SkeyDrone and Airport Intelligence Join Forces to Deliver and Implement Integrated Drone Detection Solutions for International Airports

SkeyDrone and Airport Intelligence today announced a strategic collaboration to offer international airports a comprehensive, end-to-end approach to drone detection, response and mitigation of impact.

Airports worldwide are increasingly exposed to drone sightings, posing operational challenges on how to respond and potentially triggering safety and/or security risks. Runway and airport closures triggered by (unverified) drone reports cause massive operational disruption. Delayed flights and diversions result in financial losses and passenger dissatisfaction. Limited situational awareness makes it difficult to decide when it is safe to re-open, often extending closures longer than necessary, resulting in reputational damage.

Implementing a robust drone detection strategy is no longer optional for airports and air navigation service providers; it’s essential. This is not a single action, completed solely by the implementation of a tool, but a phased, strategic journey that combines technology with governance, procedures, and collaboration. It starts with risk assessments, geozone creation, Concept of Operations (CONOPS) definition and UTM integration for regulation, followed by deploying sensors for real-time monitoring. As data is gathered, threat criteria and response protocols must be refined and integrated into airport operations through coordinated procedures and targeted training.

By combining their complementary expertise, SkeyDrone and Airport Intelligence address this challenge head-on.

SkeyDrone brings advanced drone detection technology that enables airports to monitor, detect and analyse drone activity in and around critical airspace. It includes a sophisticated threat assessment module to ensure that alerts are meaningful and operational responses are proportionate. The platform can be tailored to the airport’s specific environment, including its active runway configuration.

Airport Intelligence complements this with its deep operational and hands-on aviation expertise, translating detections into a concrete process. Through the development of the CONOPS, an aligned way of working clearly defines how different types of detections should be handled, from routine monitoring to escalation and coordinated operational response, ensuring safety and security, while minimizing and mitigating operational impact. In this way, every action is aligned with airport processes, safety and security requirements and regulatory frameworks.

The joint offering enables airports to move beyond standalone technology deployments towards a fully integrated solution.

“We’re seeing a tremendous demand for our threat assessment solutions, which help customers evaluate risks effectively,” said Stijn De Vleeschhouwer, Managing Director at SkeyDrone. “While we provide the technology, many airports and ANSPs lack established processes to act on these insights. That’s why this partnership is so critical: technology is one part of the equation, but taking the right actions is equally, if not more, important.”

Korijn Defever, General Manager at Airport Intelligence added: “Our strength lies in designing operational concepts that fit the complex reality of airport environments, not only in theory but especially in practice. Working with SkeyDrone allows us to connect those concepts directly to reliable, proven drone detection technology, offering airports a pragmatic and scalable solution.”

With their shared roots at Brussels Airport, SkeyDrone and Airport Intelligence combine real-world airport experience with innovation to support airports worldwide in safely managing the growing challenge of drones in controlled airspace.