2 (THE ART AND SCIENCE OF) THE POSSIBLE (THE ART AND SCIENCE OF) THE POSSIBLE SPACES

The world is taking to the skies. And every one of those journeys will begin and end at an airport.

“There is an ever increasing thirst for travel, whether for business or leisure. We want more from our airports, our aircraft, our journeys, and more for our communities” Tim Morrison, WSP

Great cities of the past the entire European economy.[1] Rise in passenger numbers, past and future [6] were built around ports and Air freight is essential to modern 8,000,000,000 railway stations. But in today’s life, but it is in the movement of 2036 globalized world, airports are people that airports have the greatest arguably the most important effect on economic development. 7,000,000,000 link to prosperity. Digital Researchers studying the impact of US communications allow us to talk airports found that higher economic 6,000,000,000 to or trade with anyone, at any time, output, wages and incomes, the share anywhere in the world. But if we want of college graduates and high-tech to actually meet them or receive the industry all correlated strongly with 5,000,000,000 goods we’ve bought, by far the fastest the number of passengers per capita, [2] way is by plane. rather than with flights or cargo. 4,000,000,000 Aviation is a catalyst for economic “In today’s knowledge economy, far growth, enabling people and businesses and away, the most precious cargo to reach a global marketplace for goods [airports] move is people,” said Richard 3,000,000,000 and services and to travel for work, leisure Florida3 at the University of Toronto. or education. A study of the impact of John Kasarda, author of Aerotropolis, 2,000,000,000 European airports found that a 10% describes aviation as the “physical increase in a country’s air connectivity internet” underpinning global trade. was associated with a 0.5% increase in As the virtual internet exponentially 1,000,000,000 GDP per capita. Airports and associated increases the connections between aviation activity create and facilitate people and places, the physical one 0 €675bn in GDP each year, just over 4% of will have to keep up … 1971 1981 1991 1991 2011 1977 1973 1973 1975 1987 1979 1997 2017 2017 1983 1985 1989 1995 1993 1993 2013 2013 2015 1999 1999 2001 2007 2007 2005 2003 2009

In 2017, more than 8 billion passengers passed through the world’s airports [3]

By 2040, annual passenger numbers are predicted to surpass 22 billion [4]

[1] Between 2016 and 2040, ACI World predicts Economic Impact of European average annual growth of 4.5% in passenger traffic, Airports, ACI EUROPE/InterVISTAS, [2] 2.5% in air cargo and 1.9% in aircraft movements [5] 4.5% 2015 Richard Florida, Charlotta Mellander, Thomas Holgersson, “Up in the Air: The Role of Airports for Regional Airports: prepare for take-off! With passenger numbers set to Economic Development”, Economics double, and technology shaking up everything from retail to 2.5% and Institutions of Innovation 267, runways, aviation is soaring into a new golden age Royal Institute of Technology, Centre of 1.9% Excellence for Science and Innovation

[3, 4, 5] WORDS BY KATIE PUCKETT Studies, 2012 ACI World, Annual World Airport Traffic Forecasts, 2017 [6] ICAO/IATA/World Bank DataBank (THE ART AND SCIENCE OF) THE POSSIBLE SPACES

So airports will have to grow too … … and take on rivals near and far.

Between now and 2040, US$2.6tn of investment will be needed in airport infrastructure, “Airports face pricing pressure from airlines, so they can only make money from passengers. 0.1% of global GDP. [7] But who’s going to pay for it all? That totally changes the concept, and drives them to put passengers at the centre” Frank Lin, WSP

