AOP by 2027: An opportunity for smarter airport operations

The aviation industry is no stranger to complex logistical challenges. With countless moving parts—from baggage handling and airside operations to security and passenger services—efficiency hinges on precision and co-ordination. Yet, many airports operate with siloed systems and fragmented data that hinder seamless collaboration.

Enter the airport operations plan (AOP). The adoption of AOPs is not merely an operational trend, but is increasingly becoming a regulatory requirement, particularly within Europe, which requires implementation by 2027. Initiatives under the Single European Sky (SES) and its technological pillar, SESAR (Single European Sky ATM Research), aim to modernise European air traffic management (ATM). A key component of this modernisation is Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/116, establishing Common Project 1 (CP1). This regulation mandates the implementation of specific ATM functionalities, including AOPs, for a significant number of major European airports by 2027, signalling a fundamental shift in operational expectations.

But an AOP can be much more than a tick box exercise for compliance purposes. They offer airports a powerful opportunity to break down barriers, optimise operations, and future-proof their capabilities. Whether you’re based in the EU or elsewhere, adopting an AOP is a chance to rethink your data practices and create long-term competitive advantages.

What is an airport operations plan (AOP)?

At its core, an AOP is a centralised planning framework designed to facilitate real-time collaboration and forward planning across all airport functions. It acts as a shared playbook for key stakeholders, creating a unified view of operations to optimise every aspect of the airport ecosystem.

From improving communication between departments to enabling predictive resource allocation, the benefits of an AOP extend well beyond compliance. However, it’s critical to understand that while the AOP is a planning tool, its success relies heavily on having accurate and unified data. This is where a robust data platform becomes indispensable.

Josh Parkinson, Principal Data Consultant at Zühlke, emphasises the distinction between an AOP and a data platform. “This is a crucial distinction — a data platform and an Airport Operations Plan (AOP) are two separate things, and it’s vital not to conflate them. An AOP is a planning artefact that requires reconciled, timely, high-quality data to function effectively. Building the right data foundations first is essential—not only for the AOP but also for unlocking broader operational value,” he explains.

Zurich Airport: Turning regulation into a strategic milestone

Zurich Airport offers a compelling example of how an AOP can create tangible value when implemented correctly. As one of the early adopters, the airport approached AOP implementation as an opportunity for broader operational transformation.

Working in partnership with Zühlke, a global transformation partner, Zurich Airport laid a groundwork that proved key to success. By establishing a robust data platform and strong data governance practices they brought together fragmented data from across the airport. This foundational work enabled the development of an AOP that delivered significant efficiencies.

“Our team was onsite at the airport twice a week, working closely with airport experts to understand their day-to-day challenges. This proximity allowed us to design an AOP that didn’t just meet regulatory requirements but also delivered real operational value,” he shares.

By fostering tight co-operation across platform engineering, data governance, and application development, Zühlke helped Zurich Airport create a solution that improved situational awareness, enabled smarter decision-making, and optimised resource allocation. experience.

Breaking down data silos

One of the most significant challenges airports face is siloed data. Departments like baggage handling, security, and passenger services often operate in isolation, optimising for their own KPIs rather than working toward a collective goal. This fragmentation makes cross-departmental planning and real-time co-ordination incredibly difficult.

An AOP serves as a catalyst and an opportunity for breaking down these silos. By creating a shared operational framework, it compels stakeholders to engage in collaborative discussions about data sharing and integration. As Josh notes, “The AOP introduces a new urgency to collaborate, which helps align disparate teams. It also introduces challenges, such as handling multiple datasets with varying levels of sensitivity, access rights, and operational context.  Data sharing must be secure, justifiable, and aligned with operational responsibilities. Technology is the enabler, but people and process make it real.”

This mindset shift towards collaboration is crucial, as it allows organisations to break down traditional barriers and embrace a more holistic approach to data management. This can lead to increased efficiency, reduced duplication of efforts, and ultimately better decision-making.

Moreover, the AOP encourages innovation by providing a platform for exploring new ideas and experimenting with different approaches. By allowing for open communication among stakeholders.

Effective data sharing, however, requires more than just connecting systems. “Role-based access control, data classification, and governance are essential,” explains Josh. “The technology can help, but the real work lies in creating shared policies, trust, and oversight.”

