Bordeaux Airport invests in AI to cut waiting times

Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport is investing in AI (artificial intelligence) tools in a bid to “anticipate and reduce waiting times for passengers”.

The airport (in Gironde, Nouvelle-Aquitaine) is working with real time data company Outsight to use its ‘Physical AI’ tool, which it describes as a "motional digital twin”.

Since March 16, the tool has been placed at several key points in the airport’s Hall A terminal, including the security check area. It uses 3D LiDAR (‘Light Detection and Ranging’, a type of 3D laser sensing method) sensors to detect passenger movements in three dimensions.

This allows it to understand and analyse crowd levels, queue lengths, and how people are using the space.

Based on this data, the airport team can adjust resources depending on demand and need, to improve coordination of operations between services and businesses, for example adding more staff on security. The tool will trigger alerts in case of overcapacity or excess crowding, and enable staff to, for example, move queues or open extra desks.

This is considered particularly relevant at present given increased checks due to EES requirements have been reported to be causing delays.

“We are trialling this technology to improve our understanding and management of passenger flows, so that we can allocate our resources as effectively as possible. The aim, of course, is passenger satisfaction,” said Talel Jaouad, head of airport process operations at Bordeaux Airport, to specialist website Air Journal. 

“Passenger flow management, supported by data and artificial intelligence, is gradually establishing itself as a key driver of operational performance,” the airport added in a press release.

Anonymised visualisation becoming ‘standard’

The tool provides a visual of passengers at any given time, but it does not record nor make any kind of personal identification. The data is fully anonymised and confidential, but can still be used as useful information to provide details of the real-time airport capacity.

Overall, it is part of a new trend of airports using anonymised AI to improve what is known as ‘passenger flow management’; how passengers pass through the airport, and as a means to avoid bottlenecks, excess queues, and long waits at key points in the terminal. 

“Airports such as Bordeaux are adopting technologies that integrate naturally into their operations and deliver immediate, tangible benefits,” said Raul Bravo, president and co-founder of Outsight.

Optimise existing infrastructure

Some 6 million passengers a year currently pass through Bordeaux Airport, and the airport is aiming to welcome 7.8 million by 2027. It currently serves more than 80 destinations operated by 24 airlines.

EasyJet is one major operator looking to expand its Bordeaux coverage in summer 2026.

Yet, because levels have still not recovered to pre-pandemic levels (the current figure is at 85% of 2019 levels), the airport authorities are focusing on optimising and improving current facilities and ensuring smooth operations with the existing infrastructure, rather than looking to build new terminals.