Airports are expensive cutting expenditure to reduce debt, Low-cost airlines growth and market share [11] The expansion of aviation Growth in international passenger traffic by region, In an increasingly crowded and asset-intensive — and most government financing and full has given passengers more 2016-2040 [14] global market, the world’s hubs Average annual Asia-Pacific 5.4% of that investment has to happen ownership is not always sustainable. Market share in 2018 growth in capacity choice than ever before, and Europe are pitted against one other over last decade upfront, before a single plane Even government-owned and managed increased competition between Middle East 38.8% to attract a fickle, footloose North America can land. ”Airports are under intense airports are increasingly required airports, regions and countries. customer base. “Certain locations are Americas 30.9% Latin America and Caribbean pressure to expand and to make very to have a commercial focus. Private The global aviation industry operates Africa more convenient, but it’s all about the large capital investments to renew their capital needs to generate fair returns 9.4% on a “hub and spoke” model, so airlines level of service that people experience facilities,” says Jason Brooks, aviation proportionate to the risk.” typically route passengers through hubs when they’re travelling,” says Brooks. director at WSP. “The pace of change Europe 36.3% that serve many destinations, rather than “Transfers are a very different experience has been very dramatic over the last Airports operate in a offering point-to-point flights between — most people probably never go 19% decade, and it will be even more so over market that is tougher than ever. every single combination. This means 2.2% outside of the airport.” the next.” Projects are becoming larger, Liberalization opened the door to a new, they can serve a greater range of places 6.9% 26% Smaller airports, meanwhile, will as the scale, quality and associated disruptive breed of carriers such as Asia 28% more efficiently, and that passengers compete among themselves to attract infrastructure increases. And they’re Southwest, Ryanair, Condor, Easyjet and have a choice of possible routes — and the most direct flights and be the best- more complex too, because the building AirAsia, which now account for around places to make their connection. 8.4% served gateway to their region. Year expected work must be completed without one-third of air traffic worldwide.[9] The biggest hubs were traditionally In a global beauty contest, they all Annual departing Annual departing to reach 50% 17.9% interrupting airport operations. To keep fares low, they offer a no-frills seats 2009 (millions) seats 2018 (millions) of market in the US and Europe, but a new breed 5 need something to set them apart. service and demand that airports do the of ambitious mega-hubs has come Americas They may be essential same. Traditional airlines have had to 2045 online across the Middle East and infrastructure, but airports follow suit to compete. So airports’ core Asia. The global pattern of air traffic also have to make money. With aeronautical activities have become less is shifting eastwards, as population investment has come a greater profitable, and they are more dependent Europe 2027 growth and prosperity is swelling the Heading east: top 20 busiest hubs Changing aviation market emphasis on profitability and returns. on other sources of income. numbers travelling for work and the (change in rank since 2012) [15] shares over time [16] Until relatively recently, nearly all major middle classes who can afford to fly for Longitude commercial airports were government- To stay in business, leisure in countries such as China, India 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 00 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 Asia owned and operated. The UK was the airports need to keep passengers and Indonesia. Hartsfield-Jackson 2030 1 (‑) Atlanta first to privatize its airports authority streaming through their By 2022, passenger traffic in emerging 2 (+7) Beijing Capital Passenger Air cargo Aircraft 3 (+24) Dubai traffic movements in the mid-1980s, and since then, departure gates and through their economies will overtake advanced 5 (-) Los Angeles 4 (-) Haneda = 10 million seats deregulation has led to a proliferation of shops, restaurants and bars. We economies. By 2040, airports in 6 (-4) O’Hare 2016 2040 2016 2040 2016 2040 different ownership and management may be paying less for plane tickets, emerging economies will handle 61.6% 7 (-4) Heathrow 8 (+6) Hong Kong US China US US US US models. In 2017, 51 of the busiest but one way or the other, we’ll be paying of passengers — 10 billion more each 9 (+31) Shanghai Pudong 10 (-4) Paris-Charles de Gaulle 21.5% 18.2% 26.8% 19.4% 30.7% 21.2% 100 airports had some private sector more for bigger, better airports. year they do today. [13] 1111 (+1)(+1) Amsterdam Schiphol participation, five more than in 2016. SMALL COMFORTS 13 (+26) 12 (-5) Dallas Fort Worth China US China China China China Of the busiest 500 airports, 39% had Two-thirds of airports operate at a net loss Guangzhou Baiyun 14 (-6) Frankfurt private sector participation, a one — typically the very smallest 15 (+38) Istanbul Atatürk 13.2% 13.9% 13.7% 15.4% 10.1% 13.4% percentage point increase on 2016.[8] Two-fifthsof airport 1616 (+35)(+35) Indira Gandhi (+16) Soekarno-Hatta “The fundamental motive for airport revenues come from Some 92% of loss-making airports handle fewer than 17 Japan India Japan UAE France France [12] 18 (+1) Singapore Changi privatizations is to finance upgrades non-aeronautical activities, 1 million passengers a year. But if they weren’t there, the [7] G20 Global Infrastructure Outlook [8] Policy 20 (-9) Denver 19 (+18) Incheon 3.8% 6.4% 5.1% 5.6% 4.7% 5.0% or expansion that states are unable such as food and retail loss to the communities they serve would be far greater. “A Brief: Airport ownership, economic regulation and to pay for,” says Stefano Baronci, concessions, car parking small region with few inhabitants may not generate sufficient financial performance, ACI World [9] STATFOR, director of economics at Airports and advertising. For some passenger flows for an airport to be profitable,” says Mattias EUROCONTROL [10] Airport Economics 2018, ACI Council International (ACI) World, airports, the proportion is Frithiof, strategy consultant at WSP, who has studied the World [11] anna.aero/OAG [12] Policy Brief: Airport the international organization that much higher [10] viability of regional airports for Swedish municipalities. “But if networks and the sustainability of small airports, ACI “It is an extremely competitive marketplace and passengers can vote with their feet. represents airports. “In an economic you lose it, you lose extremely vital accessibility and you can World [13, 14, 16] ACI World, Annual World Airport Traffic climate where states are increasingly lose the business community or employers that you do have.” Forecasts, 2017 [15] ACI World Airports neglect passenger experience at their peril” Andy Thomas, Grimshaw (THE ART AND SCIENCE OF) THE POSSIBLE SPACES

The best security experience is one Facial recognition and intelligent vacuum cleaners: you don’t know you’ve had. Welcome to the automated airport.

“It’s about making it as seamless as possible, using AI or biometric screening, so people are “When you go to the airport in 2025, there probably won’t be any people serving you. hardly aware they’ve been through security” Antoinette Nassopoulos-Erickson, Foster + Partners There will be robots instead” Frank Lin, WSP

