New GMR Hyderabad International/Rajiv Gandhi International Airport Contract

As part of a joint submission under GTA, supported by both ourselves and Airport Design Consult Ltd, we were very pleased to be awarded the contract to augment the capacity of Passenger Terminal Building of Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA).

This project explores how the existing terminal can be upgraded to provide additional capacity, develop measures to increase capacity on a short-term basis and assess the capacity of the existing baggage handling system, determining what additional capacity is needed.
Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is presently owned, operated and maintained by GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited (GHIAL).

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Heathrow Terminal 2 Opens – Successful completion of the AiQ MUP Planning Contract

Following a lot of hard work by all involved, Heathrow’s new Terminal 2 opens this week.

Described as an extraordinary new space in its own right, it has been “designed from the outset with the needs of the individual passenger at its heart and with sustainability as a guiding principle.” (www.heathrowairport.com)

Moving partner airlines closer together to improve flight connections and passenger experience was central to the vision behind this amazing new terminal, and AiQ were part of the team to make that happen.

We were awarded the contract for Terminal 2 MUP Planning in February, as part of our work for MACE. This involved creating live allocation plans for the make up for Terminal 2 in preparation for the opening. Revised schedules, airlines moving from T3 to T2, and ground handler contract changes, all added to the challenging conditions. Requirement to use the older T1 baggage systems to service the new T2 baggage systems, constraining makeup resources, was also a key concern.

Our expert knowledge of airport operations, capacity planning and stakeholder management ensured that the project was completed and extremely successful.

We coordinated with the ground handlers and all operational elements, including the Aviation Business Continuity Consultancy who ran and managed the actual trails. We also worked with the Baggage Handling Systems department of Babcock International, Menzies Aviation and United Airlines handling.

As well as designing and co-ordinating the project in the run up to the opening of the new Terminal, we were also present on the day of the trails, which were very successful.

We were honoured to be part of such a ground-breaking vision of airport capacity and efficiency, and look forward to more projects with Heathrow in the months and years to come.

To find out more about our work with Heathrow, read our case studies or contact us today.

Will growth wait for the airport debate?

A few weeks ago Colin Matthews, the Chief Executive of Heathrow, wrote in the Telegraph about how the airport, and the UK’s export trade, is missing out on connections to growth regions while the debate about airport expansion rumbles on.

“To meet its potential, Britain needs to be connected with the regions where growth is surging ahead – and that means emerging markets in Asia, Latin America and North America…. Instead, Heathrow has been full for a decade and those routes are being handed to our hub rivals in Paris, Frankfurt and Amsterdam. Previous analysis shows our economy is missing out on £14bn a year in lost trade as a result, a figure that’s set to rise to £26bn by 2030.”

He argues that debate is centred around a ‘false choice’ – Heathrow or Gatwick, where in fact both airports have different roles within the UK’s aviation industry. The UK needs extra hub capacity, provided by Heathrow, in order to compete in future international markets.

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Another exclusive service for Airports – Apron Vehicle Simulations

AiQ Consulting LHR Terminal 2 Apron Simulation

AiQ strives to produce tools and simulations that give maximum benefits to clients. Providing integrated, simple and effective analysis and simulations allows us to advise and present our clients with the information they need to run operational and cost effective airports.

In addition to all of the integrated operational Capacity Planning tools (Chk-in, MUP, Arrival, Stand Planning) offered by AiQ, we have now developed our own discrete Apron Vehicle simulation.

As part of TranvisionAiR, it gives the following benefits to clients:

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AiQ Announces Further New Contracts

AiQ at Heathrow TerminalFollowing our announcement that we are to be retained by Heathrow as Airside Operations Seasonal Planners, we have been awarded several new contracts in recent weeks.

These include:

Heathrow Terminal 2 MUP Planning

This project is further work based on the capacity analysis that we completed for Heathrow a few years ago. Working for MACE, this will involve live allocation plans for the make up for Terminal 2 in preparation for the opening in June.

As airlines move from T3 to T2, with revised schedules and many ground handler contract changes, these plans are based on new, changing and challenging requirements.  Terminal 2 MUP Planning requires the use of older T1 baggage systems to service the new T2 baggage systems, which will constrain makeup resources.

This contract will take full advantage of AiQ’s stakeholder management expertise to keep the airline and ground handler community well informed and happy with the changes taking place.

