Airports: Technology at the Service of Passengers

Technology plays an important role in making travel an enjoyable experience. The challenge of airport management is to combine a good passenger experience with what needs to be done: regulatory obligations, operational safety, making the airport attractive for airlines, a good commercial mix, among others. All combined to generate enough revenue to cover costs and satisfy shareholders.

Technology has indisputably transformed our lives. With airports it was no different, but in this industry the transformation was enormous, and many times we don't even realize how much we are taking advantage of it.

With this text, I intend to demonstrate small examples of how technology in airports has introduced a range of solutions aimed at transforming the experience of an easier, more pleasant and safer trip.

Checking-In

Remember when you had to queue and check-in in person? It is impossible to specify a date, but this happened gradually with the popularization of the internet (it started on websites) with some resistance in which some passengers still resisted the change. But with the popularization of smartphones it was a path of no return. Airline applications deliver more and more resources to manage your trip in the palm of your hand.

Baggage

Still in the process of evolution, in individual or joint initiatives by airlines and airports, the best formula for the self-service process of checking baggage is gaining shape and followers. 1-step (all done in one window) or 2-steps (first label and then dispatch), airport solution providers work on studies and analyzes to prove technical and commercial feasibility. The truth is that, both for the passenger and for the airport, the less queue the better.

Some companies are already testing a ‘premium’ format for checking baggage at home, in which the airline searches for the baggage in advance at the passenger's house and makes the dispatch. In this way, the passenger arrives just to fly, without queuing for dispatch.

Once tagged and linked to the ticket, the tag code is read at each checkpoint, up to the aircraft. In this way, the airline can check the status and current location of each bag.

Boarding Area

The departure lounge at an airport is considered a restricted security area, and requires internationally regulated security procedures. In this case, there is no way to escape a queue to go through an individual security procedure.

But technology can be employed to minimize time. Ticket readers with automated gates, in sufficient numbers, minimize queuing for ticket checks. At this point, facial biometrics technologies may already be available in some operations, and should be a standardization trend in the near future.

Technologies for measuring the density of people can be used to calculate the waiting time in queues. In this way, the airport operation can be alerted to make adjustments with opening or closing scanner positions for people and hand luggage.

Shopping

A good commercial mix, with food and shopping options, certainly makes the experience of passing through the airport more pleasant. Going further, understanding the consumption preferences of each passenger, with the help of historical data and big data, allows the airport to know which passengers on a given flight prefer a certain product or store, thus allowing assertive commercial promotions.

"From safety enhancements to simplifying passenger experiences, streamlining operations and managing air traffic, technology continues to revolutionize the aviation industry."

In addition, a quality wifi internet connection, visible flight information and quality sound warnings are essential. The technologies employed to make this all possible are already well matured and established. The most recent and impactful changes today are the use of historical data for machine learning or AI, to support improving operational or commercial strategies.

Boarding

Here, the challenge is to streamline the operation, for two reasons: to minimize queues, and to meet the aircraft's time on the ground.

It seems to me once again that biometrics is the inevitable trend. Some operations already work as a pilot, and have proven to be efficient. On the other hand, the implementation cost and the most appropriate commercial model still need to be matured.

Once biometrics has been implemented, document and ticket verification is no longer necessary, as the automated system obviously checks the identity and whether the passenger is on the correct flight. In this way, you can adopt self-service.

Security

Airport is a place where people naturally feel safe. This is no coincidence, as security is taken very seriously in an airport operation. Video surveillance analytics technologies have evolved every day to be the eyes of airport security where there is not a person available at all times.

Virtual fences, forgotten objects and people flow control are the most common and established analytical technologies to support airport security. But the evolution and creation of new resources today deliver the ability in real time to detect and alert for pre-configured behaviors and situations.

Technology has become the cornerstone of modern airport operations, reshaping the way airports operate, ensuring passenger safety and increasing overall efficiency. From safety enhancements to simplifying passenger experiences, streamlining operations and managing air traffic, technology continues to revolutionize the aviation industry. As airports strive to accommodate increasing passenger demands and deliver seamless travel experiences, adopting and integrating cutting-edge technologies will continue to be crucial to their success.