Technological advances in air terminals

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2022 is almost over, a year that was undoubtedly a great source of technological advances and a year of palpable recovery for the aeronautical sector. 

But, it was an eye-opener of the benefits that new technologies have brought to one of the main economic sectors worldwide. 

From artificial intelligence to biometric technology, these are just some of the new technology uses implemented in airports around the world, having as a first need, to improve the passenger’s experience. To make their stay in air terminals as comfortable and pleasant as possible. 

That’s why with a view to full automation, we leave you a small tour of the technological innovations that serve firsthand to improve and configure new moments in airports around the world. 

Seoul Airport…

Incheon Airport in Seoul launched the big data platform Airport Data Sandbox, which facilitates the collection of data to analyze information such as congestion in the terminal, weather, traffic, or transport forecasts. 

It also provides information on passenger flow and allows for easy allocation of personnel management to improve airport operations. Each of the aforementioned data is handled in real-time. 

Barcelona Airport… 

And speaking of biometric technology, the Vueling Barcelona-Malaga route has a biometric program that covers the passenger’s entire transit from home to the boarding terminal. 

This is AENA’s third biometric project at Barcelona airport, where through the Spanish airport holding company’s app, passengers can register for baggage check-in, optimizing waiting times and security controls. 

All of the above while complying with the security of each passenger’s data. 

Qatar Airport… 

Hamad International Airport in Qatar is one of the airports considered a worldwide efficient airport, in terms of decision-making and technological improvements for the administration of the air terminal. 

It uses the necessary technological tools not only for administration but also to ensure an optimal stay for users. That is why they are about to implement digital twin programs, to plan and visualize different scenarios based on the collection and study of data. 

These are just some of the new scenarios that are being presented in air terminals around the world, but we are undoubtedly eager to see what 2023 will bring.

 

Keep reading more aviation news in our blog.

Future technology for airlines

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Making security checkpoints more efficient is the airline industry’s focus for modernizing check-in processes and risk assessment for the common passenger.

 

Implementing biometric technology, and improving RX analysis software on baggage, supported by the data provided by the travelers themselves and that can be more easily verified together with the data in passports, will undoubtedly be a great advance in the screening of airport passengers, who will even be able to carry in their carry-on bags, toothpaste, nail clippers, laptops and even check-in without removing their shoes or jackets.

 

By standardizing these processes and technologies at airports, travelers will be able to rely on a much greater security base than at present while benefiting from faster screenings, and airports will rely on technology, optimizing resources more efficiently and requiring fewer specialized personnel.

 

However, specialists have stated that these new systems are not based on racial or religious data, but are an update of the current systems that, supported by human observers, will provide a more efficient service for the facilities and undoubtedly for passengers who minimize their waiting times at airport facilities.

 

In a continuous commitment to R+D+I, the airline industry seeks to satisfy its passengers by providing higher quality services and thus building the loyalty of millions of passengers who travel year after year. 

 

But industrial digitization now allows having huge databases and analysis systems that are supported by artificial intelligence that can become a great ally that greatly facilitates the daily work of employees on the ground, finding unattended market niches and in turn providing the necessary security required by the industry in its risk assessments.

 

Airline staff deficit generates a new crisis in the industry

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After two years of the pandemic, the cancellation of thousands of flights, and massive layoffs in the aviation sector, finally in 2022 flights worldwide began to increase rapidly. 

This has enabled the recovery of the industry and it could even be said that they are already beginning to generate profits. However, now a new crisis is coming.

We are at a stage where airline offers are falling short of passenger demands, which has caused flight cancellations, thousands of stranded travelers, or even lost luggage, and the industry is now facing a severe crisis of qualified personnel.

The crisis not only refers to the shortage of pilots. It also includes maintenance personnel, technicians, and ground staff, which potentially leads to fewer aircraft in circulation and delays in services as they are unable to handle all the processes related to flight preparation, passenger and baggage control, and everything else involved in the operation. 

