Digital Credentials at Aruba Airport

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The Government of Aruba, along with aviation technology company SITA and digital identity verification company IndicioTech, has introduced a new way to simplify the travel process for passengers arriving on the island.

The use of Digital Travel credentials (DTC) technology has made it possible for travelers to meet immigration requirements before reaching their destination.

This DTC technology has eliminated the need for passengers to manually enter their travel document information by hand, optimizing the travel authorization process.

Thanks to this, passengers can share their data through digital wallets and from their mobile devices at checkpoints such as immigration or other points of contact such as hotels or car rental companies.

The DTC technology is reliable and complies with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. This means that passengers can create their digital credentials with their physical passports, and the data will be stored in the digital wallet.

A Success Story…

Due to the pandemic that occurred in 2020, tests were carried out on DTC technology for the health management of travelers regarding COVID vaccines and tests.

The Minister of Tourism and Public Health of Aruba, Dangui Oduber, highlighted that “innovation within the tourism industry has always been a focal point in our strategic vision and policy formulation. We are pleased that Aruba is part of this innovative progress, which ensures quality and excellence for all our visitors.”

This makes it clear that innovation and new technologies are also present in Aruba as part of the strategic and visionary expansion of tourism on the island.

Finally, simplification is also part of the aviation industry, which increasingly seeks automation in its processes, recognizing that there are more benefits to optimizing controls.

 

The technology optimizes airline profitability

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After two years of pandemic activity, the airline industry has been forced to implement a variety of strategies to ensure the proper resumption of operations. Many airlines have turned to technology as a primary tool to help them increase profitability, even soon after the pandemic.

 

Undoubtedly, the first strategy that airlines have adopted is automation, both in internal processes and in those that require passenger interaction, as they seek not only to create zero-touch checkpoints. But also to work tirelessly in the quest for customer satisfaction to have a stronger value proposition than their competitors, and to do all of this while reducing their costs.

 

Zero-touch passenger checkpoints are a great investment because they reduce passenger wait times which directly benefits your customers. But it also has an impact on cost reduction because it affects the number of people needed to handle these processes and the time the aircraft is on the ground. After all, the more optimal the wait times, the fewer taxes the airline pays and the more routes it can expand. 

 

In addition, the use of technology today is a tool that not only helps build customer loyalty but can also help management make better decisions in real-time, which would help achieve strategic goals in less time.

 

The use of technology enables airlines and airports to collect real-time data on passenger preferences and buying patterns on different routes or under specific parameters, offering the opportunity to micro-segment the market and personalize offers, making the most of the situation while providing an unparalleled travel experience and strengthening the customer’s trust in the airline. 

 

Finally, we could say that technology has demonstrated its importance and has become evident after the pandemic crisis, that they are tools that have come to change the way we do things, improving the experience both internally and externally, and that they are undoubtedly investments that are increasingly attractive thanks to the number of benefits they offer.

 

Aeronautical technology investments in 2023

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Digitalization is imminent and wrapped in the artificial intelligence boom, the road to 100% automation is getting closer and closer.

And it is that, during 2021 and 2022, the growth and the boom in the mobilization of all economic sectors, produced the acceleration of a factor that seemed to be seen in the distance, but that undoubtedly, has come to stay.

In this way, we see that artificial intelligence covers each of the main economic environments, where the aeronautical and maritime sectors are not left out.

After two years of imminent growth, the aeronautical industry did not foresee the challenges it could face, and it is now where it is on the move to invest in new resources during recovery.

Automated processes…

“Digitalization is seen as the key to meeting these challenges, as it offers greater scalability and flexibility,” said David Lavorel, CEO of SITA.

In this sense, the same report collected by SITA, states that airlines and airports worldwide will put in place the investment of IT resources, seeking to improve each of the processes in airport development.

As a result, airlines and airports are looking to reduce waiting times and improve the travel experience for passengers at every stage of their journey. This technology investment will also serve to create a key staffing mechanism, so that staff can be placed in higher attention assignments.

Today, we can see the speed with which airline and airport transit resources are increasingly relying on technological means to support their development.

