Thursday, 27 November 2025
Airports are increasingly required to adapt their technical infrastructure to meet rising environmental expectations and improve operational efficiency. Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems are emerging as a key area of focus, driven by regulations, energy-reduction goals and the need to deliver consistent comfort for passengers.
According to industry specialists, modernisation efforts now extend far beyond traditional upgrades. Airports are investing in integrated automation systems, energy-efficient ventilation strategies and sustainable design solutions.
“There is increasing talk around the world about the need to modernise airports, where HVAC systems are to be made more energy-efficient not only through the use of special lighting, but also through digital solutions that improve operational efficiency,” says Marcin Kosieniak, MEP specialist and co-owner of the PM Projekt design office.
Many airports are adopting advanced automation platforms for energy management. Building management systems now enable continuous oversight of ventilation, heating, cooling, lighting and related systems.
“By integrating control systems, airports can monitor ventilation, air conditioning, heating, lighting and other critical systems in real time,” notes Kosieniak.
Airport car parks, often large enclosed structures handling high vehicle volumes, present a separate ventilation challenge. New design approaches aim to reduce building height requirements while ensuring effective air movement.
“Interestingly, airport car parks often pose a particular challenge for HVAC systems. A new ventilation concept for garages reduces the required height of the car park, which translates into a greater number of parking spaces, but requires well-thought-out and well-planned systems for the placement of supply and exhaust fans. Their appropriate location in the parking area allows for the control of air distribution,” explains Kosieniak.
He adds that at Katowice–Pyrzowice Airport, PM Projekt applied energy-efficient fan systems linked to continuous monitoring of pollutant concentrations.
Airports worldwide continue to adopt wider sustainability measures, with HVAC optimisation forming part of broader decarbonisation strategies. Indianapolis International Airport operates one of the largest airport-based solar farms globally, producing around 20 MW of energy annually. Sydney Airport has advanced its carbon neutrality programme with a 100% renewable electricity PPA, an energy-efficiency programme and a carbon-offset strategy.
In Sweden, Swedavia has introduced occupancy-based airflow control that adjusts air conditioning to passenger density. The solution has reduced fan energy use by roughly 30% and improved indoor comfort.
“Examples of such solutions show that it is regulations that enforce best practices in the market that reduce the industry’s impact on the environment, and that heating, air conditioning and cooling systems must adapt to the needs imposed by law, the specific space and the needs of passengers,” says Kosieniak.
Kosieniak emphasises that the transformation required is not only technical but also organisational. “It is worth noting that the transformation of the HVAC sector at airports is not only a matter of technology, but above all a change in mentality – from reactive maintenance to proactive management, from isolated systems to integrated energy ecosystems,” he concludes.