Even the most passengers to be identified and airlines and airports will all need to baggage handling process will be In the future, technology Smart service frequent flyers admit that cleared to fly while they are walking collaborate, rely on each other and completely streamlined.” will underpin every aspect air travel can be stressful. through the terminal. And it helps share data.” More and more elements of a of the passenger experience The new Terminal 3 at Taoyuan “It’s viewed with a certain degree that almost every passenger passengers’ journey have been and operations in the International Airport in Taiwan, of glamour, but for most people now carries a tracking device — You won’t have to worry relocated outside the airport — terminal and on the airfield. designed by Rogers Stirk Harbour it’s unsettling,” says Robert otherwise known as a smartphone. about that suitcase either. it’s possible to check-in and buy Tailored information will be pushed + Partners, will have an “integrated Chicas, director of aviation and Greater data collection and “Uber and Lyft have revolutionized duty free before you arrive at the to passenger smartphones, from passenger self-service programme”, transportation at HOK. ”You don’t analysis will be used to screen what it means to take a car airport, and baggage is likely to go the best route through the airport where passengers will be able to know how long it’s going to take people and track their progress service or a taxi to the airport,” the same way. Passengers might to the least crowded seating areas, do everything themselves using to get to the airport or how long through the terminal building and says Chicas. “It’s pretty clear drop their suitcase downtown as well as offers from retailers, a smartphone, or with the help it will take to go through security. on to the plane. that there’s going to be a similar before continuing to the airport restaurants and bars. This will of friendly robots, using facial You’re not sure whether you’ll be “All of the separate processes revolution in how baggage goes unencumbered, or it might be have profound implications for recognition and natural language permitted to carry your bags on or that passengers are filtered from point A to point B. Rather collected by an autonomous wayfinding — and for the giant processing. “You will be able to whether you’ll have to check them. through nowadays — check-in, than travellers taking their bags to vehicle from their homes on the banks of signage that dominate speak to them, and they will help You don’t know if your flight is immigration, security, boarding the airport and waiting in line, the morning of their flight. airport interiors. Why would we 7 you to handle baggage or book going to be on time.” — will be much more integrated need signs when everything we flights,” says Frank Lin, WSP general Much of this is down to in future,” says Jelmer van der need to know is on our phone, and manager in Taiwan, who is leading heightened security measures: Meer, director of airport civil we can simply touch any wall for the ICT design. the biggest drag on the airport engineering at Netherlands an instant, personalized update? [19] process, and the most disruptive Airport Consultants (NACO). element for how airports look and “You’ll go through one process and The airport workforce schmoozing. At Incheon, a cleaning It’s on the airfield that on the airfield, allowing transport function. The first were introduced all the others will automatically will be much smaller, and robot with cameras, light sensors automation is really coming needs to be met by a much in the early 1970s in response to run in the background without you concentrated in customer- and bumpers learns which areas into its own. “The airfield is a smaller fleet of vehicles. the threat of hijacking, but it’s since noticing.” Frequent flyers who are [18] facing roles. Robots are already need vacuuming most frequently. dangerous and highly controlled Rotterdam The Hague in the terrorist attacks on the US in well known to airports, airlines and taking their first tentative steps to Shenzhen’s Bao’an security “Anbot” environment,” says Brooks. the Netherlands is launching an September 2001 that security has immigration services could have welcome passengers, answer their takes pictures of passengers and “Instead of putting people out autonomous baggage handling become such a dominant feature a “trusted passenger” status, so questions, escort them to gates, sends them for analysis, and is there to go and get bags, refuel system that replaces fixed of airport operations. they go through an even quicker, and clean up after them. Fitted fitted with a taser. planes or load meals, that will be conveyors and sorting systems — streamlined process. “There will LAGUARDIA’S TERMINAL CURE with touchscreens, cameras and readily automated pretty quickly.” each vehicle carries a single piece There is no question be a lot of focus on using data to Enhanced security has been extremely difficult for older airports to rapidly improving algorithms — Airports also have much greater of baggage and determines the of relaxing security. But we predict human behaviour and to accommodate. “The evolution and unexpected consequences of today’s and speaking multiple languages freedom freer to experiment with optimal route through the airport. aren’t far off the next best thing: find out their preferences and how security protocols were simply never anticipated,” says Chicas. “Airport — they will take your drinks order technologies such as autonomous Norway’s Fagernes Airport making it invisible. Advances to cater for them.” terminals that pre-date security either function very poorly or they’ve at Oakland Airport, or dance for vehicles (AVs) because they’re not has become the first to use self- in biometrics, facial recognition This is not necessarily far away, been replaced. The US is littered with airport terminals built in the 1950s you in San Jose. At Geneva, Leo governed by the same regulations driving snowploughs, each able to and scanning cameras that says van der Meer. “There is a or early 60s that have failed to adapt.” One airport of this vintage is New the bag-drop robot will print your as public highways. clear 357,500m3 in one hour. detect hidden objects will allow lot to gain by optimizing how we York’s LaGuardia, where HOK and WSP have designed the new 35-gate, tag and take your suitcase at the Airport operator Ferrovial has use the infrastructure we already 1.3 million ft2 Central Terminal B, set to more than double its capacity. The taxi drop-off. Robots do more than At Charles de Gaulle in Paris, trialled drones to carry out airfield have, but it very much depends existing terminal was built in 1964 to accommodate 8 million passengers driverless shuttles are ferrying inspections at Southampton 70% of travellers are prepared to on the willingness of countries a year, but now serves 15 million. The vision is to restore LaGuardia as a [17] IATA 2017 Global Passenger Survey [18] airport employees on an intelligent Airport in the UK. Unmanned share their personal information and government bodies to work “unified airport”, rebuilding outdated infrastructure, streamlining passenger LaGuardia airport, Amy Cicconi/Alamy Stock road network. aerial vehicles can cover large for a quicker airport experience. together. That will always be a flows and creating an exceptional traveller experience, says Chicas. “This is Photo [19] Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners [20] London Gatwick is areas quicker than humans, 64% would prefer to use big bottleneck. Security services, a very good example of the type of terminal that the industry needs as we Airport cleaning robot at Incheon International experimenting with electric AVs capturing images and video in biometric identification [17] immigration, aviation police, move into the 21st century.” Airport, LG Electronics [20] to move staff between locations high resolution. (THE ART AND SCIENCE OF) THE POSSIBLE SPACES

