Bordeaux Airport deploys Outsight solution to reduce passenger waiting times

Frequently Asked Questions

• How does a Physical AI system at an airport security checkpoint actually reduce wait times?

  The reduction comes from shifting resource deployment from schedule-based to demand-based. A LiDAR-powered Motional Digital Twin measures queue length and density continuously, many times per second, and forecasts where bottlenecks will form before they become visible to staff. At Bordeaux Airport, Outsight deployed this approach across strategic areas of Hall A, giving operations teams the ability to open additional lanes or redirect agents in advance rather than in reaction. The gain is not faster screening; it is eliminating the lag between a queue forming and a staffing response.

• What is a pilot deployment at an airport and how is it structured before a full rollout?

  A pilot focuses sensors on a bounded subset of the terminal, typically one hall or a specific checkpoint cluster, to gather measurable operational data under live conditions without committing to full infrastructure coverage. The evaluation period benchmarks KPIs such as queue dwell time, peak density, and resource utilization against a baseline. Outsight followed this model at Bordeaux Airport among many others, initially deploying its Physical AI solution across strategic areas of Hall A before any wider rollout. Results from a pilot determine sensor placement, analytics configuration, and business-case figures for scaling across the full terminal.

• Can a single airport flow system give airlines, retailers, and security agencies a shared operational picture?

  Yes. Because the Motional Digital Twin generates a shared, anonymous spatial reference, multiple operators working in the same terminal, ground handlers, airlines, concession retailers, and border control agencies, can all query the same data layer through role-specific dashboards or API feeds. Each party sees only the metrics relevant to their zone and function, while the underlying data remains consistent across all of them. This removes the conflicting counts and coordination gaps that arise when each party runs separate measurement systems. At Bordeaux Airport, Outsight deployed this approach across strategic areas of Hall A, giving distinct operational teams a single, coherent picture of terminal flow without requiring any party to share raw data outside its own domain.

• How does LiDAR-based passenger tracking work in a terminal without capturing any images?

  LiDAR emits laser pulses and measures the time each pulse takes to return after hitting a surface. The result is a stream of 3D points describing the geometry and motion of objects in the space, with no pixel or color information recorded at any stage. A person appears as a moving 3D shape, not as a face or silhouette. Because there is nothing image-like in the raw data, facial recognition or biometric inference is structurally impossible, not merely prohibited by policy. This is the principle behind Outsight's approach, where infrastructure-mounted LiDAR sensors feed the Motional Digital Twin to track passenger flows across terminal areas while remaining anonymous by definition.

• Does airport size affect whether a Physical AI flow solution is worth deploying?

  Scale affects the scope of deployment, not the fundamental value proposition. A regional airport handling a few million passengers per year faces the same core constraint as a hub: fixed infrastructure, variable demand peaks, and multiple service providers who need a common operational picture. The per-lane or per-checkpoint return on reducing queue dwell time is comparable regardless of total passenger volume. Bordeaux Airport, handling close to 6 million passengers annually across 92 destinations, represents a mid-size case where the economics are demonstrably viable. Outsight's deployment there, covering strategic areas of Hall A through the SHIFT platform, demonstrates that a Motional Digital Twin scales down to regional facilities just as effectively as it does at larger hubs like Dallas Fort Worth.

• What data can airport operations teams actually act on in real time from a Motional Digital Twin?

  The live output from a Motional Digital Twin covers occupancy per zone, queue length at each checkpoint, density thresholds crossed or approaching, dwell time distributions, and throughput rates. Each metric can trigger an alert the moment it crosses an operator-defined threshold, with end-to-end latency under 50 milliseconds from sensor pulse to dashboard event. At Bordeaux Airport, Outsight deployed this capability across strategic areas of Hall A, giving operations teams a continuous, anonymous 3D picture of passenger flow without capturing faces or biometric data. Alongside the live feed, historical replay lets teams examine any past period in 3D to identify root causes and refine staffing models.

• How many passengers and destinations does Bordeaux Airport serve each year?

  Bordeaux Airport welcomes nearly 6 million passengers annually and serves 92 destinations. The airport places quality of experience and operational efficiency at the heart of its management. Because its infrastructure is inherently constrained, optimising existing spaces, managing queues dynamically and anticipating congestion points are key to keeping operations smooth. This context led the airport to test Outsight's Physical AI solution in strategic areas of Hall A.

• Which areas of Bordeaux Airport are covered by the Motional Digital Twin pilot?

