DOORS TO AUTOMATIC

THE TECHNOLOGY HELPING TO MAKE THE REGION’S AIRPORTS SAFE

- GEMMA GREENWOOD

The impact of the pandemic on air travel has been severe with global passenger traffic down some 48 per cent year on year at the end of November 2020, according to data by SITA, an IT and telecommunication services provider to the air transport industry.

“Regaining passenger confidence has become a critical factor for airlines and airports to weather the ongoing economic storm,” says SITA President, Middle East, India and Africa, Hani El-Assaad.

“The industry has to achieve far more with far less to thrive in a significantly smaller market where passenger numbers may be uncertain for years to come.”

Against this backdrop, the airline industry must quickly shift its focus from immediate actions like asking passengers to wear masks and apply hand sanitisers to longer-term and more sustainable solutions, he says, citing automation of operations as key to reducing queues and touchpoints at the airport as passenger volumes recover.

“Resilient and agile systems that increase efficiencies and can respond to unpredictable fluxes in passenger numbers will greatly influence those who can adapt and thrive in this new reality,” continues El-Assaad. “The pandemic represents a new 9/11 moment for air travel and how we respond will define our industry for decades to come.”

SITA has been working with many of the Middle East’s major airports to deliver low-touch solutions focused on automation and biometrics. Here are a few examples of the technology passengers can expect to encounter when they fly in or out of the region.

Passenger flow management

Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) has adopted SITA’s automatic boarding pass validation system to facilitate a smooth and easy passenger experience, known as the automated Traveller Document Authentication System (TDAS).