Airports urge innovation and slot reform as ACI chief calls for modernised global framework

Airports Innovate opened in Busan with a strong State of the Industry address from Mr Stefano Baronci, Director General of ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East, which represents more than 600 airports across the region. He called for urgent innovation and policy reform to help future proof airport operations, arguing that technology alone will not solve structural capacity challenges without parallel updates to global slot allocation rules.

Mr Baronci emphasised that airports must keep pace with technological change to remain competitive, but said that policy dialogue between industry and States is essential. He noted that the global slot allocation framework is outdated and increasingly unfit for managing congestion at busy airports.

A key part of his address focused on the findings of the ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East security technology survey, which captured data from 48 airports across both regions. The results show a strong push to modernise security checkpoints, often described as the most stressful stage of the passenger journey.

The survey revealed that deployment of CT scanners and body scanners for both cabin baggage and passenger screening is rising rapidly and is expected to double by 2028. Small and medium-sized airports are adopting new screening systems at a pace similar to larger hubs, despite continued constraints on cost and space. CT scanners can cost up to ten times more than standard X-ray units, creating barriers for smaller airports. The research also found growing interest in AI-enabled screening support tools, including Automated Prohibited Items Detection Systems, which are viewed as promising for more efficient detection in future operations.

Commenting on the findings, Mr Baronci said: “As passenger expectations are rising, security must evolve with them. Our latest survey shows that airports across Asia-Pacific and the Middle East are ready to embrace advanced screening technologies despite cost and space constraints.” He added: “Today’s passengers expect not only a safe service but also an increasingly sophisticated customer experience. We are proud to report that both the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions continue to outperform the global average in terms of satisfaction and overall experience, according to the latest ACI World data in Q3 2025.”

Turning to the question of capacity, Mr Baronci called for renewed efforts to reform the Worldwide Airport Slot Guidelines. He highlighted that the rules, introduced in 1974, have barely changed, even though aircraft technology, airline business models and market dynamics have evolved significantly. He said there is increasing pressure on the system, with 215 airports now requiring full slot coordination, up from 170 in 2015. Asia-Pacific has become the second most congested region after Europe.

He also pointed to limitations in the legacy 80/20 rule, which enables incumbents to retain slots automatically. He argued that this restricts competition and affects affordability for passengers. “Since the current slot system has barely changed in 50 years, it no longer fits an industry that is rapidly innovating. Updating this system is essential to ensure aviation continues to create long-term economic and social benefits,” he said.

ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East has set out recommendations for modernising slot policy. These include linking historic precedence to local access priorities and the wider economic and social value of air services, connecting slot retention to responsible and efficient use rather than minimum thresholds, and ensuring new and competitive airline access opportunities.

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