ROOFS OVER THE UNKNOWN Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Changing tech will require flexible, expansive spaces The changing shape of aircraft. It may be several decades before today’s disruptive innovations become the norm. But when they do, the airports we’re designing now will still be around and they’ll have to accommodate them. “There really is no limit to what is possible over the next 100 to 200 years. When we’re talking Airport buildings typically have a design life of at least 40 years and take a decade to deliver. That’s why the single most important about aviation, our wildest imaginations need to be taken seriously” Robert Chicas, HOK feature of a new airport is flexibility — which means long spans with few columns, so the structure doesn’t interrupt the floor plates and they can be easily reconfigured. Contemporary airports are, more [25] than anything else, capacious roof structures soaring over spaces The technology that The world’s longest flights are getting longer … with as few fixed elements as possible. will have the greatest “We sit on the cusp of some really fundamental shifts in the way impact on airports is aircraft that airports are operated and the way that passengers experience themselves. “Currently we 2. Qatar Airways: Auckland to Doha are facilitating landing, take-off 1. Singapore Airlines: New York to Singapore 9,032 miles | 18h05 them,” says Andy Thomas, partner at Grimshaw. “As so much of 9,500 miles | 18h45 Launched February 2017 this change is unknown, there’s a limit to how much we can design and parking of aircraft that have Launched October 2018 essentially been the same for the and plan for it now, so we need strategies that will allow the airport 3. Qantas: Perth to London to evolve over the next 30 to 40 years. Those that don’t will slowly last 70 years: a flying cylinder 9,010 miles | 17h20 Launched March 2018 decline and ultimately cease to be fit for purpose.” with wings and a jet engine,” says [21] Jelmer van der Meer at NACO. “But everything that’s happening 4. Emirates: Auckland to Dubai 8,824 miles | 17h05 in the car industry will happen Launched March 2016 at some point in aeronautics. CLEAN, GREEN, RUN BY MACHINES Aircraft will start using hybrid type A carbon neutral future for airports In the ten years since Airports Council International launched the Airport engines, maybe even electrical or 9 Carbon Accreditation programme, administered by WSP from the outset, 249 solar power.” Civil aviation is responsible for 2% of global man-made carbon airports in 68 countries on every continent have been certified, representing 43.3% Aerospace companies are under 5. United: Los Angeles to Singapore emissions, and the sector has committed to carbon-neutral of global air traffic. So far, 48 have reached the highest level, which means they have pressure to innovate: from 2019, 8,770 miles | 17h50 Launched October 2017 growth from 2020.[22] Airports account for a relatively small reduced their direct emissions as far as possible and offset any that remain. The goal aircraft operators will have to proportion, but they still have plenty of scope to improve — is for 100 airports to be carbon neutral by 2030.[23] report their carbon emissions WSP found that one UK airport operator could cut its annual and, from 2021, pay to offset Aircraft will become Chinese researchers unveiled a flights for Vahana, an all-electric utility costs by £2bn. them. They also face competition lighter, more efficient, hypersonic jet that could whizz 50 self-piloting VTOL aircraft that can % of passenger traffic covered “To become carbon neutral, we often just have to do the 63.3% from disruptors such as Elon cleaner and quieter. passengers from Beijing to New carry a single passenger. “If aircraft right thing very well,” says Tim Morrison, aviation director Carbon neutral Musk’s Space X and Google’s Manufacturers are exploring new York in just two hours. could take off vertically,” says Airports in the ACA scheme Europe airports at WSP. “We know what to do, the science hasn’t changed. 136 Planetary Ventures. In 2016, a materials and more aerodynamic Less radical for passengers but Morrison, “then all of a sudden, It’s inexcusable not to design and implement sustainable 39 KPMG survey of aerospace and structures, electric propulsion and massive for airports will be the rather than needing a plot of land solutions.” Building performance can be optimized by 35.5% defence manufacturers found energy storage. “We’re already retractable wing. Boeing’s 777X is a few miles across, it could be analyzing the thermal properties of the envelope, reducing the that investment in R&D was set to burning a fraction of the jet fuel the first passenger plane to feature a fraction of the size. You could Asia-Pacific 47 energy demands of the operations inside, and using renewable 6 “skyrocket”, with 45% intending to per passenger kilometre than we wing tips that fold in while it’s on start to use building rooftops or technologies to provide the residual demand for heat, cooling spend more than 6% of revenues used to,” says WSP’s Tim Morrison, the ground, so it has an extra-wide transport hubs, such as stations or and power. With their large roofs and even larger pavements, 44.5% on research.[24] “and aircraft manufacturers are wingspan for more efficient flight car parks.” airports have ample opportunity to harvest rainwater and North America 39 1 Jim Heidmann, manager of spending tens of billions a year on but can park up at smaller gates. generate their own clean energy on-site. In India, Cochin Dallas Fort Worth NASA’s Advanced Air Transport alternative propulsion — not just Airports have already had to adapt International is the world’s first solar-powered airport, with 45 Technology Project, has described biofuels and mixing up various to accommodate supersized 15.8% acres of solar PV panels. In the less sunny UK, Gatwick also this as a “tipping point” for fuels to make them leaner and Airbus A380s, but this could Latin America 1 has a solar array, complemented by a unique biomass system 17 commercial aviation: “We greener, but actually completely enable them to shrink down again. and Caribbean Galapagos Ecological Airport for disposing of aircraft waste to generate heat and electrical are exploring and developing changing the technology.” Further off and even more Each new generation of power, while reducing off-site disposal of contaminated waste. 30.4% game-changing technologies Technologies developed for the radical would be vertical take-off aircraft is on average 20% Airports could also help aircraft operators to meet their own 1 and concepts for aircraft and military and space exploration and landing, or VTOL. In 2016, more fuel-efficient than the Africa 10 Félix-Houphouët- commitment to carbon neutrality. WSP is advising Seattle- propulsion systems that can will also find commercial Boeing filed a patent for a VTOL one it replaces. Over the next Boigny (Abidjan) decade, airlines will invest Tacoma on the infrastructure it will need to offer a reliable [21] Queen Alia International Airport by Foster + Partners, Nigel Young [22] IATA dramatically improve efficiency applications, such as “hypersonic” passenger plane for up to 100 US$1.3tn in new planes [26] supply of biofuels on-site — with the potential to cut aircraft [23] airportco2.org [24] Global Aerospace and Defense Industry Outlook 2016, and reduce environmental flight at more than five times the passengers; earlier this year, Airbus emissions by 25%. Forbes Insights [25] BBC and other sources [26] IATA impact.” speed of sound. Earlier this year, completed the first full-scale test 11 (THE ART AND SCIENCE OF) THE POSSIBLE SPACES

Heathrow 2030: Sustainability, saunas and very little signage.

