Calgary International Airport is expanding Assaia’s ApronAI platform to its air cargo operations, becoming the first airport in Canada to deploy the technology for this purpose. AI-enabled cameras are now installed at one of the airport’s dedicated cargo aprons, and will track each freighter turnaround from arrival to departure and log when key steps like unloading, loading and fuelling begin and end. Calgary Airports, cargo operators and ground handlers will receive the same real-time turnaround information.
The project is supported by the Government of Canada through the National Trade Corridors Fund to improve the movement of goods in Canada.
Calgary International recorded more than 5,200 cargo landings last year and handles more than 70% of Alberta’s air cargo tonnage. Calgary Airports has invested more than $100 million in cargo infrastructure, including facilities for e-commerce, perishables, pharmaceuticals, oversized industrial equipment and live animals.
Assaia chief executive, Christiaan Hen, said: “Cargo turnarounds present a different set of challenges to passenger operations. The processes can vary significantly depending on the nature of the cargo and the handling requirements, making it harder to predict how long each turnaround should take. By capturing exactly what happens on the apron, ApronAI gives Calgary Airports and its partners the data to better understand that variability and identify opportunities to make cargo operations more predictable and efficient.”
Etihad Airways celebrated the arrival of its inaugural flight from its Abu Dhabi hub to Calgary on 26 October. The new service will operate four times a week with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
