A number of key aviation companies have come together to form the Airside Automation Group, which was launched at Cenex Expo 2025 on 3 September.
Companies involved in the new group include Aer Lingus, Equinix, The Civil Aviation Authority, Heathrow Airport, International Airports Group, Aurrigo plc, Oxa, Fusion Processing, Highlands and Islands Airports, Menzies, Swissport, UPS and Zenzic.
The new group has been formed to explore the future potential of automated technology solutions within the UK’s aviation sector, as well as foster stronger partnerships between the civil aviation and connected and automated mobility (CAM) industries.
Andrew Cornish, Non-Executive Chair at Aurrigo, said:I am proud to Chair the newly established Airside Automation Group and to see Aurrigo among its founding members. For more than a decade, we have been pioneering autonomous aviation solutions made in Coventry and deployed in airports from Singapore to Amsterdam and Cincinnati. That global experience gives us a unique opportunity to bring real-world insights back into this UK-led collaboration.
The group provides a vital platform for industry and innovators to come together, share learning, and accelerate the development of the next generation of connected and automated solutions. By working collectively, we can ensure the UK remains at the forefront of this global transformation, delivering world-class technology, stronger supply chains, and long-term economic growth.
Aiming to help both the creation and promotion of success stories within the sector; the Airside Automation Group also seeks to showcase opportunities, as well as anticipate risks, in making the UK an attractive prospect for the research, development and deployment of CAM technologies within the civil aviation industry.
The group, which was initially set up by Zenzic, has also pledged to aid in the overall development of more resilient supply chains in order to further innovation across the industry.
Mark Cracknell, Programme Director at Zenzic, said:The CAM sector contributes billions of pounds to the UK economy annually and with the Government harbouring ambitions to increase this to over £42billion by 2035, we see further growth in the aviation market as being key to realising this potential.
British businesses are already developing world-leading solutions which are being exported and deployed across the globe and the establishing of the Airside Automation Group will help us to further build on this success, by increasing collaboration, amplifying the fantastic work coming out of the group and supporting the aviation industry as it aims to understand how CAM can help meet upcoming challenges and grasp lucrative growth opportunities.
