Attributed to Rohit Kaul – Head of Operations – North Region, Embassy Services Private Limited

The aviation industry, with its worldwide transportation network, has been a catalyst for the growth of global businesses. The industry fosters economic expansion, promotes job growth, and facilitates international trade and tourism. In 2021, airport traffic in India witnessed a massive growth of 21% across the business and leisure travel segments. With an increase in passenger density post-pandemic, airport management systems need to take significant measures to ensure that travelers have a seamless and safe experience from the beginning of their journey till they reach their destination. Maintaining and upholding the infrastructural integrity of an airport with its facilities encompassing runways, storage areas, air traffic control bays, cargo complexes, and fire stations becomes an extensive undertaking. This is where the scope of Integrated Facilities Management (IFM) comes into play. IFM provides airports with effective and efficient solutions that are strategically targeted and tailored to each location and requirement of the facility to ensure the utmost safety.

In the wake of Covid-19, travel hygiene has become an extremely crucial concern for airports. Airport terminals must meet rigorous standards to ensure passenger convenience and protection. It is imperative for them to maintain and sterilise their facilities for the safety and security of their passengers. While hygiene services are the foundation of IFM, airports are also supported by other technical and soft services. These services include cleaning, landscaping, trash management, pest control, security, and business support services to enable the upkeep of airports. IFM is a hands-on process that relies significantly on manual effort, but digitalisation has opened new horizons that enable IFM to engage in data-driven, analytical, and technology-enabled operations. With the integration of technology and the deployment of advanced machinery, densely populated and frequently visited areas of the airport are swiftly sanitised and maintained to ensure the highest levels of hygiene. Runways, kiosks, checkpoints, and other areas are cleaned with the help of high-end mechanised cleaning equipment, maximising time and execution.

With sustainability at the forefront, the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) have become integral components of IFM services. For instance, manual log sheets and spreadsheets have been replaced with automated systems that are cost-effective, compliant, and scalable. IFM undertakes the planning, preparation, and implementation of responses to crises, emergencies, and threats, remaining a consequent area of focus and importance for airports. Additionally, a wide range of Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS), regulatory compliance, ESG factors, and adherence to statutory norms and laws in areas such as buildings, food, labour, fire, and safety, are included under this purview.

Facility management is essential in the aviation industry as it holds the key to the nation’s growth and infrastructural development. IFM is one of the most essential sectors supporting these airport operations around the clock. The integration of facility management as a practice is crucial in realising the positive prospects that the industry can render to aviation and its allied fields. The services provided by the sector are vital to the smooth and efficient running of airports since they are amidst complex and critical tasks

with extensive protocols and plans for aviation operations. This would not only boost the revenue generated but also place them as one of the leading industries in the burgeoning competitive market.

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