ARCADE Partners Meet at EUROCONTROL to Advance Multimodal Airport Operations and Crisis Management

ARCADE project partners

Brussels, 9 November 2026 – Partners of the SESAR-funded ARCADE project gathered at EUROCONTROL on 6 November 2026 for a consortium meeting dedicated to advancing the development of innovative solutions for multimodal airport operations and network-wide crisis management.

The meeting brought together representatives from airports, air traffic management, rail and ground transport organisations, and technology partners to review the project's progress, discuss the operational concepts of its two solutions, and align on the next steps towards validation.

Connecting Airports and Ground Transport for More Resilient Journeys

ARCADE aims to improve coordination between airports and surface transport networks, enabling more efficient operations, better disruption management, and an improved passenger experience.

At the heart of the project are two complementary solutions:

• Solution A – Integrated Multimodal Performance Optimisation and Proactive Disruption Management: Designed to support airport-level operations by combining passenger flow forecasting, early disruption detection, proactive management and passenger information services. The solution will help airport and ground transport operators anticipate demand, coordinate resources and respond more effectively to disruptions.

• Solution B – Multimodal Network Crisis Management: Focused on integrating surface mobility information into network-wide air traffic management and crisis management processes. By considering ground transport connectivity, capacity and accessibility, the solution aims to support more informed decisions during major disruptions, including mass flight diversions.

Together, the two solutions seek to bridge the information gap between aviation and ground transport, moving towards a more connected and passenger-centred approach to mobility management.

From Concept to Real-World Validation

During the meeting, partners examined the technical architectures, operational concepts and potential use cases for both solutions.

Discussions focused on how the solutions could be adapted to different airport environments, taking into account variations in operational procedures, available data and ground transport connectivity.

The project's airport pilots at Stockholm Arlanda, Athens International Airport and Milan Malpensa will play a central role in testing and validating the solutions.

Potential applications include forecasting passenger arrivals, identifying the impact of rail and road disruptions on airport operations, improving assistance for passengers with reduced mobility, and supporting decisions on alternative airports during major aviation disruptions.

The partners also discussed the importance of developing scalable solutions that can be adapted beyond the pilot airports, including to smaller airports and different transport networks.

A Closer Look at European Network Management

A highlight of the meeting was a visit to EUROCONTROL's Network Manager Operations Centre, where partners gained first-hand insights into the coordination of European air traffic operations and the management of network-wide disruptions.

The visit provided valuable operational context for the development of ARCADE's second solution, particularly regarding how additional information on surface transport networks could enhance existing crisis management processes.

The discussions highlighted a key ambition of ARCADE: to complement traditional flight-centred decision-making with a broader understanding of passenger journeys and the consequences of disruptions across transport modes.

Strengthening Collaboration Across the Transport Sector

The meeting also addressed the project's stakeholder engagement activities and the development of its Advisory Board, which currently brings together 12 members representing different parts of the transport ecosystem.

Partners explored opportunities to strengthen cooperation with airlines, railway organisations, passenger representatives and accessibility experts.

Particular attention was given to potential collaboration with the International Union of Railways (UIC) and its PASSAGE expert group, which brings together accessibility specialists from railway organisations across multiple countries. This cooperation could provide valuable feedback on passenger assistance and multimodal accessibility.

Next Steps

Over the coming months, ARCADE partners will continue refining the operational concepts, technical specifications and validation plans for both solutions.

An important milestone is scheduled for January 2027, when the initial technical and operational documentation and validation plans will be completed, establishing the foundation for the next development and testing phases.

By bringing together expertise from aviation, airports and ground transport, ARCADE is working towards a more integrated, resilient and passenger-focused European transport system.

About ARCADE

ARCADE is a SESAR-funded research and innovation project developing solutions to improve multimodal airport operations and network crisis management. By strengthening collaboration and information exchange between aviation and surface transport stakeholders, the project aims to enhance operational predictability, disruption management and passenger experience.