Automated Mobility Meets Aviation Operations at One of Europe's Busiest Airports
Istanbul, Türkiye — ADASTEC, a global leader in SAE Level-4 automated driving software, announces the successful completion of an operational demonstration with the Karsan Autonomous e-ATAK, automated by ADASTEC, in the live apron traffic of İGA Istanbul Airport. The demonstration was conducted with Turkish Airlines, the flag carrier of Türkiye, in close collaboration with İGA Istanbul Airport and Karsan.
The deployment marks a meaningful step in extending field-proven SAE Level-4 automated driving technology into one of the most demanding operational environments in modern transportation, the live apron of an international hub airport handling millions of passengers and round-the-clock operations.
Two Real-World Scenarios Designed Around Turkish Airlines Apron Operations
The demonstration was structured around two operational scenarios designed to reflect real Turkish Airlines workflows on the apron of İGA Istanbul Airport.
In the first scenario, the Karsan Autonomous e-ATAK, automated by ADASTEC, operated on a route between the Turkish Airlines Operations Center – Crew Terminal and the Smart Cargo Area, in front of the SMARTIST Building, as part of the overall 11-kilometer route. This scenario simulated the transportation of shift teams to their working areas.
In the second scenario, the vehicle operated between the Turkish Airlines Operations Center – Crew Terminal and the 200-Series Open Parking Area, again as part of the overall 11-kilometer route, simulating the transportation of flight crews to aircraft parking positions.
“Building on our field experience across airport environments, this demonstration at İGA Istanbul Airport, one of Europe’s busiest aviation hubs, marks another important validation of automated mobility in live apron operations. Karsan Autonomous e-ATAK, automated by ADASTEC, performed in real operational traffic and showed its potential as an applicable solution for apron-area crew transportation. It also demonstrated its ability to meet expectations around operational efficiency and safety-driven processes in demanding airport conditions. Together with Turkish Airlines, İGA Istanbul Airport and Karsan, we are proud to contribute to the safety-, efficiency- and sustainability-driven transformation of airports. We believe automated mobility will continue to expand across aviation operations, and we invite airports around the world to shape the future of automated airport operations with us,” said Atalay Taşkoparan, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer at ADASTEC.
Sharing the apron with alongside Turkish Airlines ground service vehicles and other airside operational traffic, the system delivered consistent, stable performance, completing automated lane changes in mixed traffic, executing precise navigation across complex airside geometries, and validating perception, localization and safety performance in conditions where there is zero tolerance for error.
"We consider this successful demonstration a strategic step in demonstrating that automated technology can be positioned not only in public transport but also in different operational use cases," said Muzaffer Arpacıoğlu, Deputy General Manager of Domestic Sales and External Relations at Karsan.
A Strategic Use Case for the Flag Carrier of Türkiye
For Turkish Airlines, the demonstration explored how SAE Level-4 automated driving technology could support core operational workflows, including crew transportation, shift mobility and apron-area logistics, in an environment where operational continuity, safety and efficiency are mission-critical.
“At Turkish Airlines, safety and operational excellence are at the core of everything we do. This successful demonstration of Level-4 automated mobility at our global hub, İGA Istanbul Airport, highlights our ongoing commitment to integrating cutting-edge technologies into our ground operations. By exploring autonomous solutions for crew transportation and apron logistics, we are not only enhancing our daily operational efficiency but also taking a significant step forward in shaping a sustainable and innovative future for the global aviation industry.” said Kerem Kızıltunç, Chief Information Technology Officer at Turkish Airlines.
The work also reflects İGA Istanbul Airport's broader commitment to operational innovation as one of Europe's busiest aviation hubs.
Extending Field-Proven Automated Driving Technology into Aviation
The İGA Istanbul Airport demonstration builds directly on ADASTEC's growing portfolio of airport-related automated mobility work, including a recently completed two-week operational demonstration with the Karsan Autonomous e-ATAK, automated by ADASTEC, at Frankfurt Airport. Each deployment deepens ADASTEC's operational know-how in apron-area transportation, crew mobility and safety-critical airside use cases.
The Bigger Picture: Why This Matters Now
Global hub airports are under sustained pressure on three fronts at once — operational continuity, sustainability and the rising cost and complexity of ground operations. Automated mobility is emerging as one of the few practical levers that touches all three. The İGA Istanbul Airport demonstration, delivered by Turkish Airlines, İGA Istanbul Airport, Karsan and ADASTEC, is one of the most operationally meaningful proof points to date that the technology is no longer the bottleneck. Real apron, real traffic, real workflows, real performance.
For Turkish Airlines, the demonstration adds a concrete data point to its operational innovation agenda. For İGA Istanbul Airport, it underscores its position as one of Europe's most forward-looking hubs. For Karsan and ADASTEC, it confirms that Karsan Autonomous e-ATAK, automated by ADASTEC, is ready to take its proven SAE Level-4 capability into the next operational frontier: aviation.