The main problem is that it is not easy to replace or substitute these qualified personnel who require special certifications to be eligible for a position in this category, which would imply a considerable investment of time rather than solving this difficulty.

However, nowadays there are many devices, software, and technological tools that can serve as support to facilitate and optimize airport processes. This would also accelerate the evolution of the industry aiming at the technological transformation that is so necessary in these times.

According to the Commercial Market Outlook study conducted by Boeing annually, it is expected that by 2041 the world fleet will increase by 80%. 

In addition to the development of some market segments such as digital solutions that increase efficiency and reduce costs. But above all comprehensive training allows having qualified pilots and technicians.

The way of facing the crisis generated by the COVID-19 pandemic showed that the aviation industry has a great capacity to adapt and serves as a reference to demonstrate that this current crisis will not greatly affect the development of the sector.

Now they will be focused on offering better incentives to attract that personnel that migrated to other sectors due to the massive layoffs. 

But undoubtedly they will also have to work on creating new opportunities for digitalization, without neglecting the most important thing; attracting that 2.1 million new personnel, including pilots, mechanics, and crew members that will make every trip a better travel experience.

 

Logistical challenges for the airline industry in Qatar 2022

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The World Cup is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated and attended events. Millions of fans, players, and stakeholders gather to enjoy the greatest sporting spectacle of all time. However, for it to run smoothly, it is essential to have logistics that take care of every detail. On this occasion, we will talk about the logistical challenges faced by Qatar, a country that does not exceed 12,000 square kilometers and expects to receive approximately 1.5 million visitors during the World Cup.

It is important to mention that this is the first time that a World Cup will be held in a Middle Eastern country, which puts some additional pressure on Qatar, which stands out for the quality of its services and premium products, especially from the point of view of the aviation sector, which has led Qatar to reinforce its airport infrastructure for the World Cup.

Qatar decided to reopen Doha International Airport, which had been closed for commercial operations since 2014. This is to manage the increase in passengers expected to be received by air without affecting the services and benefits to which they are accustomed.

On May 27 of this year, Hamad International Airport was inaugurated, becoming the main airport in the country and the base of operations for Qatar Airways, the most important airline in the region. The new air terminal, which has 2 parallel runways, was planned and built to cope with the congestion problems expected for this sporting season.

Another decision that was taken in the airline industry is that Qatar Airways will reduce some air routes, to will reduce some air routes to increase others with higher demand and from participating countries, thus facilitating the transfer of thousands of fans, but this airline will not be the only one to take measures, the airlines Oman Air, Kuwait Airways Saudia, and Flydubai, will increase their logistics to organize more than 160 round-trip flights. All this is expected to begin on November 20.

While other countries such as Argentina and Mexico, have opened direct flight routes to cater personally to their fans and plan to include more flights as their national teams advance to the knockout stages.

Another of the most important logistical points is the transfer of goods to meet the high demand for food, technological products, advertising, and all those related to the big event and also involves suppliers around the world that must meet a strict schedule of compliance to ensure supply. For this, Qatar made strategic alliances with the operator specializing in international logistics Interborders, but also Qatar Cargo, an air cargo company, acquired 3 new aircraft to complete its fleet and meet the requirements of this massive soccer event.

There is no doubt that the Qatar 2022 World Cup Organizing Committee is working tirelessly to attend to every detail and no less is to be expected from one of the world’s richest republics. Which has dedicated itself in recent years to building stadiums, airports, hotels, and buildings to host the long-awaited 2022 World Cup.

 

Cybersecurity in the aeronautics industry

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With heavy investment in development and automation, the aeronautics industry is preparing for its biggest moment. But, reaching optimal levels of digitization involves a great deal of preparation to protect and support data security. A factor that has been transcendental over the years and that today is not ignored. 

The aviation sector is going through one of its best moments, having reached pre-pandemic levels. However, with exponential growth, data vulnerability is becoming more palpable in an ecosystem where cyber-attacks are in constant view. 

