Dubai Airports explores AI-powered turnaround management to elevate performance and guest experience
Dubai Airports is advancing its innovation agenda through a collaboration with Assaia to implement an AI-powered turnaround management solution at Dubai International (DXB), the world’s top airport for international passenger numbers.
Dubai, UAE – November 20, 2025 – Dubai Airports is advancing its innovation agenda through a collaboration with Assaia to implement an AI-powered turnaround management solution at Dubai International (DXB), the world’s top airport for international passenger numbers. The solution, which will be implemented to cover all aircraft stands across Dubai’s main hub, leverages real-time data and Artificial Intelligence to improve situational awareness, coordination, and overall performance across the airport community. This technology positions Emirates as the only airline in the world to use a full scale AI turnaround management system across its entire operation in DXB.
Kan Ni, VP AOCC, Dubai Airports; Ersin Inankul, SVP Business Technology, Dubai Airports; Jan Willem Kappes, CCO, Assaia; Adel Al Redha, Deputy President & Chief Operations Officer, Emirates; Majed Al Jokar, Chief Operating Officer, DXB; Rami El Samra, Vice President Business Support, Emirates Airport Services, Emirates; Ben Lindley, Vice President Ramp Operations, Emirates Airport Services, Emirates; Christiaan Hen, CEO, Assaia; Rene Müller; Yusuf Tungekar, Head Operations Business Systems, Dubai Airports
By integrating Assaia’s technology, Dubai Airports aims to bring greater precision and consistency to aircraft turnaround process in close coordination with key aviation partners, including Emirates, flydubai, dnata, and others. The collaboration is designed to minimise delays, strengthen on-time performance, and support smoother journeys through DXB.
“At Dubai Airports, innovation is driven by purpose – to build smarter, scalable systems that prepare us for the future of air travel,” said Majed Al Joker, Chief Operating Officer at Dubai Airports. “Our partnership with Assaia reflects how we are applying advanced technologies to enhance reliability and shape the next generation of airport operations. Insights gained at DXB today will help us reimagine what’s possible at the airport of tomorrow.”
This project represents another step in Dubai Airports’ broader digital transformation journey, using data-driven insights to refine planning, optimise resources, and deliver a consistent experience for more than 90 million guests who pass through DXB each year.
“When fully implemented, Assaia’s advanced AI solution is expected to avoid ground-related delays and assist in achieving turnaround times, translating into improved on-time performance and smoother journeys for our customers connecting to and through Dubai,” said Nick Moore, Senior Vice President Passenger Services and Hub Operations, Emirates Airline.“
The partnership will also enhance coordination among service partners such as flydubai and dnata, contributing to smoother ground handling processes, reduced delays, and elevated service standards for guests at DXB.
Assaia’s technology has already demonstrated measurable results at major international airports such as Toronto, New York JFKIAT, Rome, and Seattle, helping to improve punctuality and turnaround consistency. Its adoption at DXB marks a progressive step towards building an increasingly reliable, sustainable, efficient, and connected aviation environment in Dubai.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Dubai Airports and Emirates to bring our AI-powered turnaround solution to the world’s busiest international aviation hub,” said Jan Willem Kappes, Chief Commercial Officer, Assaia. “This collaboration highlights the growing role of AI in building a more efficient, connected, and passenger-focused future for global air travel.”
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It is our firm belief that the future of aviation should be free of delays.
With this in mind, for the past year, Assaia has hosted a bi-monthly Roundtable for airline representatives to discuss ramp safety, including the challenges experienced post-Covid, such as staff turnover, a lack of experienced staff, and time pressures for the ramp crew. With the recent FAA mandate on Safety Management Systems (SMS), Assaia has just opened up the Roundtable to airports to facilitate increased collaboration.
Roundtable discussions have affirmed the importance of using data-driven solutions to move away from manual monitoring and toward real-time automated intervention to prevent incidents and improve behavior. At the recent American Airlines safety management system conference, Assaia discussed computer vision's potential as a tool to strengthen SMS strategies. Airline safety experts agreed that real-time automated alerts are the way forward to improve safety and facilitate safety-aware behavior. Analyzing and understanding historical data can help advance regulations and standard operating procedures
SMS strategies. Airline safety experts agreed that real-time automated alerts are the way forward to improve safety and facilitate safety-aware behavior. Analyzing and understanding historical data can help advance regulations and standard operating procedures
Image caption goes here
Some heading goes here
It is our firm belief that the future of aviation should be free of delays.
With this in mind, for the past year, Assaia has hosted a bi-monthly Roundtable for airline representatives to discuss ramp safety, including the challenges experienced post-Covid, such as staff turnover, a lack of experienced staff, and time pressures for the ramp crew. With the recent FAA mandate on Safety Management Systems (SMS), Assaia has just opened up the Roundtable to airports to facilitate increased collaboration.
Roundtable discussions have affirmed the importance of using data-driven solutions to move away from manual monitoring and toward real-time automated intervention to prevent incidents and improve behavior. At the recent American Airlines safety management system conference, Assaia discussed computer vision's potential as a tool to strengthen SMS strategies. Airline safety experts agreed that real-time automated alerts are the way forward to improve safety and facilitate safety-aware behavior. Analyzing and understanding historical data can help advance regulations and standard operating procedures.
With this in mind, for the past year, Assaia has hosted a bi-monthly Roundtable for airline representatives to discuss ramp safety, including the challenges experienced post-Covid, such as staff turnover, a lack of experienced staff, and time pressures for the ramp crew. With the recent FAA mandate on Safety Management Systems (SMS), Assaia has just opened up the Roundtable to airports to facilitate increased collaboration.