Turning regulatory pressure into long-term advantages

An airport operations plan (AOP) offers a valuable framework for improving airport management and performance. While the immediate regulatory driver—particularly in Europe—focuses on compliance, the process of building an AOP requires airports to get their data in order and break down longstanding silos. This creates a foundation that can unlock much wider benefits.

By improving real-time situational awareness, teams can allocate resources and coordinate activities more effectively, reducing delays, lowering costs, and improving the passenger experience. But the opportunity doesn’t stop there. Once this data foundation is in place, airports can go beyond the AOP, tapping into advanced analytics and AI to develop predictive capabilities, identify potential disruptions, recommend proactive measures, and strengthen operational resilience across the board.

In short, the implementation of an AOP also lays the groundwork for future innovation. Establishing a strong data platform and governance framework not only supports the AOP itself but also creates opportunities for other initiatives. These systems can be repurposed for projects such as sustainability efforts or retail optimisation within the airport.

Lastly, adopting an AOP offers a competitive edge, even for airports outside the EU. Efficient, tech-enabled airports are increasingly valued by both passengers and airlines. Investing in smarter operations now positions an airport as a leader in the industry, setting it apart in an increasingly competitive market.

Steps to set up for success

Implementing an airport operations plan (AOP) is much more than a technical task—it’s a cultural transformation that demands collaboration across departments.

To get started, begin by mapping your data landscape. Identify and map your core data entities, such as aircraft, passengers, and baggage, along with the systems that manage them. “This matrix will help you understand which systems intersect with which entities, giving you a view of your data landscape’s data fragmentation, and highlights where you can focus to get the biggest return,” says Josh.

“It also allows you to avoid being distracted by high-profile systems that may not actually manage the most valuable data for an AOP. This step puts data at the centre of your thinking — and that’s essential.”

Next, invest in a reliable data platform that can reconcile, clean, and centralise data from various sources. High-quality data is the backbone of an effective AOP. At the same time, encourage collaboration across departments by uniting stakeholders to establish shared definitions, ownership, and governance of data. While these discussions might be difficult, they are critical for long-term success.

Start small by focusing on a single, high impact use case to demonstrate the value of the AOP. Once the benefits are evident, it will be easier to gain support for broader implementation. Finally, plan for continuous maintenance. Airports are dynamic environments, so it’s essential to create systems and processes that can adapt to evolving data sources and ensure the AOP remains effective over time.

Following these steps will lay a solid foundation for a successful AOP, promoting seamless efficiency and enhanced collaboration across all aspects of airport operations.

Josh’s one piece of advice? “Separate the data foundations from the AOP functionality. If your development team ends up also collecting and cleaning the data themselves, they’ll be stretched thin and distracted from delivering the actual AOP features. Worse, the good work they do on data quality may be locked into that one application, rather than being reused elsewhere in the airport.

“Build a solid data platform first — it’ll benefit the AOP and a lot more besides it.”

Elevating your operations

The EU’s 2027 AOP mandate serves as a crucial turning point for the aviation industry, but it’s also a golden opportunity. By breaking down data silos, fostering collaboration, and laying the right technological foundations, airports can turn regulatory requirements into competitive advantages.

As Zurich Airport demonstrated, the key to success lies in seeing the AOP as more than a compliance box to tick. It’s a powerful tool for delivering operational excellence, reducing costs, and enhancing the overall passenger experience. With the right approach, your airport can achieve the same.

Whether you’re in the EU or not, the question isn’t when to start your AOP, it’s how to move beyond the basics to unlock its full potential.

“You can’t just parachute in a data platform and expect everyone to adapt instantly. When the focus is purely on compliance, there’s a risk of doing the bare minimum — often by throwing just-good-enough data into the AOP. That leads to poor data quality, a lack of trust, and ultimately a less effective solution,” says Josh.

The more time and intention you invest now, the more opportunity you’ll have to build trust and relationships across stakeholders, refine processes, and create a solution that doesn’t just meet regulatory compliance, but transforms airport operations for the better.

Want to find out more about how airports are shifting from simply collecting data to orchestrating it? Register for Zühlke’s live virtual panel discussion — featuring a special guest from Zurich Airport — to explore how to connect systems, break down silos, and create scalable data ecosystems that drive smarter, faster, and more resilient operations.

Register for the free webinar now