AEROPORTS DE PARIS SA

Their core work

Aéroports de Paris (ADP) is France's major airport operator, managing Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Paris-Orly, and Paris-Le Bourget — among Europe's busiest airport systems. In H2020, they focus on air traffic management (ATM) modernization through the SESAR programme, contributing real-world airport operational data and infrastructure for testing advanced runway management, arrival/departure sequencing, and total airport management concepts. They also bring airport-scale cybersecurity and privacy expertise for multimodal transport, and have recently expanded into urban air mobility (UAM) and drone integration operations.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In 2016–2019, ADP focused on foundational ATM infrastructure: SESAR master planning, demand-capacity balancing, network operations, and air traffic flow management — the strategic layer of European airspace modernization. From 2019 onward, their work shifted decisively toward operational optimization at the airport level — arrival/departure sequencing (AMAN/DMAN), runway throughput with weather-dependent separation, continuous climb/descent operations, and integrated TMA-airport-runway management. Most recently (2021+), they branched into entirely new domains: urban air mobility/drone integration and transport cybersecurity, signaling a diversification beyond traditional ATM.

ADP is moving from ATM policy and planning toward hands-on operational optimization and new mobility modes (UAM, drones), making them an increasingly valuable partner for projects needing real airport testbed environments.

How they like to work

ADP operates overwhelmingly as a participant (17 of 19 projects), contributing real-world airport infrastructure and operational expertise rather than leading research design. They coordinated only the Total Airport Management projects (PJ04 Waves 1 and 2) — a domain where they are the clear domain authority. With 141 unique partners across 27 countries, they are deeply embedded in the European ATM research ecosystem, particularly within the SESAR Joint Undertaking community.

ADP has collaborated with 141 distinct partners across 27 countries, reflecting the broad, multi-national structure of SESAR programmes. Their network spans virtually all EU aviation research actors — ANSPs, airlines, aerospace manufacturers, and research centers.

What sets them apart

ADP operates one of Europe's largest and most complex multi-airport systems (CDG, Orly, Le Bourget), giving them unmatched operational data and real-world testbed access that few partners can offer. Their dual role as both airport operator and active SESAR researcher means they can validate ATM concepts at actual scale — not in simulation. For any consortium needing a major airport environment to demonstrate and validate air traffic or airport management innovations, ADP is one of the few organizations in Europe that can deliver.

Highlights from their portfolio

• PJ04-W2 TAM
  Their largest funded project (EUR 893K) and coordinator role — defines ADP's core expertise in total airport management across two SESAR waves.
• CORUS-XUAM
  Marks ADP's strategic expansion into urban air mobility and drone integration (EUR 487K), positioning Paris airports as future UAM vertiport hubs.
• E-CORRIDOR
  Their only security-sector project (EUR 297K), showing diversification into transport cybersecurity and privacy — unusual for an airport operator.