DOI: 10.69554/grqz8052 ISSN: 1750-1946

AI applied: From buzzword to actual impact in the turnaround process — an Amsterdam Airport Schiphol case study

Jeffrey Schäfer
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Airport operators face growing complexity due to larger aircraft and rising passenger volumes, putting pressure on on-time performance and exposing structural limitations in traditional turnaround management. At Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, these challenges converge in the ‘black box’ between actual in-block time and target off-block time, where over 100 interdependent processes occur with limited real-time visibility. This case study presents Schiphol’s seven-year journey to address these constraints through Deep Turnaround, an artificial intelligence-driven solution combining computer vision and predictive analytics to convert raw camera data into actionable insights. Currently this solution is live on 102 stands. Results show significant improvement in turnaround predictability, positioning AI as an enabler of systemic transformation rather than a standalone fix. Lessons learned underscore the importance of full rollout, trust in data, and embedding AI outputs into operational decision making. This article is also included in The Business & Management Collection which can be accessed at https://hstalks.com/business/.

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