This represents a challenge for aviation worldwide, the protection of passenger data and the support of the aviation structure are essential to avoid risks and threats that could put airports in trouble. 

Building a strong cyber foundation…

With the arrival of digital transformation, laying the foundations of a cybernetic structure is essential, thanks to the large amount of data handled daily at an airport. Not only financial data but also data on each of the passengers that pass through an airport every year. 

In this sense, to move the aviation industry forward with the arrival of digitalization, the cyberculture must be adapted to build sustainable systems that are prepared to cope with the impact of the transformations that are experienced from time to time in technology. 

It is not only a matter of strengthening robust foundations at a systematic level but also of creating a culture where workers are trained to avoid and minimize human error in the event of a system crash. 

Cybersecurity as a sustainable investment… 

To talk about security is not only to talk about a protection system but also to ensure the future of a sector that has been able to overcome each of the challenges it has faced throughout history. 

This is why, at a structural level, it is a safe investment, given the increase in cyber threats. In addition, it will guarantee a robust and credible system over the years. Capable of adapting to changes and guaranteeing security. 

This is a big step for the aviation sector that is growing almost daily, despite the challenges it has faced, it is still a leader in security and reliability in the transportation sector. 

If you want to know more about aviation and shipping news, keep browsing our blog.

 

The digital transformation reaches new frontiers

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Digital transformation is increasingly reaching new frontiers. Some sectors have taken it from the beginning, while others have only waited a little longer to study the behavior of a world that, as difficult as it may seem, has come to solve many problems. 

The Internet is not new, and neither is machine learning or big data, but recognizing its effectiveness and behavior has taken us a few years. However, many industries use technological developments to leverage the new, transform themselves and break paradigms that years ago they would not have taken into account. 

The aviation sector has been one of those that have been able to take advantage of the new technologies coming to the market to optimize, reduce costs and improve data security.

This has not only served to clarify and improve the industry after the pandemic but also to face new challenges that in the medium term will be favorable. Not only at the industrial level, but also at the administrative level.

Technology is already part of everyday life… 

Most companies today are technological and it is not only about applying technology within the company but also about transforming the business model to sustain, optimize and ensure the effectiveness of the changes that are made within the industry. 

Always hand in hand with clear and specific objectives to implement an action plan aligned to the industry. 

Likewise, it has been demonstrated that automated processes reduce human error and are more optimal when it comes to minimizing manual work times. For this reason, the leap to technology is imminent and now covers a large part of sectors that had remained solely in manual work.

A new agenda for the maritime sector

The maritime sector is not left aside in terms of optimizing its operations, because the environment that develops within the maritime world is already talking about a new moment to optimize the industry, not only at the level of infrastructure but also at the level of operability. 

Worldwide, maritime transportation has been of vital importance to connect new routes, of great affluence that have awakened in the globalization that is currently being experienced. So, although it seemed to have been left aside, it faces a new challenge to continue growing and evolving more and more. 

If you want to know more, keep navigating in our blog.

Total Airport Management Systems

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Nowadays, technological transformation is a process that has been very present in all industries. However, in the airport sector it has made it possible to alleviate a series of deficiencies that had been occurring both externally and internally and that were slowing down its processes and hindering the development of the sector.

Having a total airport management system benefits travelers who spend long hours in airport facilities to check their luggage. Go through border controls and wait for the aircraft to be ready to finally make the flight, since this is only a small part of what an airport operates.

Optimizing each one of its operations, such as security, both of facilities and travelers, concessions, routes, airlines, administration and check-in, suppliers, among others. 

It guarantees an articulated and collaborative decision making process, where everyone involved has first hand information and in real time, which enables a great improvement in efficiency and avoids important monetary losses.

The main objective of an airport management system is to interconnect and integrate most of the information handled within the airport, thus ensuring the maximum flow of information on its operations, management and security, which results in a more efficient final service for travelers and more profitable for the airport.