  Outsight's solution is deployed in specific, strategic areas of Hall A at Bordeaux Airport. The Motional Digital Twin gives a continuous, three-dimensional view of passenger movements in targeted areas, including security checkpoints and other critical spaces. Limiting the pilot to these areas lets the airport evaluate the impact of the technology under real-world operating conditions. In these zones, the system supports analysis of queue formation, density changes and the actual use of different areas.

• When was the Physical AI deployment at Bordeaux Airport in Merignac announced?

  Outsight announced the installation of its Physical AI solution at Bordeaux Airport on 16 March 2026, with the announcement dated from Mérignac, France. The deployment covers strategic areas of Hall A and is part of the airport's continuous improvement approach to passenger flow and operational performance. It takes the form of a pilot phase using a complete Motional Digital Twin of the terminal. The goal is to assess how Physical AI contributes to smoother passenger journeys in real operations.

• What did Bordeaux Airport's Head of Airport Process say about the goals of the LiDAR pilot?

  Talel Jaouad, Head of Airport Process Department at Bordeaux Airport, explains that the airport is experimenting with Outsight's technology to improve its understanding and control of passenger flow and to optimise its resources. He states that the ultimate goal is passenger satisfaction. He also highlights the value for staff and for partners operating in the terminals, including airlines, service providers and retailers, who can fine-tune their actions in real time. The pilot fits a framework of continuous improvement at the airport.

• Why does a space-constrained airport like Bordeaux need real-time passenger flow data?

  Bordeaux Airport operates in an environment where infrastructure is inherently constrained. In that setting, optimising existing spaces, dynamic queue management and anticipating congestion points are key to maintaining smooth operations. Outsight's Motional Digital Twin models movements within the terminal in real time and supports analysis of queue formation, density changes and the actual use of different areas. The pilot is meant to help teams adjust resources more precisely according to demand and improve coordination between the organisations welcoming passengers.

• What is the shared spatial repository used in the Bordeaux Airport deployment?

  At Bordeaux Airport, passenger flows are digitised in a strictly anonymous manner within a shared spatial repository system. This shared system allows the analysis of queue formation, density changes and the actual use of different areas of the terminal. It operates without image capture or personal identification, guaranteeing confidentiality by design while offering an accurate operational representation of the reality on the ground. The pilot aims to give teams a shared and objective view of passenger flows across the companies and governmental services involved.

• How will Bordeaux Airport judge whether the Physical AI pilot has succeeded?

  The pilot phase in Hall A is designed to evaluate the solution's impact under real-world operating conditions. Its stated objective is to concretely assess the contribution of Physical AI to the continuous optimisation of processes and the overall fluidity of passenger journeys. The expected results include a shared and objective view of passenger flows, more precise adjustment of resources to demand and better coordination between the companies and governmental services that welcome passengers. These outcomes form the basis for judging its value.

• Had the Motional Digital Twin been deployed at other airports before Bordeaux?

  Yes. According to the announcement, Outsight's solution is already deployed in several leading international airports and counts among the emerging technologies for managing complex infrastructures. Bordeaux Airport is adopting a technology already proven in operation, in line with Raul Bravo, President Founder of Outsight, who says airports like Bordeaux are adopting proven technologies that integrate seamlessly into their operations. At Bordeaux it is deployed in specific areas of Hall A to evaluate its impact locally.

• What industry trend does Bordeaux Airport's adoption of Physical AI for passenger flow reflect?

  Bordeaux Airport's initiative illustrates a fundamental trend in the airline industry: passenger flow management, supported by data and artificial intelligence, is gradually becoming a key lever for operational performance. Raul Bravo, President Founder of Outsight, says the use of Physical AI is becoming a standard in how modern airports operate. Airports now look for technologies that deliver immediate and tangible added value within existing operations. Bordeaux's pilot is one concrete example of this shift.

• Why did Bordeaux Airport want more objective data for its terminal operating decisions?

  Bordeaux Airport chose to experiment with a complete Motional Digital Twin in order to refine its understanding of passenger flows and make its operational decisions more objective. The model captures movements within the terminal in real time, so choices about staffing and space use rest on measured reality. This is valuable when several parties share the terminal, since airlines, service providers, retailers and state services can align on the same facts. Objective data also supports continuous improvement over time.

• Is passenger flow monitoring only worth it for very large airports?

  No, regional and mid-sized airports benefit too, because matching staff to real demand and reducing waits matters at every scale. Bordeaux Airport, which serves nearly 6 million passengers a year, deployed Outsight's Physical AI solution in strategic areas of Hall A to reduce passenger waiting times. Costa Rica's Juan Santamaría airport, with more than 6 million passengers, uses the same platform. Coverage can start with a few key touchpoints and grow.