Reducing Taxi Delays: How Tech and Gate Scoring Cut Costs and Emissions

Delays in taxiing not only frustrate passengers but also lead to increased fuel consumption, longer block times, and higher emissions. At the 77^th IATA General Meeting, member airlines committed to achieving net-zero emissions from their operations by 2050. 3% of the gains will come from infrastructure and operational efficiencies; optimizing taxi times is an achievable objective given the available opportunities today and the many inefficiencies that can be mitigated.

As airports and airlines seek to optimize their operations, the potential introduction of a gate scoring system emerges as a provocative topic that merits discussion.

Taxi Times – Controllable and Uncontrollable Factors

Taxi times are influenced by both controllable and uncontrollable factors.

Uncontrollable Factors:

• Wind direction and assigned runway
• Total distance between the gate and the departing/arriving runway
• Arriving/departing complex traffic flow
• Weather conditions affecting take-offs and surface circulation
• Taxiway construction or other obstacles
• Terminal and GSE traffic

Controllable Factors:

• Gate readiness
• Prompt pilot break set
• Taxiing speed
• Assigned gate (if controlled by the carrier)

Solutions to Reduce Taxi Times

1. Utilizing Technology to Enhance Gate Readiness Technology plays a crucial role in addressing controllable factors like gate readiness. A study conducted at two gates at a major U.S. airport revealed that 86% of all taxi-in operations fell between 3 to 9 minutes however 14% of operations had taxi-in times exceeding 10 minutes and some with high variability meaning that several flights took more than 20 minutes to taxi-in. The root cause was attributed to gate readiness factors (crew not in position, obstacles on the way, etc.). By implementing Synaptic Aviation’s Computer Vision and AI technology, an international airline launched an initiative that resulted in a 21% reduction in taxi-in times, leading to annual fuel savings of $43.6k per gate. Expanding this technology to 35 gates could yield savings in excess of $1.5M annually. This example highlights how leveraging technology can streamline aircraft arrival procedures and significantly reduce taxi-in times, ultimately enhancing operational efficiency.

2. Implementing a Gate Scoring System Another potential solution is to introduce a gate scoring system that evaluates gates based on various metrics, including operational efficiency, customer experience, and environmental impact. An analysis of aircraft turnaround times for out-and-back flights at four gates at a major U.S. airport revealed that the same flight pair could require an additional 6-10 minutes to turn depending on the gate assigned and its location. The primary cause of the additional turnaround time was congestion of a taxiway located behind the gates in mention which cause the flight to sit idle until a slot to push was available. A tight gate layout can further add complications to otherwise smooth ground servicing activities. Such delays not only disrupt schedules but also lead to increased costs and operational inefficiencies. Without AI and Computer Vision technology providing real-time rich and accurate data, the impact of these factors on the turnaround is often lost or misleading, and as a result airlines and airports end up working on the wrong problem or making the wrong decision when optimizing taxi times.

By prioritizing gates that are quick to taxi-in and out of, and gates with easy layouts, the scoring system would allow airlines and airports to optimize their gate assignments based on real-time performance metrics. For instance, over the course of a year, an airline operating flights at a high scoring gate versus a low scoring one, could reduce fuel costs ranging from $12.5k to $20.6k. Moreover, it would result in a reduction of 21 to 35 tons of CO2 emissions. This stark difference illustrates that utilizing the nearest gate, or a gate with a layout and location that facilitates surface movement could be significantly more beneficial, thereby earning a better score in the proposed system. An airline could use high scoring gates for tight turnarounds and “make up” time to return a delayed flight into an on-time departure. Everybody wins when considering that not all gates are created equal.

The implementation of a gate scoring system could benefit airlines and airports by reducing operational costs, improving on-time performance, reducing block times, while also aligning with sustainability efforts to minimize fuel consumption and emissions, contributing to a greener aviation future.

Conclusion

As the aviation industry navigates the complexities of operational efficiency and sustainability, exploring innovative solutions like a gate scoring system could lead to significant improvements in taxi times, fuel savings, and overall performance. By focusing on enhancing gate readiness through technology and evaluating gate performance systematically, airports and airlines can better align their operations with the goal of reducing costs and emissions.