ENGIE provides IT to airports
Technology changes all the time in the aviation industry. At ENGIE, we follow them all closely. Air’NG is one of the most recent innovations that the Group has developed in this context. It is a digital platform which manages a series of tasks at airports, including tracing, monitoring and sorting luggage, etc.
At Brussels Airport
In Brussels, an Air’NG platform manages the 25 'screening lines’, i.e. modern control lines for hand luggage. Each of these lines can process 450 bags per hour. Air’NG collates all control data, processes it, and then reproduces it in the form of interactive tables and reports. The airport can then check whether the screening lines and the security company G4S are complying with the requirements that are set with respect to efficiency.
At Paris-Charles De Gaulle
At Paris-Charles De Gaulle airport, ENGIE Cofely Airport & Logistics Services uses Air’NG to check its own performance levels. This division is responsible for the maintenance or jet-bridges and the power supply in aircraft.
The data is sent to an Air’NG platform which then processes it and retrieves indicators that allow problems to be identified or issues to be prevented, before they occur.
In Greece
Air’NG was launched in 2018 and was quickly applied to the work of Fraport, the company that operates 14 airports on the Greek islands. Fraport was seeking a unique infrastructure for tracing and monitoring passenger luggage.
In practice, the luggage processors scan the barcode on the luggage labels. The data is then sent via WiFi or 4G and ends up in a data centre. Once there, it is entered into Air’NG via a specific application. The result? Greek airports can monitor luggage in real-time, from check-in to departure. They can thus fulfil the regulation from the IATA, the International Air Transport Association.
Other applications
Finally, ENGIE Fabricom uses Air’NG itself for other applications, e.g. monitoring the luggage sorting system which the entity provides at 48 airports around the world. All data is centralised in Brussels, where there is a support team on-hand 24/7.
The application scope for Air’NG, however, is not limited to the aviation industry. It offers a platform on which many applications can be carried out. The advantage compared to other, similar platforms? Ease-of-use. Air’NG is built on Open Source computer modules. Most computer experts don't need to undergo extensive training to use Air’NG and write applications for it.
ENGIE developed Air’NG to meet the needs of its customers. The digitisation of the luggage sorting system has allowed the increase in flights, destinations and connections to run more smoothly over the past couple of decades. Today, Air’NG has reached a new phase, thanks to the Cloud. Many airports no longer want robust IT infrastructure in their buildings.
This innovation is part of ENGIE’s strategy. By improving the efficient use of their processes and activities, the Group aims to become an exemplary partner for the many customers that are preparing for the future.