Expansion programme director Phil Wilbraham explains how the UK’s biggest airport intends to double passengers while creating a more personal service

You don’t embark lightly on a £14bn construction project on a constrained site next to one of the world’s busiest airports. But Heathrow has no choice if it is to remain a hub of choice in an increasingly crowded market — it has been operating at close to full capacity for a decade. With a long-awaited third runway just given parliamentary approval, Heathrow will be able to boost annual passenger numbers from 78 million to 130 million and add 40 new long-haul routes, says Phil 11HAMAD: YOUNG, DELUXE AND DISRUPTIVE Wilbraham, expansion programme director. “It’s so we can continue It only opened in 2014, but it’s already challenging established hubs to connect Britain to where the growth is in the world. If we don’t Ten years ago, just over 5 million issues. The airport’s app already acts take this opportunity, it will be very people a year passed through as shopping directory, e-commerce difficult for a two-runway airport Qatar’s Doha International Airport; platform and routefinder, but Al to grow beyond 85-90 million today, its successor, Hamad Meer foresees augmented and passengers.” [27] International, serves 30 million, with virtual reality playing a greater role, That growth is also dependent a planned rise to over 50 million for for passengers and staff. “It can on Heathrow continuing to meet own journey rather than having to using their phone or tablet. So space required for car parking and was first mooted. So Heathrow will change with the advent of the 2022 World Cup. In 2018, it was enhance wayfinding through camera passengers’ growing expectations, fit into the mould of the airport.” in 20 years’ time, you won’t need forecourts. Electric vehicles will intends to “grow sensitively”, says automation. Autonomous tugs ranked as the best in the Middle navigation and create new ways and Wilbraham is well aware Technology will liberate many physical signs because need somewhere to charge — but Wilbraham. Quieter engines will already work on the airfield and it East, and the fifth best in the world. to visualize and interact with the of the competition it faces from travellers from queues — “it has most people will know their route.” their batteries could be used as help — airlines are incentivized has hosted a trial of a “CargoPod” CNN called it “the most luxurious airport’s operational data, including hubs elsewhere in Europe and in the potential to take us to a place As conventional shopping goes storage for renewable energy, to bring their newest planes and that could move goods around airport on the planet”. aircraft movement, passenger the Middle East. “I think it’s about where you don’t even feel that online and retail takes up less to even out supply and demand. stick to the least disruptive flight the airside perimeter. “People are HIA is well located to capitalize movement and retail analytics.” providing a more individualized you’re being processed, you’re just space, travellers will be able to Ultimately, the target is to make the paths. “We also want to ensure going to want a personal service not only on the growth in global air Biometrics and facial recognition service. In the past we have tended walking through a building to get pick and mix from a much wider airport’s expansion zero-carbon. that the local community is as much as they are going to traffic, but on its eastwards shift. Its will further speed up security, and to think of passengers as they are to where you want to be” — and range of activities: “There could properly attached to the airport, to want the benefits of automation, expansion plans are ambitious — a robotics and AI will be trialled on the plane: first class, premium, empower them to roam more easily be a place where you watch Sensitive growth merge the transport gateway and so there will always be someone second cargo terminal will double to respond to simple passenger economy. It’s not as simple as freely through the airport. “I don’t a movie or TV or go and relax or the city as much as possible, and around who can help. It will be capacity to 2.8 million tonnes, and requests. HIA will also explore the that. We need to give people more think it will be that long before get some kip between flights — Like many global cities, London at the same time create a great no bad thing when people don’t 100ha are set aside for an airport use of blockchain for rapid, secure choice so that they can create their people will start to find their way maybe have a sauna.” has an uneasy relationship with place to live and a great place to come to work to move bags by city. But it’s in the field of technology data sharing across the network. Wilbraham expects that fewer the airports that have underpinned actually work. It’s really important hand, but to use a machine that that chief operating officer Badr “Automated decision-making, as the travellers will arrive by road, its success, and especially its that those things merge more moves bags. But it will need to be Mohammed Al Meer sees the real next major trend, will see the use “It’s about providing a more individualized service. In the with improved public transport major hub. It took almost 20 than they have done in the past.” very sensitively worked through to competitive advantage. The future of technology to analyze real-time past we tended to think of passengers as they are on the options and new high-speed rail years to plan and build Heathrow Heathrow’s workforce of 70,000 ensure that the passenger gets the of HIA will be more automated, he airport operations to aid in decision- links. Driverless cars will ease Terminal 5, and it is already nearly will grow too, but probably only by right service and that we get the says, as artificial intelligence frees making, which in turn leaves no plane: first class, premium, economy. It’s not that simple” capacity issues by reducing the that long since the third runway about 20%, and the skills profile right sort of efficiencies.” staff to focus on more complex room for wrong decisions.” (THE ART AND SCIENCE OF) THE POSSIBLE SPACES

SoSo what what will will wewe dobe indoing the airport in the of airport the future? of the Anything we want.

