b'36 JFK TERMINALSThe recent transformation of Terminal 4 is a key component of the $19 billion redevelopment program at JFK Intl. PHOTO: JFKIATtwice the regional average, and accuracy for food-scrap sortinghas helped reduce ground delays by an exceeds 90%, resulting in far cleaner waste streams, Muradaverage of five minutes per flight, with the notes. improvement in gate efficiency translating to JFKIATs sorting machine is installed in a particularly activean estimated $40 million in annual savings area and recorded more than 2 million interactions in 2025.potential, explains Assaia Chief Executive That includes over 40 hours of active engagement time Officer Christiaan Hen. moments where travelers stop, look, learn and make anBeyond T4, Assaias 2025 Turnaround informed sorting decision, he explains. Without Oscar, everyReport found that AI-enabled operationsCHRISTIAAN HENone of those moments would have been a missed opportunitydelivered an average 25% reduction in departure delays and for education and behavior change. a 5% increase in gate efficiency, which allows one additional flight per day for every 20 gates, Hen says. With reliable, real-AI-Optimized Apron Operationstime visibility, operations can become more resilient, allowing With tens of millions of passengers moving through T4 annually,airports to accommodate rising passenger demand and even minor delays can compound into operational challenges. Tocapacity constraints without necessarily requiring infrastructure address this, JFKIAT partnered with Assaia to deploy ApronAI, aexpansion, he adds. computer-vision system that analyzes video footage of the rampAssaias Predicted Off-Block Time algorithm forecasts when to automatically detect and timestamp key events like fueling,an aircraft will be ready to depart based on real-time and catering, cleaning, boarding and baggage handling. historical turnaround data. It accounts for multiple variables JFKIAT was among the first terminal operators in the Unitedincluding aircraft type, weather, landing runway, ramp conditions States to proactively invest in real-time turnaround oversight/ and even passenger load to accurately predict when the gate management. A one-year pilot at select gates demonstratedwill be free, Hen explains. This enables more efficient gate measurable results, justifying expansion of the platform to allassignment and helps reduce arrival holding times caused by connected and remote gates. The subsequent results have beenunavailable stands. substantial for the terminal and its airline partners. ApronAI January | February 2026AirportImprovement.com'