The number of passengers increases year after year, which can end up collapsing airport operations and facilities, but building additional infrastructure is not always the most appropriate solution, due to high costs, permitting and development times; While implementing technological tools that help optimize the use of the infrastructure and its resources leads to a much lower investment, more controlled integration times and great benefits by considerably reducing the time aircraft spend on the ground, reducing fuel consumption, emissions and especially flight delays, something that passengers will surely appreciate.

A good airport management system brings together the operational complexities of airlines, airports and suppliers, encouraging the development and evolution of the industry, allowing a modular growth according to the traffic forecasts and commercial strategies of the interested parties, and all this thanks to the information management provided by this type of system.

Having real-time access to all the data derived from airport operations creates opportunities for improvement in very short periods of time that without this type of systems would take years to collect and analyze, to finally move on to a decision-making process where each participant will look after its own interests and not those of the community in general.

Currently many airports are looking to implement airport management systems and already in the market there is a significant amount of specialized software that in turn consist of several independent systems such as passenger check-in, passenger control, aeronautical fuel suppliers, among others that allow organizations to assemble a customized system that can integrate perfectly with their current software without having to paralyze operations or make large investments of money, time and knowledge transfer.

As we have mentioned in other articles, the software development company GP Nauticals has on the market a series of administrative systems for the aviation sector that separately can work to optimize a particular niche and optimize its operations, but that together create a robust administrative system that includes all the processes and port operations. If you want to know more about their range of products I invite you to visit their website. www.gpnauticals.com 

 

New challenges after COVID

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Now that everything seems to be back to normal, the whole world is preparing to overcome the impact of Covid-19. 

In many countries, routine activities are already taking place as normal, without the need to wear masks. Others are enjoying festivals and concerts, but better yet, travel restrictions have been put aside to embrace the summer. 

Airports around the world are preparing to reach pre-pandemic traffic levels. However, they have faced unexpected challenges such as staff shortages and high passenger demand that have led to delays, cancellations and long queues. 

But this was not an impediment for people to enjoy their vacations after two years of confinement. 

Goodbye to controls… 

Thanks to the leveling of contagions and the good sanitary management in airport structures, countries such as Spain have announced the lifting of COVID controls, it will no longer be necessary to present the COVID passport or the traveler’s form, both at airports and those arriving in the country by cruise ships. 

However, requirements such as PCR tests performed 48 hours in advance and vaccination cards are still required. This is to ensure the safety and welfare of each passenger. Likewise, masks will still be used during flights.

In spite of this, the lifting of the controls is a great step to restructure international schedules and reopen the operation of routes that were still stopped. 

In addition, passengers are guaranteed safety and confidence during flights and stays at the air terminals.

This is why good times are ahead for the aeronautical and port sector. Where challenges will cease to have a negative connotation, to carry out new projects and improve the travel experience of each passenger. 

A reliable alternative… 

In order to accompany the challenges that may arise, GP Nauticals has developed within the SUITE, a specialized software called PAX AIMS, which is ideal to avoid long waiting lines.  In addition, it is capable of auditing the number of passengers passing through the airport facilities, in order to automate processes and optimize check-in and collection times. 

All this thanks to the checkpoints that will be deployed at the airports, which will improve the travel experience from the moment they set foot in the facilities. 

PAX AIMS can be integrated with other SUITE software according to the needs of each customer. If you want to know more information about our products, click here. 

Mobile applications in the aviation industry

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In recent times, it’s evident how mobile applications related to air transport have multiplied, and have promoted major changes in the aviation industry. From the improvement of internal processes to cope with any kind of operational disruption, as happened during the pandemic, to those focused on customer satisfaction by transforming the way they travel.

We live in an interconnected world and there is a clear need to have as much information and services as possible on our mobile devices. Thanks to this, more and more airlines and airports are focusing their efforts on developing technology that allows them to be at the forefront of the needs while helping to reduce costs, optimize revenues, improve labor productivity, and above all innovate while making life easier for their passengers.

