Good News Friday: Your weekly roundup of positive airport news!

Turkish Airlines launches “Inner Portrait” with Refik Anadol at Art Basel

Refik Anadol (centre right), the renowned new media artist, showcasing his latest work, Inner Portrait, which explores the desire to travel and its effect on human biology.

Turkish Airlines, the airline flying to more countries than any other, has unveiled a new art project titled “Inner Portrait”. 

This visionary initiative, created in partnership with the world-renowned media artist Refik Anadol, pushes the boundaries of storytelling, offering a deeply personal exploration of the desire to travel and its effect on human biology. 

The project delves into the inner landscapes of four individuals who have never embarked on a journey abroad; Tuikuru, a Brazilian man from the Amazon explores the bustling streets of Tokyo, while Esther, a Kenyan woman, discovers the rich history of Istanbul. 

An Australian woman named Sahar also embarks on a journey through the ancient wonders of Göbeklitepe and Cappadocia, while an Icelandic man named Sigurbjörn experiences the awe-inspiring beauty of Jordan. 

Utilising the latest AI tools and neuroscientific sensors, Refik Anadol and his team capture and convert the raw emotional data of the first-time travellers’ experiences into AI Data Paintings. Brain data becomes the pigment for a mesmerising visual narrative, representing the transformative power of travel.

Inner Portrait begins with the collection of biological and neurobiological data from travellers, including heart rate, skin conductance, and EEG outputs, using advanced monitoring devices such as the Neuroelectrics. This detailed recording extends throughout the journey, capturing the participants’ immediate reactions to new environments and experiences, thus providing a foundation for the artwork. 

Rafet Fatih Özgür, Turkish Airlines SVP Communications, said: “Inner Portrait is a testament to Turkish Airlines’ commitment to fostering cultural exchange and innovation. By partnering with Refik Anadol, a pioneer in the field of data-driven art, we further elevate our brand narrative, revealing the essence of what it means to travel. 

“As the airline flying to more countries than any other, we witness countless emotions and stories, and the profound impact travelling has on people everywhere we fly. 

“Recognising our responsibility to convey these stories, we are delighted to transform the impact of travel into a commissioned artwork that intersects culture, art, technology, and science, and to showcase this work on a platform such as Art Basel. I believe this work will inspire more people to travel.” 

Refik Anadol, said: “In my practice, I’ve had the privilege to travel around the world, so I deeply understand the transformative experience of seeing new places, meeting new people and learning about new cultures. 

“Having the opportunity to partner with Turkish Airlines on a project that gives four people a chance to travel abroad for the first time is truly inspiring.”

The project explores the link between experiences and neuronal activity, showcasing Anadol’s innovative approach to ‘collecting’ authentic human experiences as the building blocks of new aesthetic expressions. 

As Turkish Airlines bridges cultures, Anadol aims to highlight the profound emotional and cognitive impacts of travel and cultural exchange, creating a new form of art that merges human experiences with technological innovation.

A 30-minute documentary of Inner Portrait will be live in Autumn 2024. 

Swedavia strengthens its collaboration with Médecins Sans Frontières

Credit: Frida Jones, Swedavia

For several years, Swedavia has had a cooperation agreement with Médecins Sans Frontières regarding the collection of deposit cans and deposit bottles at both Swedavia’s airports and offices. The collected deposit is donated in full to the organisation’s life-saving work. The collaboration also includes includes Swedavia’s positive basic attitude to leave of absence for employees who wish to go work in Médecins Sans Frontières’ projects around the world.

“Our collaboration with Médecins Sans Frontières is important and we are pleased to continue our cooperation agreement and also this year significantly expand the collection opportunities at Sweden’s largest airport. In addition to the benefits of recycling plastic bottles, promoting circularity and contributing monetarily to the aid organisation’s activities with the collected deposit, there is also an important value in making Médecins Sans Frontières’ life-saving work visible worldwide,” said Fredrik Jaresved, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Innovation, Swedavia.

The expanded deposit bins come at a timely juncture with Arlanda’s commercial expansion in full bloom with a large number of new shops and restaurants. In addition, the technology in the new modern security checkpoint in Terminal 5 enables travellers to bring beverage bottles through the airport’s main security checkpoint. The hope is that this, combined with the expanded collection opportunities at Stockholm Arlanda Airport, where over 60,000 travellers pass through every day, will have a major effect both in terms of strengthened visibility and increased financial assistance to Médecins Sans Frontières’ work to save lives and make a real difference to people in need around the world.

“The collaboration with the worldwide non-profit organisation goes hand in hand with Swedavia’s strategic goals and purpose of promoting sustainable social development and enabling people to meet and thus build bridges between people and cultures. We are proud to continue to contribute to Médecins Sans Frontières’ important relief work together with travellers and employees,” continued. Fredrik Jaresved.

The collaboration between Swedavia and Médecins Sans Frontières is long-standing and aims to contribute to societal benefits at local and national level and, by extension, globally. MSF is a medical humanitarian organization that saves lives and alleviates distress where help is needed most. The organisation operates in over 70 countries worldwide and since 1971 has assisted people affected by crises, wars and natural disasters, regardless of political opinion, religion or ethnicity. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is one of the world’s most recognised and respected brands with credible sources of knowledge. The organisation received the Alfred Nobel Peace Prize in 1999.

Swedavia was founded in 2010 and has since 2012 worked with contractual partnerships with organisations with the mission of ensuring long-term collaborations that benefit both parties in the area of social responsibility. Swedavia currently has cooperation agreements with Médecins Sans Frontières and the Red Cross.

Bees are all the buzz at Edmonton International Airport (YEG)

Edmonton International Airport (YEG) has welcomed new partners to airport lands, and these ones also have wings! One honey bee hive and two bee homes for wild bees have been added to the offerings at YEG’s Airport City Sustainability Campus. At the height of the season, the hive will contain up to 50,000 bees!

“Biodiversity thrives where bees buzz, and their pollination supports overall ecological richness. Our bee hive program at YEG will empower our natural ecosystem, contribute to our sustainability goals and foster a healthy environment,” said Marion Chivot-Legris, Director, ESG and Sustainability Strategy, Edmonton International Airport (YEG).

Bees are an important pollinator and are essential when it comes to food security. As pollinators, bees play an important role in all aspects of the ecosystem, however, the welfare and number of bees worldwide are in decline due to various threats, including climate change. Through pollination, bees are responsible for one-third of our food production, and YEG is taking steps to bring awareness and support to the local wild bee populations. YEG will also receive 100 jars of honey as part of the programme.

Thanks to a partnership with Alvéole – a Certified B Corporation – and the Alberta Beekeepers Commission, this project will help YEG to promote biodiversity and work toward a greener future.

“By integrating a bee program into YEG’s innovative sustainability practices, we aim to enhance biodiversity and raise awareness about the critical role bees play in our ecosystem. Edmonton International Airport’s forward-thinking approach to environmental stewardship aligns perfectly with our mission to foster connection between people and nature. Together, we’re bringing a greater environmental awareness to the broader community while supporting wild bee populations,” said Alex McLean, CEO, Alvéole.

“Honey bees provide a key ecosystem service, contributing to food biosecurity and biodiversity. In Alberta, 173 beekeepers carefully manage over 300,000 honey bee colonies that directly contribute to valuable pollination activities while at the same time producing over 33 million pounds of pure, local Alberta honey a year, making Alberta the largest honey producing province in Canada. Through partnerships with organisations like YEG, the ABC is able to continue to support the Alberta
beekeeping industry to ensure we create an environment where bees and their keepers thrive,” said Connie Phillips, Executive Director, Alberta Beekeepers Commission (ABC).