Custom Solutions That Can Solve Real Aviation Problems In 2025

Stoyan Mitov is the CEO of Dreamix, a custom software development company helping tech leaders increase capacity without giving up quality.

As digital technology becomes the backbone of aviation, the industry faces both challenges and some exciting opportunities for those willing to innovate. A January 2024 Air Cargo Weekly article cited an Airports Council International report that found that 93% of airports were focusing on business intelligence solutions for better asset management and flight operations by 2025.

After many years in aviation software development, I’ve seen countless technology trends come and go. Some create genuine value, while others amount to little more than expensive distractions. The question that matters isn’t what’s technically possible but what actually solves real operational problems.

Based on our experience developing custom solutions for airlines and airports worldwide, three practical software solutions consistently appear on the priority list for 2025. These solutions align with IATA’s vision of using digital tools to reinvent outdated systems (as discussed in the Air Cargo Weekly article), which emphasizes “value creation through the deconstruction of legacy processes and the reconstruction of these processes leveraging digital assets.”

Lounge Management System: Automating The Administrative Burden

The economics of airport lounges have become increasingly complex. What was once a simple airline perk has evolved into a multipartner ecosystem involving credit card companies, third-party access programs and airline alliances. This complexity creates real operational challenges.

Modern lounge management systems can solve these problems through automated eligibility verification and streamlined back-end processes. They can automatically update access rules when partner agreements change, accurately track visits across multiple entry points and generate precise invoices without manual intervention.

The real value, however, comes beyond administrative efficiency. When staff aren’t bogged down checking credentials and managing paperwork, they can focus on improving the customer experience. Knowing who exactly is in the lounge at any given moment unlocks the potential for personalized service and experience. Systems that provide real-time capacity monitoring and trend analysis help lounges manage occupancy and deliver better service.

Such systems have the potential to reduce costs for administrative staffing and unbilled lounge access while, at the same time, improving customer satisfaction scores.

Group Check-In Solution: Solving A Persistent Pain Point

Anyone who’s witnessed a tour group checking in knows the inefficiency of the process. Fifty passengers queuing at a single desk can create bottlenecks that affect all travelers, not just the group members.

Airlines have long recognized this problem but have struggled to find efficient solutions. Early attempts at group check-in software often required all passenger information upfront, which rarely happens in real-world scenarios.

The breakthrough came with flexible systems that accommodate partial information and rolling check-ins. We’ve built solutions that allow group leaders to check in members as information becomes available—whether that’s days before the flight or hours before departure.

These systems can maintain security compliance while providing a better experience for all involved. Ground staff can process groups more efficiently, travelers can avoid unnecessary queuing and airlines can gain valuable operational data about group movements.

Passenger Boarding Solution: Mobility As A Competitive Advantage

Traditional check-in desks and boarding gates are being supplemented—and sometimes replaced—by tablet-based systems that bring services directly to passengers.

These solutions are fundamentally changing how airlines interact with travelers. Ground agents equipped with mobile or tablet devices can perform virtually any passenger-facing function from anywhere in the terminal—checking in passengers, printing boarding passes, rebooking flights and even generating new baggage tags.

Such flexibility can transform operations. During peak periods, airlines can quickly deploy additional staff with mobile devices to manage increased demand. When irregular operations occur (due to weather delays, for instance), agents can provide assistance throughout the terminal rather than creating bottlenecks at service desks.

The business impact is substantial. Passenger boarding solutions can reduce boarding time, decrease customer service wait times, reduce infrastructure costs and improve operational efficiency.

Practical Implementation: Lessons From The Field

While these solutions deliver clear value, implementation requires careful planning. From our experience developing aviation software, several key factors determine success.

1. Start with a clear understanding of your specific operational challenges. Off-the-shelf solutions rarely address the unique requirements of individual airlines and airports.

2. Prioritize integration capabilities. The greatest value comes when such solutions connect with existing operational platforms rather than creating information silos.

3. Involve front-line staff early in the development process. Their practical insights can mean the difference between a solution that works in theory and one that delivers real-world results.

4. Plan for evolution. The most successful implementations include mechanisms for continuous improvement based on operational feedback and changing requirements.

The Path Forward

The aviation industry has always been at the forefront of technological innovation. From computerized reservation systems to biometric identification, we’ve consistently embraced solutions that improve efficiency and enhance the passenger experience.

Today’s digital transformation initiatives continue this tradition, but with a difference: They’re increasingly focused on solving specific operational problems rather than implementing technology for its own sake.

As we move forward, the most successful airlines and airports will be those that identify their unique challenges and develop targeted solutions. Generic digital transformation initiatives give way to practical problem-solving, creating measurable value for both operators and passengers.

I’m more convinced than ever that technology is not an end in itself but a means to create better experiences and more efficient operations.

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