Airport leaders talk technology and development

Edmonton conference discusses trains, robots and bird-clearing falcon drones

Airport brass from across North America shared what’s new at their terminals Tuesday, discussing everything from robots to airport-todowntown trains.

The Edmonton International Airport (EIA) was host to dozens of airport colleagues for the fourth Smart Airports and Regions Conference this week. As the airport with the most land under development in North America, the rapidly-growing EIA has been attracting international attention from others looking to grow.

This week was somewhat of a “coming of age party” for the airport, said EIA president and CEO Tom Ruth.

Airport higher-ups share what’s new in the airport world

At the Toronto Pearson International Airport, an air-rail train that brings commuters to the city ’s Union Station on 25-minute routes has been an important change for passengers, CEO Howard Eng said. The train’s connection has made airport use more reliable since it went online two years ago, he said.

“The most critical thing to hit is ground transportation, so that is the major thing we’re working on today,” Eng told conference-goers at a panel discussion Tuesday.

The EIA hasn’t had an LRT connection built to Edmonton’s line yet, but the airport was planned with a train line in mind, Ruth said. For now, it uses an Edmonton Transit bus system.

At the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, new technologies include a robot airport guide that speaks seven different languages to help those who don’t speak English. For the visually impaired, the airport has guides to help flyers navigate to their terminals at no cost, said the Seattle airport’s managing director Lance Lyttle.

At EIA, upcoming airport developments include a new Costco, a new Marriott hotel and a new track for horse racing.

On the business side, the airport is home to 30 incubator companies that range from cannabis production to autonomous vehicles. New airport technology includes a drone falcon used to ward off birds from planes, which was demonstrated at a news conference Tuesday.

We’re becoming a world leader in commercial development around the airport. There’s a bunch of different (airports) that come to see what we’re doing.

“We’re becoming a world leader in commercial development around the airport,” Ruth said, adding that the new airport developments are expected to create 2,000 jobs.

“There’s a bunch of different (airports) that come to see what we’re doing. That makes us feel good.”