Despite these challenging conditions, our expert knowledge of airport operations, capacity planning and stakeholder management will ensure that disruption is kept to a minimum for passengers, airlines, ground handling crew and others involved.

Heathrow Terminal 2 Makeup Trails Read More »

AiQ announces new Airside Capacity Modeling Contract at Heathrow

Airside Image AiQ wins new Contract at HeathrowAiQ are pleased to announce that we are now Heathrow’s Airside Operations Seasonal Planners. This operational contract, awarded by HAL in February, is to simulate Apron and Passenger Traffic activity for the whole of Heathrow, the most complex hub airport in the world.

Working with Gebler Tooth Architects (GTA) and using our bespoke 2D simulation model, Transvision AiR, we will maintain an airport capacity model with a reportable database and 2D visual vehicle simulation of the LHR Terminal Airside road and retail operations, parking and stand network.  It  includes a baseline database and simulation model for vehicle operations such as: Read More »

Get off to a Flying Start in 2014 with AiQ Consulting

Although we have had many years experience in the aviation industry, working with airports, airlines and other stakeholders to manage and improve capacity and processes, 2013 was launch year for AiQ. The year we brought all of our skills together into one consultancy that works with our clients to enhance their operation efficiencies, and realise the capacity they didn’t know they had.

This was increasingly important as discussion around airport capacity in the South East and the Davies Commission reached a fever pitch towards the end of the year. As businesses, politicians and the public alike debate what would be the best outcome, the strain on facilities in our airports continues.

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AiQ wants to Let Britain Fly

With a staggering amount of well-known companies and business leaders as signatories, the ‘Let Britain Fly’ campaign looks to make a real impact in the aviation industry.

Bringing together the UK’s business elite as a political force, the campaign aims to expand airport capacity in London and the South East to support jobs and growth. With Heathrow already reach full capacity and Gatwick and Stansted soon to follow suit, the organization believes that failing to act now to increase airport capacity will have a negative impact on the economy. They aim to build cross-party support to build new runways.

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Have you got Airport iQ?

To celebrate our launch, we’ve been giving away some great AiQ travel mugs. Perfect for airports, you can keep your coffee* warm in all weathers and terminals! Even when you’re airside, pop the lid on and keep yourself caffeinated.

Adians Mug Shot! Adrian Todd, director with our branded travel mug

If you’d like a mug, just give Adrian a call and let him know why you’ve got Airport IQ. We’re happy to meet up for a quick chat to share ideas about airport capacity, operational effectiveness… or just the best coffee shop in Terminal 4!

Time to take an AIQ Mug Shot!

We’d love to have shots of you and your mugs to share on Twitter and our website – Send us a photo of you and your AiQ mug in an unusual place (not just restricted to airports), and the best one will win a  (probably coffee-related) prize!

*or tea, hot chocolate… we’ll even let you put de-caff in there.

AiQ Consulting Announces Further Contracts in Heathrow

Following on from our earlier news about our contracts in Heathrow in October,  AiQ are pleased to announce another New Contract has been awarded, for Terminal 4.

This T4 Asset Replacement Migration Project will look at replacing the ageing sorting convey system. Using our bespoke simulation tool, Transvision AiR, we will look at possible options for the new convey system in terms of operational efficiency and airport capacity planning, as well as looking at the capacity of the redundant sorters.

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AIQ recruits new Simulation Engineer

AiQ is pleased to announce the appointment of Jakob Peeker as Simulation Engineer.

We are very excited to welcome Jakob to our team, where he will be working on various Modelling & Simulation Software for projects such as Heathrow Terminal 2 Simulation Airside Traffic and Terminal 3 Integrated Baggage (IB) Cut-in Options

Based within Heathrow, the appointment of Jakob further strengthens our team following our successful launch earlier this year.

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Putting Low Cost to the Test

AiQ works with many clients – from airport operators to handlers – and we always ensure that their needs are met. Whether it is providing input into baggage systems or designing a new terminal, we can provide operational efficiencies, increased capacity and an enhanced passenger experience.

This is something that is crucial when we work with Low Cost airports. Although for these airports the budgets are less, we do not put the client’s needs at any lower priority. In fact, in most of our case studies we have used this to an advantage, looking at ways to increase revenue by redesigning forecourts and drop off areas.

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