Roundtable discussions have affirmed the importance of using data-driven solutions to move away from manual monitoring and toward real-time automated intervention to prevent incidents and improve behavior.
At the recent American Airlines safety management system conference, Assaia discussed computer vision's potential as a tool to strengthen SMS strategies.
Roundtable discussions have affirmed the importance of using data-driven solutions to move away
Roundtable discussions have affirmed the importance of using data-driven solutions to move away
At the recent American Airlines safety management system conference, Assaia discussed computer vision's potential as a tool to strengthen SMS strategies. Airline safety experts agreed that real-time automated alerts are the way forward to improve safety and facilitate safety-aware behavior. Analyzing and understanding historical data can help advance regulations and standard operating procedures.
Side image goes here
With this in mind, for the past year, Assaia has hosted a bi-monthly Roundtable for airline representatives to discuss ramp safety, including the challenges experienced post-Covid, such as staff turnover, a lack of experienced staff, and time pressures for the ramp crew. With the recent FAA mandate on Safety Management Systems (SMS), Assaia has just opened up the Roundtable to airports to facilitate increased collaboration.
Roundtable discussions have affirmed the importance of using data-driven solutions to move away from manual monitoring and toward real-time automated intervention to prevent incidents and improve behavior.
Side image goes here
At the recent American Airlines safety management system conference, Assaia discussed computer vision's potential as a tool to strengthen SMS strategies. Airline safety experts agreed that real-time automated alerts are the way forward to improve safety and facilitate safety-aware behavior. Analyzing and understanding historical data can help advance regulations and standard operating procedures.
Using technology to move the aviation industry forward is in Alaska’s DNA, our teams have already been using Assaia to improve our aircraft turn processes, and we’re thrilled to help expand technology that will make us safer, more efficient, and offer an even better guest experience. This partnership represents the future of machine learning applications in aviation and will translate into significant advances in our industry.
Pasha Saleh
Corporate Development Director, Alaska Airlines
The use of Assaia's TurnaroundControl has provided our Airline Partners, Ground Handlers, and Service Providers with full visibility of the aircraft turn processes. The data, predictability, and visibility enhances our collective efficiency and resilience at Toronto Pearson. Paired with our A-CDM initiative, Assaia's TurnaroundControl provides crucial data driving A-CDM processes, a reduction in turn times, and a noticeable increase in on-time performance.
Dean Wright
Associate Director, Gating & Airport Flow
The way Turnaround 2.0 uses AI and machine learning to boost our zone controllers' efficiency is remarkable. They can now manage multiple gate activities with more focus on handling exceptions, rather than multitasking.
Turnaround 2.0 is more than a tool for the present; it's a foundation for 'United Next,' growing with us and helping us surpass our operational goals efficiently.
Daniel Reed
Director of Station Operations, United Airlines
Our focus is to use innovation to make our operations smoother. We have selected Assaia because of the capabilities of the tool. But it is also really important for us that it has a good record of successful implementation, so we know it will deliver for us, for our airlines and ultimately for our passengers.
Dr Babett Stapel
Managing Director, Fraport Slovenjia
We are optimizing all our processes on the apron to shorten the time each aircraft needs to be on the ground, which benefits both our passengers and our airline partners. This is a common issue across our airports and we are talking to all of them about this technology.
Claus Grunow
VP of Corporate Strategy and Digitalization at Fraport
We are pleased to partner with Assaia to implement the ApronAI Turnaround Control solution at T4. This new solution will not only optimize operations and our work with our business partners, but will also help us to ensure a first-class customer experience at T4.
Roel Huinink
President and CEO, JFKIAT
The real-time and historical insights that can inform both airport and airline operations make this solution a clear winner for everyone.
Craig Paul
Director of Technology & Innovation , Halifax Stanfield International
Assaia's product allows airports and airlines to collect, track, and analyze data in real time; this innovation removes inefficiencies and optimizes performance.
Jim Lockheed
JetBlue Ventures
We’re creating the airport of the future, and innovation in apron operations will directly improve the passenger experience. We are laser focused on innovations that will make Pearson and its whole apron ecosystem more efficient while reducing our carbon footprint.
Deborah Flint
President and CEO GTAA
SEA needed an innovative solution to our capacity problem and have worked with Assaia to optimize the turnaround process resulting in reduced taxi times and increased passenger satisfaction. Assaia has exceeded our expectations, consistently delivering on-time & on-budget.
Samer Tirhi
Airline Scheduling Coordinator, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
With the help of Predicted Off Block Time from Assaia. JFKIAT Operations can be proactive to reduce or eliminate any delays and gate holds
Stephen Tukavkin
VP IT & Digital, JFKIAT
We are proud to be partnering with the Assaia team in our mission to use technology to improve the efficiency and safety of the airport environment.
Raghbir S. Pattar
Director of Airports Transformation, IAG
I had mentioned before, great innovation on your part. With these types of improvements, T4 is always leading at JFK. Thank you
COPA Station Manager
JFKIAT
We’re working hard on becoming an airport of the future, and this involves rethinking every part of our ground operations. Assaia’s ApronAI is an integral component of our vision for the ramp of the future.
Abhi Chacko
Head of Innovation & Commercial IT Services, Gatwick Airport
Assaia’s technology adds critical data points to CVG’s early-stage neural network for operational advancements. Structured data generated by artificial intelligence will provide information to make decisions, optimize airside processes, and improve efficiency and safety.
Brian Cobb
CIO, CVG Airport
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