The use of this type of technology can also become a differentiating branding tool.  Now that many airlines are seeking to build customer loyalty through attractive benefits that play an important role in passengers’ decision to travel.

Now, let’s take a look at the latest technologies that have been used in the airline industry and are being tested around the world. 

For example, contactless self-check-in and baggage handling technology are being tested in many airports, as well as mobile applications that allow airlines to scan travelers’ passports and visas at different checkpoints, thus speeding up long waiting lines and reducing waiting times, which is a huge benefit for passengers.

On the other hand, airlines are looking for ways to integrate into their mobile applications options that allow passengers to manage their services without the need for a cabin crew member anywhere in the travel chain and especially without contact. So if a passenger wants to use the entertainment systems of the aircraft, he can do it just by scanning a QR code from his mobile device and thus choose what he wants to see while interacting with the crew to buy products or services such as food or duty-free items. 

These types of technology platforms not only serve to meet the needs of passengers, but also provide airlines and airports with the opportunity to understand passenger behavior and purchasing patterns. This allows companies to segment the market and personalize their offers.

Similarly, facial recognition technology continues to make inroads in the industry, and biometric identification options are expected to become common in the coming year, as their benefits are not only focused on passengers but also help to reduce costs, optimize resources, and speed up boarding times. 

Even now, facial recognition payment technologies and contactless fingerprint scanning are being tested. 

 Similarly, another area that is being impacted by mobile technology platforms is the administrative sector of the airline industry where they are beginning to implement port management systems that allow airports to manage data in real-time with cloud support. That helps the organizations involved to be more efficient in managing information, concessions, contracts, billing, and payment of services. 

Today there are many development companies specialized in the aviation industry that continually offer solutions that improve processes, encouraging a market that has been greatly affected in recent years by the pandemic of COVID-19 as is GP Nautical. who have focused their efforts on creating innovative technology platforms for the aviation sector that allows any port to have a management system of the last generation with minimal investment.

 

Airports incorporate high-tech

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Airports incorporate high-tech. If we are talking about technological innovations, airports worldwide already enjoy the installation of technological devices that have been designed to improve the airport experience, from the moment you arrive at the terminal until you reach your destination. 

That’s right, in the past we could mention biometric structures, changes, and new trends in air terminals. 

However, today we will talk about security screening at Leonardo Da Vinci Airport in Rome and, about the implementation of autonomous capsules for people with limited mobility at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, United States. 

Secure carry-on baggage screening…

At Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport in Rome, the installation of high-tech scanners capable of detecting explosives and narcotics began. Conducted under the Smiths Detection organization, 30 inspection systems will be set up at Leonardo Da Vinci at different checkpoints. 

Smiths Detection’s HI-SCAN 6040 CTiX X-ray technology is capable of producing high-resolution volumetric 3D images to visualize the contents of carry-on baggage. This raises efficiency standards and will help reduce false alarms. 

In addition, with this technology, it will not be necessary to remove electronic items and liquids from baggage, which makes passenger screening optimal and less time-consuming. 

Autonomy for passengers with reduced mobility…

To enable users with reduced mobility to move around the airport with peace of mind, A&K Robotics and Southwest Airlines carried out tests of robotic capsules to assist passengers with limited mobility. 

The tests were conducted in Concourse C at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), USA. This is undoubtedly a great improvement in the travel experience for passengers, where now, thanks to these autonomous electric modules, they will be able to move safely through the airport, reach boarding gates or move around the facilities.

These are just some of the technological innovations that are taken into account worldwide. That is why, to keep pace with the new era, it is necessary to improve and optimize the user experience in air terminals.

Likewise, the administrative infrastructure is also considered fundamental for the development of airports. To this effect, GP NAUTICALS has developed software that can be integrated to meet the needs of air terminals. 

If you want to know more just go to the products section and get to know the AIMS SUITE.