Strengthening the technological foundations will therefore be the main focus for this year, which is undoubtedly the key to completing the digital transformation.

Airport recovery in Latin America

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We are starting a new year, after stumbles, pandemics, and a new adaptation, airports presented their balance sheets for 2022. For the most part, the recovery was evident, which translates into new challenges and improvements. 

In the case of Latin America, El Dorado Airport, which serves Bogota, was the most punctual airport in Latin America in 2022. 

This result was announced by Cirium, a specialist in the analysis of the aeronautical sector, which presented the annual balance of the punctuality performance of airports worldwide. 

In the case of El Dorado International Airport, it was the most punctual with 80.72%, which places it in the top 10 and as the most punctual in Latin America. 

Recovery at Tocumen Airport 

In the case of Central America, specifically at Tocumen International Airport, the annual report of airport activities was presented. 

In this report, the recovery of the airport in the year 2022 stands out, which recovered the airport traffic concerning 2021, new flight routes were opened, and also, the recovery of the structure and operation of the new Terminal 2. 

In general, it can be said that although the year just ended was a year of challenges, the return of airlines and the lifting of restrictions was positive for the recovery of the sector. 

In terms of numbers, Tocumen Airport closed 2022 with more than 15 million passengers, a little more than 6 million more than in 2021. 

This is only a small part of what happened in Latin America, but the recovery of air traffic worldwide was very satisfying for the recovery of the aviation sector after years of uncertainty and new challenges. 

But 2023 is just beginning, what will it hold for the aviation sector? 

 

Read more news about the aviation and maritime sectors in our blog. 

Laser communication has come to revolutionize airborne communications

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Airbus and VDL Group have signed a collaboration agreement for the development and manufacture of a laser communication terminal for the aeronautical industry that will enable the exchange of large amounts of data via a network of ground stations and satellites in geostationary orbit located 36,000 km above the earth.

The new product will be based on a mechatronic optical system with high stability and precision, which could reach several gigabits per second while keeping data secure against interference and with a very low probability of interception.

This new communication system called UltraAir will enable the connection of military aircraft and AUVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) within a multi-domain combat cloud thanks to laser-based satellite constellations such as Airbus’ SpaceDataHighway. 

This patented optical technology from VDL, which Airbus plans to install on one of its aircraft on a trial basis, creates the foundation for the future of data transmission speeds and will be a key differentiator for multi-domain combat collaboration with government and defense customers.

Laser data communication aims to revolutionize the communications industry and is seen as a solution for data traffic in the quantum era as this communication path will be able to support 1,000 times more data than current networks with 10 times the speed.

Additionally, laser communication technologies will be more difficult to interfere with, can be lighter, and consume less energy so this project will surely become the first of many in the aeronautical sector promising an escalation in the issue of data transmission and security.

Green Aviation 

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The aviation industry plays an important role worldwide, in principle, it is cataloged as the safest means of transportation in the world and it is also responsible for connecting infinite routes worldwide, making a long distance become a short trip. 

Since its beginnings, the aeronautical world has given a lot to talk about, but today it joins the same trend that all economic and social sectors worldwide are talking about, we are talking about “sustainability”. 

For some years now, leaders around the world have been working to minimize the polluting effects on the environment, and the aeronautical sector together with fuel developers are already working on a green mechanism to minimize the climate threat. 

By 2050, CO2 emissions are expected to have decreased by 50%. 

Change comes from within…

When we talk about sustainability, we are not only talking about new fuel formulations but also about the use of materials for the construction of environmentally friendly propellants or aircraft. 

The use of efficient materials throughout the design and assembly process of an aircraft is also a factor to take into account when considering the use of more environmentally friendly products and processes. 

Such is the case of the European continent, which has launched the Clean Sky or Clean Aviation project, which works on improving the sector with a positive impact on the ecosystem. 

Technology as a green ally… 

While technology is still new to many sectors, it is also part of the positive change for the environment. 

Biometric technology, big data, and the leap to digital have resulted not only in benefits for the passenger or the industry itself but also for the environment. 

