From Storms to Cyber Threats: Designing Airports That Withstand Disruption

Strategic investments in airport resilience pay off. With the pace of innovation and implementation of measures to strengthen resilience, research shows that every dollar invested can yield up to four dollars in economic value—through avoided damages, operational continuity, and faster recovery. 

Ferrovial has spent more than two decades developing and operating world-class airport infrastructure. From regional airports to global hubs, airports are a vital economic engine—part business, part community lifeline, and part multimodal gateway. That’s why our partnerships are grounded in strategic foresight, practical innovation, and deep collaboration with local authorities, airlines, and community stakeholders. 

Resilience Starts with Infrastructure 

Runways, taxiways, terminals—these must be designed with durability and flexibility in mind. From responding to an unexpected extreme weather event to planning for seasonal travel surges, there are many ways to prepare for a variety of potential disruptions. 

For airports in coastal or low-lying areas, solutions like levees, seawalls, drainage systems, and permeable surfaces can protect an airport’s physical infrastructure against climate-driven flooding. At Singapore’s Changi Airport, for instance, raising the surrounding roadway serves dual purposes: acting as a district-level levee and a fixed flood barrier.  

Flexibility is just as essential during seasonal surges, which can be driven by tourism, weather and special events. At Dalaman Airport in Turkey, where Ferrovial holds a 60% stake, we manage passenger peaks from March through November by operating at full capacity and then strategically scaling down in the off-season—shrinking the terminal’s active footprint by 80% to conserve power and streamline staffing.  

Operational Agility Through Smart Systems 

Airport resilience also depends on operational adaptability. Advanced technology implementation, from autonomous equipment to digital twins, allows airports to anticipate and navigate challenges while providing a seamless and efficient passenger experience. These smart systems enable better coordination, reduce delays, improve safety, and lower costly operational errors. 

At JFK’s new Terminal 1, Virtual Ramp Control and Smart Stand technologies provide real-time visibility across aircraft ground operations by autonomously tracking the progress of each aircraft’s turnaround at the gate, including pre-arrival checks, baggage off-loading, on-loading of catering, baggage, and fuel during the pre-departure process. The Ferrovial-led consortium is developing the new Terminal 1 at JFK International Airport, set to begin operations in 2026. 

With digital attacks on the rise, cybersecurity and data privacy are top priorities when managing connected infrastructure and passenger data. From the very beginning of the construction process, we build in robust safeguards, including real-time threat detection and strict adherence to global standards. We also work closely with national cybersecurity agencies to continuously enhance our monitoring and response capabilities, ensuring our systems remain secure as technology evolves. 

Powering Energy Independence 

Energy volatility is another rising risk as extreme weather and energy blackouts continue to test the limits of critical infrastructure. To combat these threats, many airports are adopting alternative energy solutions. 

For example, the microgrid at new Terminal 1 features a solar array with 13,000 panels, which is the largest solar installation at any US airport terminal. Dalaman Airport is on track to be powered entirely by on-site solar by 2026—its rooftop array already ranks as the largest of its kind on any airport terminal worldwide. These are prime examples of advancing energy resiliency for reliable airport operations.   

Meanwhile, more airports are turning to all-electric ground support equipment fleets—cutting power consumption while advancing sustainable operations. Notably, new Terminal 1 will operate the world’s first centralized fleet of all-electric ground support equipment. The all-electric fleet will reduce the amount of power needed to operate the technology.   

Resilience Is a Competitive Advantage 

For airports, resilience is about mitigating risk, protecting value, enabling growth, and earning trust. It’s a competitive advantage in a world where disruption is the norm. 

Public-private partnerships enable innovation and tailored solutions to meet each airport’s needs. Ferrovial brings expertise across the full lifecycle, including design, build, financing, operations and maintenance to develop resilient, future-proof airports.