“As airport processes recede and cease to define the passenger experience, there’s an opportunity to spend time there in a much more enjoyable way” Andy Thomas, Grimshaw

Tomorrow’s airport Tim Morrison. “It’s really important by retail offers that don’t interest much better frame of mind to get is not just a place to catch a to have that wonderful sensation them, can start to close up. People on their plane. But also they might plane or pick up some duty- of arrival too. And then you might who are comfortable, relaxed decide that there is something free. It’s a destination restaurant, think, ‘It’s such a spectacular place and happy in their environment within that space that’s appealing a legendary cocktail bar, a to be, why don’t we stay here?’ are much more likely to spend to them and that they’d like to take comfy place to sleep, a wellness You might spend a few days in the money.” the opportunity to explore and be sanctuary, all tailored precisely for airport as part of your R&R before Grimshaw designed Istanbul entertained.” each traveller with smartphone moving off into the city for the New Airport, with Nordic Office As on the high street, airport notifications and special offers. rest of your break. As a concept, of Architecture and Haptic, retail will be more about engaging No two journeys through it will be it sounds nuts. But the airport inaugurated in October 2018 and travellers with the brand than the same. experience is already light-years one of the largest in the world. persuading them to spend then Airports could even become ahead of what it used to be.” “There is a very substantial, grand and there. “Some of the most destinations in their own right, airside hall which offers pretty valuable pieces of space within the stopover as much a part of Airports still need much every type of experience, the airport are big brand and the journey as the end point. But passengers to spend money. including wonderful, peaceful media experiences, for a company they will need to pay far more But they need to be clever spacious areas for people just to to share their brand identity and attention to the arrival experience about it. The most successful sit and relax,” says Thomas. “You values with a customer base 13 [30] — traditionally the poor (and low- retail offer isn’t the most densely don’t have to commercialize every that tends to have money in their spending) cousin of departures. packed, says Grimshaw’s Andy square foot of the international pockets and be prepared to spend Above all, the airport waiting for their flight. “When we design airports, Thomas. “People who feel departures lounge. If we provide it,” says Thomas. of tomorrow will be Grimshaw’s giant terminal there’s far too much focus on the harassed and harangued, like places for people to sit and rest somewhere. for Istanbul New Airport draws departing passenger,” says WSP’s they’re being attacked on all sides and take stock, they’ll be in a “The airport is your first on the classical structures of impression of a place and your Mimar Sinan, father of Turkish last recall when you leave,” says architecture (or “mimari” in Singapore’s Changi Airport already HOK’s Robert Chicas. “So your Turkish). “It’s about how we create has a butterfly garden where weary “What airports need arrival in one location should be environments that have a kind of travellers can reconnect with nature. in order to be genuinely fundamentally different than warmth for passengers and a But the Jewel development takes successful destinations another location with a completely scale that’s understandable, all it a step further. Opening in 2019, is ‘spirit of place’. Spirit of different culture or vibe. It’s the within this genuinely massive it is intended to become a “lifestyle place helps pivot passengers difference between an airport building enclosure,” says Andy destination” in its own right, both for to shoppers. It can disrupt the being a vessel to receive and Thomas. “We took inspiration from international visitors to Singapore and traveller’s mindset by revealing send passengers and it being a how light animates spaces, the local residents. It includes a five-storey the rich bounty of a local reflection of a particular place.” rhythm and proportion of these air-conditioned garden, with walking story. To be effective it must HOK’s new Central Terminal environments, the texture and the trails, slides, a maze and the world’s be a ‘living story’, meaning it B at LaGuardia will feature patterning. These all help to make tallest indoor waterfall, as well as has continuity with the past, “pocket parks”, places to sit and the building particular to its place dining, retail, business facilities and represents the present too rest with indoor trees and play and something that the people of hotel cabins that can be rented in and grows as the local areas for children, echoing those Istanbul can take to their hearts.” hourly blocks. story evolves.” found throughout New York City. As airports have become larger, Meanwhile, Long Beach, couldn’t architects are also borrowing [27] Grimshaw [28] gnoparus/ Lewis Allen, director of be anywhere other than southern concepts from urban planners. Shutterstock.com [29] Jewel Changi environments at retail California, with outdoor areas “It’s about differentiation and Airport Devt. [30] Grimshaw designer Portland where passengers can chill by a placemaking,” says Antoinette

[31] HOK [29] firepit with a glass of wine while Nassopoulos-Erickson, senior [31] (THE ART AND SCIENCE OF) THE POSSIBLE SPACES

