YYC first airport in Canada to deploy ApronAI in cargo operations

Calgary Airports is expanding Assaia's ApronAI platform to YYC Calgary International Airport’s (YYC) air cargo operations, becoming the first airport in Canada to deploy the technology in this environment.

Calgary – 28 October, 2026: — As demand for air cargo continues to grow, Calgary Airports is expanding Assaia's ApronAI platform to YYC Calgary International Airport’s (YYC) air cargo operations, becoming the first airport in Canada to deploy the technology in this environment. AI-enabled cameras are now installed at Apron 9, one of the airport's dedicated cargo aprons, and the system will go live on Nov. 10, 2026.

The expansion follows last year's rollout of the platform across YYC's passenger gates. On the cargo apron, it will track each freighter turnaround from arrival to departure and log when key steps like unloading, loading and fuelling begin and end. Calgary Airports, cargo operators and ground handlers will receive the same real-time turnaround information.

"We're going live just ahead of our busiest stretch of the year for cargo, and that timing is intentional," said Megan Gupton, Chief Information Officer, Calgary Airports. "Peak season tests every part of the operation. It will show us and our partners where things run smoothly and where we can improve, and we'll use what we learn to plan for 2027 and beyond."

The project received support from the Government of Canada through the National Trade Corridors Fund. The fund supports transportation infrastructure and technology projects intended to improve the movement of goods in Canada.

"Building a stronger economy means making smart investments in the infrastructure and technology that keep Canada moving,” said The Honourable Steven MacKinnon, Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons. “Through the National Trade Corridors Fund, we're helping transportation hubs like YYC Calgary International Airport adopt innovative solutions that improve efficiency, strengthen supply chains, and support businesses across the country. Projects like this one are helping build a more resilient transportation system while creating the conditions for sustainable economic growth now and into the future."

YYC recorded more than 5,200 cargo landings last year and handles more than 70 per cent of Alberta's air cargo tonnage. Calgary Airports has invested more than $100 million in cargo infrastructure, including facilities for e-commerce, perishables, pharmaceuticals, oversized industrial equipment and live animals.

“Cargo turnarounds present a different set of challenges to passenger operations. The processes can vary significantly depending on the nature of the cargo and the handling requirements, making it harder to predict how long each turnaround should take," said Christiaan Hen, CEO, Assaia. "By capturing exactly what happens on the apron, ApronAI gives Calgary Airports and its partners the data to better understand that variability and identify opportunities to make cargo operations more predictable and efficient."

As Calgary Airports continues to grow its cargo business and expand operational capabilities, the airport is preparing to welcome the global cargo community next year as host of the International Air Transport Association's World Cargo Symposium, the largest annual gathering of the global air cargo industry.

For more information about Assaia and ApronAI, visit www.assaia.com

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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

Some heading goes here

It is our firm belief that the future of aviation should be free of delays.

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.

_{– Samer Tirhi, Airline Scheduling Coordinator, SEA}

Some heading goes here

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.

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Testimonials

This is a key moment in revolutionising our operations thanks to AI. As a strategic partner of Assaia, we wil be able to improve Airport Collaborative Decision-Making (A-CDM) through more accurate predictive off block time (POBT). This will significantly improve the passenger experience as well as streamlining our processes and optimizing our turnarounds. For a busy international airport like FCO potential delays have a knock-on effect across the apron.

Ivan Bassato

Chief Aviation Officer, Aeroporti di Roma

We are proud to back Assaia as an investor via ADR Ventures and join its Strategic Partner Community. Our vision for the airport of the future, puts innovation firmly at the core, that’s why we partnered with Assaia during our accelerator program and want to continue to be integrally involved in optimizing turnaround technology with Assaia, bringing increased efficiency, safety, and sustainability to our airports and helping others improve.

Emanuele Calà

Vice President Innovation & Quality of Aeroporti di Roma

We’re an airport with a large proportion of point-to-point traffic. This means we see aircraft based at BER several times a day, making quick and reliable turnarounds a key success factor for us. Having completed the full rollout of Assaia’s ApronAI last year, we can focus on the turnaround more than ever. Providing this transparency and live visibility to our ground handling partners is a real booster to operational cooperation.

Holger Wieck

SVP Aviation, Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH

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.