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CASE STUDY
Using Dynamic Billing to Optimize Apron Operations & Drive Revenue
Toronto Pearson Airport replaced rigid billing systems with a flexible, rule-based platform—enabling real-time control over apron usage, improving asset utilization, and unlocking new revenue through more efficient airline behaviour.
CLIENT
Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA)
INDUSTRY
Airport Operations & Management
ANNUAL PASSENGERS
50M
01
The Challenge
Inflexible Systems and Inefficient Asset Use
The client airport needed to maximize the value of its most critical assets: its gates and apron space. Like many airports, they struggled with inefficient turnarounds where aircraft would remain on the apron for extended periods, blocking other potential revenue-generating movements.
Their previous billing system, a customized software, was too rigid—changing billing rules was a slow, complex process that prevented them from effectively influencing airline behaviour.
This inflexibility meant they had no practical tool to discourage delays and incentivize efficient operations, leaving potential revenue on the table.
Key Pain Points
Underutilized critical assets
Operational inefficiencies in turnarounds
Rigid, hard-to-modify billing system
Lack of control over airline behaviour
02
The Solution
Configurable Rules to Manage Behaviour
PlaneSight’s ApronTrack module provided a modern, agile solution specifically designed for apron revenue management.
Centralized, Oracle-Based Data
All apron movement data was consolidated into a single, compatible Oracle data structure, creating one reliable source of truth.
Agile, In-App Billing Rules
The key differentiator was moving the billing rules out of the rigid legacy system and into PlaneSight’s flexible application. This allowed the airport team to add, subtract, or adjust complex billing rules themselves with unprecedented speed and ease.
A Strategic Tool for Operations
The platform transformed billing from a simple accounting function into a powerful lever for operational change. They could now instantly create financial incentives and penalties to directly influence airline ground time behaviour.
03
The Result
Maximized Assets and Increased Revenue
The airport gained a powerful strategic tool to drive efficiency and boost revenue.
Influenced Airline Behaviour
By quickly implementing charges for extended apron stays, they effectively penalized delays and incentivized airlines to turn planes faster, freeing up gates for more traffic.
Unlocked Revenue Potential
They began capturing new revenue streams from apron usage that were previously difficult to manage, turning wasted time into a billable asset.
Gained Operational Agility
When a specific billing scenario arose that required an immediate rule change, the team could configure it themselves—without bringing in new development. This speed allows them to continuously adapt and optimize their operations.
The Bottom Line
PlaneSight gave the airport more than just a billing system; it provided a dynamic tool to actively manage their operations, maximize the use of their multi-billion dollar infrastructure, and drive significant new revenue.
All we're trying to do is maximize the utilization of our assets... having rules that you can modify when you see bad behaviour is important... with this new application, we were able to configure the rules a lot faster.
Mark Leung
Associate Director, Accounting Services, GTAA