“SOME AIRPORTS TREAT Airports may even become cities YOU LIKE SHEEP” in their own right. Not everybody loves duty-free … “Look for yesterday’s busiest train terminals and you will find today’s great urban centres. Look for Richard de Neufville admits that his is a “contrarian” view. Like many frequent business travellers, the MIT professor today’s busiest airports and you will find the great urban centres of tomorrow” John D Kasarda hates having to march through a shopping centre when he just wants to get home. “Some airports treat you like sheep. They want to keep you in the shopping area for as long as The airport will aerotropolis — a city whose layout possible so you can’t go to where you actually want to be. become the best and activities centred around GOODBYE, AIRPORT PARKING What I really want to do is get to my gate with a minimum connected place in the city, an airport — were founded on of fuss.” [32] and a much more integral time-sensitive manufacturing Parking is the single biggest chunk of airport’s non-aeronautical revenues, De Neufville is an engineer and system designer who part of it. The key word for and distribution businesses that and rental cars are the next biggest: together they make up around 60%. specializes in airport planning. He has been associated sustainable airport development is relied on fast links to distant [34] The convenience of ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Lyft has already with airport projects on every continent, and is currently partner at Foster + Partners. Its that’s on offer …” multimodal. Airports will be hubs customers, such as FedEx in dented the appeal of car ownership for millennials, and in the not-too- working with Singapore’s Changi on its massive 1,080ha extension to Marseille airport, on Transparency and glazing is for city and regional links and Memphis or UPS in Louisville. In distant future, shared autonomous vehicles could make it almost obsolete. extension. In the future, he believes more passengers will which WSP is the engineer, will important, not just for natural mass transit of many kinds: high- his book Aerotropolis: The Way That spells the end for airport parking as we know it. Why pay to leave think as he does. “There won’t be that much emphasis on make the most of the legendary light and views but so that people speed rail, autonomous vehicles, We’ll Live Next, University of North your own car at the airport for two weeks when you can summon a lift shopping malls anywhere, let alone at the airport. Big box Provençal lumière with a can watch the planes, she adds. hyperloop, drone taxis … Carolina professor John D Kasarda when you need one? Driverless cars will simply drop off their passengers stores are closing because people prefer to buy things more continuous grid of skylights that act “We’re keen that people have As airports become quieter, describes the aerotropolis as “the and head on to their next pick-up, but they’ll also need somewhere to wait cheaply online. So the idea that it would be a special treat as giant lanterns. “When you arrive a connection not just to the cleaner and better connected logic of globalization made flesh and to recharge their batteries — and where better than the airport? “They to go to a duty-free store and then have to carry the stuff in Marseille, you’ll know you’re landscape but to the aircraft, by mass transit — and cities in the form of cities”. That logic tend to be very well connected to road networks and there will always be around doesn’t make sense. The cost of building a shopping in Provence,” says Nassopoulos- so they don’t feel like they’re in more crowded and congested — has made some form of airport high demand,” says Grimshaw’s Andy Thomas. mall in a very congested expensive place doesn’t make Erickson. “The colours, the light, an anonymous place with no they suddenly present15 a much connectivity essential for all sense either.” the relationship to the landscape, relationship to the experience of more interesting development businesses. The other part of the equation is the rise of low-cost the relationship to the sky, the food air travel.” opportunity. Gensler aviation lead But it works both ways. In travel, making flying more accessible and less of a special Ty Osbaugh believes that with a world that is seamlessly occasion. “Low-cost airlines are taking over and they’re better transit links and landside connected by the internet, increasingly asking for facilities that serve their needs.” Welcome to … Earth amenities, the airport city will innovation is the greatest Low-cost travellers need somewhere to buy a takeaway evolve from logistics centre differentiator for companies. For sandwich, as they won’t be offered free food on the plane, For the ultimate sense of place, head to Spaceport America in New Mexico, to mixed-use development to that, they rely on attracting the Connecting Ontario but they’re less likely to view their journey as an extended designed by Foster + Partners. “Astronauts who’ve had the experience of micro-city: “This evolution makes brightest human minds — and shopping trip. going into space and coming back talk about how precious the Earth is the airport part of the larger those minds don’t want to work Within 20 years, Toronto Efficiency, convenience and ease of operation will be and how concerned they are about the environment,” says Nassopoulos- community. The reality of living on an industrial estate. They’d Pearson expects annual the hallmark of future airports, says de Neufville — not Erickson, the project architect. “Our design for that spaceport was very near an airport has many benefits, rather be in a vibrant, thriving city, passenger numbers to almost just for passengers but for airlines too. Outside of the US, terrestrial: when you look at it, it’s very earthy, it’s something buried in the and the amenity of quick travel to with the airport a short, easy hop double. It’s new regional airports have not typically been designed around operators ground, in contrast to the sleek spacecraft. There’s a wonderful view across the central city will attract talent.” away. Whether that’s a brand new transit centre, designed by — for example, to minimize taxi time or make it easier to the New Mexico desert to the hills beyond, to give you sense that you are The earliest examples of the city built around the airport, or an HOK and WSP, will not only manoeuvre. “But the cost of even small delays really mounts part of that world.” established city with a fast mass- accommodate this growth up — the full economic cost to operate an aircraft is about transit connection, will depend on but improve connectivity £100 a minute. Making it efficient for operators means they “Connected airports will how successfully airports are able throughout the region. The can deliver better prices to customers. Ultimately that can connect not just one city to to become fully functional urban airport is in a unique position drive a lot of the design.” centres. to link towns and cities Airports can be bigger but still user-friendly, he argues. another, but to passenger throughout Ontario, located Look at Atlanta, which serves more passengers than lifestyles, to the cities in Many new airports between three municipalities, any other airport in the world: “It’s huge but in terms of are deliberately planned four major highways and what’s provided, it’s really very simple. The future is not which they are located, and with adjacent city-sized lots. a number of planned and an extension of the past. Right now the tendency of a lot to the emotional experience Taiwan’s Taoyuan Aerotropolis existing transit lines. of places is to build monuments for themselves. But if Plan envisages jobs for 200- [35] that’s important to them, there are ways of doing it more of travel” Ty Osbaugh, 300,000 people, as well as homes, economically and efficiently.” Gensler recreation facilities and amenities [32] Foster + Partners [33] Nigel Young/Foster + Partners [34] ACI North [33] for the new communities. America [35] Union Pearson Express, Tom Arban Photography (THE ART AND SCIENCE OF) THE POSSIBLE SPACES

