Calgary Airports is expanding Assaia’s ApronAI platform to cargo operations at YYC Calgary International Airport (YYC), making it the first airport in Canada to deploy the technology in this environment.
AI-enabled cameras have been installed at Apron 9, one of the airport’s dedicated cargo aprons, with the system scheduled to go live on 10 November 2026.
The deployment builds on the platform’s introduction across YYC’s passenger gates last year. In cargo operations, ApronAI will monitor freighter turnarounds from arrival to departure, recording when key activities, including unloading, loading and fuelling, begin and end.
Calgary Airports, cargo operators and ground handlers will have access to shared, real-time turnaround data, helping teams identify operational bottlenecks and improve coordination.
Megan Gupton, MBA, ICD.D, Chief Information Officer at Calgary Airports, said the system’s launch ahead of the airport’s busiest cargo period was intentional, allowing the airport and its partners to assess performance during peak season and use the findings to plan improvements for 2027 and beyond.
The project has received support from the Government of Canada through the National Trade Corridors Fund, which backs transportation infrastructure and technology initiatives designed to improve the movement of goods across the country.
The Honourable Steven MacKinnon, Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, said investments in innovative transportation technology would help improve efficiency, strengthen supply chains and support Canadian businesses.
YYC recorded more than 5,200 cargo landings last year and handles over 70% of Alberta’s air cargo tonnage. Calgary Airports has invested more than $100 million in cargo infrastructure, including facilities supporting e-commerce, perishables, pharmaceuticals, oversized industrial equipment and live animals.
Christiaan Hen, CEO of Assaia, said cargo turnarounds present different challenges from passenger operations, as processes and handling requirements vary depending on the type of freight.
He explained that ApronAI captures operational activity on the apron, giving Calgary Airports and its partners greater visibility into these variations and helping them identify opportunities to improve predictability and efficiency.
As YYC continues to expand its cargo capabilities, the airport is also preparing to host the International Air Transport Association’s World Cargo Symposium next year, welcoming members of the global air cargo community to Calgary.
