If the data isn’t reliable, if the context is missing, how can AI work on top of that?” At Zurich, boarding pass data feeds predictive models forecasting security volumes hours ahead, shared with operations, police and airlines for proactive staffing.
Parkinson emphasized metadata control: “An organisation that doesn’t control its metadata can’t control its data.” Shared ownership demands master data frameworks, with Zurich separating decision systems from awareness platforms to balance transparency and risk.