The leap to digital has decreased the use of paper in air terminals, which means a positive impact on the regeneration of a greener world.

These are just some of the changes we see so far in the aviation sector, what will be waiting for us in 2023? We are ready for surprises. 

 

Ready to Fly is now a reality

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The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has been working on a project called One ID, under the premise of allowing passengers to arrive at the airport “ready to fly”. This means that they will be able to completely digitize the check-in experience at airports by implementing a biometric process with zero contact.

 

The objective of this initiative is to create a more streamlined process with a pre-trip information exchange, where the passenger will have to demonstrate that they meet the requirements for their trip and then identify themselves at established points at airport facilities through biometric recognition.

 

One Id seeks to standardize the digitization processes of all airlines, airports, and governments to provide a seamless experience that is easy for travelers to integrate and use.

 

The implementation of this type of technology will provide multiple benefits and clearly, the main one is that now passengers will not have to be confused with a pile of documents. They will have to share only the minimum necessary data with their digital identity for airlines, airports, and governments. 

 

In this way, when passengers arrive at airport facilities, they will already have their traveler data and itinerary, so they can avoid long lines by just presenting themselves to the biometric reader and identifying themselves. 

 

Other stakeholders that will also benefit from this new process are the airlines and airports which will be able to count on the efficiency of the processes and the reduction of time spent on manual identification of each passenger, which will reduce costs by relying on automated systems and focus their efforts on providing added value to their customers.

 

In terms of security, the One ID system will arguably help strengthen borders and make it easier for governments to receive accurate passenger information, as well as reduce the number of passengers who are inadmissible for presenting inadequate, insufficient, or false documentation.

 

Currently, many airlines have been working on digitizing these processes that allow passengers to board without presenting physical documentation, but IATA intends to create a standardized system that digitizes the admissibility of each traveler, so that when the passenger shares their “OK to Fly” status with the airline, they can automatically bypass all document checks within the airport facilities.

 

Ultimately, travelers want and need technology for their trips, to ensure better treatment, more efficiency, better services, and a considerable reduction in the time spent on controls. So they are undoubtedly willing to share their most sensitive information to support the progress that these systems will offer in the future and from which the industry as a whole will benefit.

 

However, the new standards are focused on protecting the data of passengers, who at all times remain in control of their data and credentials, sharing only verified approvals and without any intermediaries. In addition, this is not mandatory, so it will be an option if the passenger wishes to opt-out of this process and use manual verification.

 

Robotics in the airport sector

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We have already talked about how technology has become involved in everyday life. However, today we can see how robots are becoming more and more integrated into the routine, and this is how we can already see them in airports worldwide. 

To provide security, trust, and support, there are already some airports that have implemented the use of robots within the installations.

Airports in London, Japan, and the United States are just some of the terminals that already have robotic units to perform different tasks that help to streamline the development of the same. 

It is estimated that by 2028 the market for robots in airports will reach US$2,108 million, according to Research & Markets. This means that the growth of such technology will grow exponentially year after year. 

New smart strategies…

After turbulent years due to Covid-19, the airline industry was forced to look for alternatives to weather the ravages of flight groundings, massive layoffs, and financial decline. But, amid the formula for a new take-off, they found the benefits of digital transformation. 

These brought unbeatable benefits to lift the sector back on its feet. Among them were electronic vaccination ballots, the use of software for airport administrative management, facial recognition and artificial intelligence for passenger control, and more. 

That is why now, robots are joining this formula to enhance the needs of air terminals. 

Robots, a good decision? 

Some of the functions that robots fulfill in airports can be found: 

  • Strengthen security in terminals, with the ability to prevent dangerous events. 
  • Thanks to artificial intelligence they can detect prohibited or dangerous artifacts such as explosives. 
  • Manage passenger transit, boarding pass scanning, and more. 
  • Keep cleaning tasks unimpeded. 

These are just some of the tasks that are currently being taken advantage of, but, this will not stop here as the world of robotics will begin to grow exponentially and will be increasingly implemented around the world. 

Read more about the aeronautics sector in our blog.

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.