Calgary Airport extends AI-powered turnaround monitoring to cargo operations

YYC Calgary International Airport has expanded its use of Assaia’s ApronAI platform to cargo operations, becoming the first airport in Canada to deploy the technology in this environment.

The system, which went live on 10 November, uses AI-enabled cameras installed at Apron 9 to monitor freighter turnarounds from arrival to departure. It records the start and completion of key activities, including unloading, loading and fuelling, providing airport operators, cargo companies and ground handlers with shared real-time information.

The deployment follows the introduction of ApronAI across YYC’s passenger gates in 2025. Extending the technology to cargo operations will help the airport identify delays and better understand variations in turnaround times.

“Cargo turnarounds present a different set of challenges to passenger operations,” said Christiaan Hen, CEO of Assaia. “The processes can vary significantly depending on the nature of the cargo and the handling requirements, making it harder to predict how long each turnaround should take.”

The airport is using the deployment to assess performance and identify improvements for 2027.

“We’re going live just ahead of our busiest stretch of the year for cargo, and that timing is intentional,” said Megan Gupton, Chief Information Officer at Calgary Airports. “Peak season tests every part of the operation. It will show us and our partners where things run smoothly and where we can improve, and we’ll use what we learn to plan for 2027 and beyond.”

The project received support from the Canadian Government’s National Trade Corridors Fund. YYC recorded more than 5,200 cargo landings in 2025 and handles over 70 percent of Alberta’s air cargo tonnage.

Photo by Justin Hu on Unsplash