“We’re trying to build an for which redevelopment looms. Schiphol’s new valet-parking obviously valuable or glamorous ecosystem for all the logistics “That’s a scary thought for many model. Passengers drop off their amenities that are essential to Or maybe the city will become an airport … and cargo companies, but also airport operators — but it presents cars next to the terminal, which city life: childcare, gyms, grocery to boost totally new industries to a tremendous opportunity to are then parked at a remote stores, outdoor seating areas, contribute to GDP growth,” says rethink the types of facilities facility, freeing up land for more places for food trucks. WSP’s Frank Lin. The government and services that airports offer lucrative uses. “If we really want to create a new “We’re seeing the largest innovation in aviation since World War II. particularly wants to encourage their customers on the landside,” type of airport urbanism that is Cities are becoming vertical” Adrienne Lindgren, WSP innovation in four tech fields — says Max Hirsh, professor at the Those budding irresistible to both residents and Internet of Things (IoT), smart city University of Hong Kong and aerotropolises will be in visitors,” says Hirsh, “we need to technology, AI and green energy author of Airport Urbanism. “At competition with the cities focus on things that people enjoy A new space race missing link that better connects and congested, and if it has a many different areas.” — and is building dedicated R&D present, some of the airport’s most they serve. So they have to doing in their free time: playing is on. The goal is on-demand existing transit systems into a large airport that can’t be reached The biggest challenge will not facilities to lure entrepreneurs valuable real estate is occupied offer the things that real cities with their children, relaxing urban aviation: electric VTOL more functional whole. inside an hour, that would make be technical so much as political: from across Asia. by parking structures. Successful do. A mix of commercial and with friends over a tasty meal, drones piloting themselves for a “compelling use case” too. gaining public acceptance. Older, landlocked airports airports are re-evaluating whether residential buildings is not enough shopping for unusual products, over congested cities, cutting What this actually It has narrowed the search for a “It’s going to really change the are sitting on vast tracts of land that still makes sense.” He gives — developers must fill the gaps listening to good music, going for commutes from hours to minutes. looks like will differ from third launch city down to Japan, visuals of the city. We have to currently devoted to parking — the example of Amsterdam in between with all of the less a walk in nature.” Uber is aiming to start city to city. “Aviation has France, Brazil, Australia and India. think about defining the public demonstrator flights of the Uber been built on a very specific Lindgren foresees that small, benefit of these technologies, Air service by 2020, and full standardized system, and this forgotten or outlying airports otherwise why are people going to commercial operations by 2023. will really challenge all of the could be brought back into the accept having them clutter their Dubai’s rulers are enthusiastically parties involved to think a little fold of a regional system. Major skyline?” Services will need to pursuing test flights of Volocopter differently. If this becomes a airports, meanwhile, will have to be affordable, says Lindgren: “As air taxis to a similar timetable, reality, our conception of airports decide whether or not to welcome aviation becomes local, people will and Singapore’s civil aviation will change — the city will be an low-altitude interlopers, and how have the capacity to legislate you authority is working with the airport.” In Dallas — Uber Air’s such services will integrate with out of their airspace. That’s a real European Aviation Safety Agency other US launch city — urban their own transit, security and concern: if no one sees the value, and Airbus to develop standards aviation could connect the electricity networks. or the value is only there for 2-5% for urban aviation. 17The European city’s sprawling suburbs and of your population, people will Commission launched its Urban decentralized transport nodes. In There are armies resent having it in their skies.” Air Mobility Initiative in May 2018 southern California, it could add of experts on both the There will be a cultural shift for and nine cities and one region significant regional connectivity: technology and regulatory all concerned, as ground transport have since signed up to take part “We don’t have trains, but we have aspects. But there’s a crucial gap providers and municipalities get in pilot schemes. a lot of people spread out. It’s so in the middle, believes Lindgren, to grips with aviation for the first “We’re seeing the largest contentious to build on land in for engineering and consultancy time. This is where airports are innovation in aviation since World the US, owing in no small part on how to implement urban uniquely placed to help. “Airports War II, and there’s certainly to the number of competing and aviation technologies for the good have tended to do their own a component of first out the incumbent stakeholders on the of city inhabitants. “What there thing in the past, but increasingly gate,” says Adrienne Lindgren, ground, that I honestly believe it hasn’t been a lot of to date are you will see them included in a specialist in urban aviation will be easier to activate airspace.” people working at the intersection conversations about how we plan [36] at WSP. “Cities are becoming Uber Air will link transit nodes — how do you integrate these into cities and about oversight of all vertical.” rather than running point-to- traditional infrastructure planning these different assets. Airports Arlanda’s city vision Lindgren recently joined WSP point, at speeds of 150-200km. processes? Implementation is will continue to become more Co-working in arrivals from the mayor’s office in Los Its ideal city is large, sprawling, going to be extremely complicated important in dictating urban For the last 100 months, Stockholm’s Arlanda airport has Angeles, one of two Uber Air densely populated, polycentric because it’s going to touch so power centres.” In the fast-growing, land-poor, more served record numbers of passengers. In 2017, 27 million launch cities in the US, where communal societies of the East, airports people passed through its gates; by 2040, it expects 40 she was developing policies are becoming places of social interaction million, and by 2070, 70 million. To balance expansion with to help the city integrate new for people who aren’t even flying. Changi development in the surrounding area, government-owned forms of mobility. Full-scale is a favoured study location for Singapore’s operator Swedavia is preparing land-use masterplans with implementation won’t happen university students, lured by free wifi, a 50-year horizon for Arlanda and its nine other airports until closer to 2033, she believes, aircon, 24-hour access and the variety of across Sweden. “The airport is increasingly seen as a partly because airspace is so quiet spaces and refreshments. “Rather destination and a meeting place in its own right,” says Anna heavily regulated. But it is this than keeping everyone out, airports are Norin, head of masterplanning at Swedavia. “By definition that presents city planners with a beginning to open up and they’re looking you would go there as a traveller, but because of Arlanda’s golden opportunity, allowing them at spaces in a completely different light,” great connectivity, a lot of city elements are also developing time to plan how and where urban [36] Swedavia Airports [37] NASA says WSP’s Jason Brooks. in the immediate surroundings.” aviation happens. It could be the [37] “Autonomous aircraft is a major area of exploration right now because it really captures the imagination of innovators — it’s about the best materials, the most efficient forms, the most powerful propulsion systems. It’s a whole new world” Tim Morrison, WSP

This article was produced for issue 04 of The Possible magazine, published by WSP in January 2019.

With thanks to the following contributors: ACI World, Foster + Partners, Gensler, Grimshaw, Hamad International Airport, Heathrow Airport, HOK, NACO, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, Swedavia, Max Hirsh at HKU, Richard de Neufville at MIT, Lewis Allen at Portland Design

From WSP: Jason Brooks, Mattias Frithiof, Frank Lin, Adrienne Lindgren, Tina Millán, Tim Morrison WHAT IF WE CAN?

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