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. 

What can be expected for shipping in 2023?

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In the last three years, international trade has been affected by the decline in the shipping sector. Which is the main means of transporting cargo that has been affected throughout the supply chain, causing a rise in prices and triggering the so-called container crisis in different regions of the world.

 By 2023, this trend is expected to continue due to economic uncertainty and the different geopolitical conflicts, together with the reduction in the demand for Chinese manufacturing by the United States, which has caused China to cancel the departure of its ships to the USA and Europe. 

This also has a direct impact on Latin America, which has been affected by delivery times and container price increases.

 The shipping industry has been affected since around 2008 when the global economic crisis put its financial viability at risk. However, there have been other variables that have gradually had negative effects on the functioning of the supply chain; such as the increase in fuel and increased competition from both maritime and non-maritime companies with air and rail transport and the Covid-19 pandemic that came to aggravate the situation.

 This crisis has affected the financial position of shipping companies, which have been forced to adapt their operations to new scenarios that allow them to lower their costs, renew their services and become more autonomous. To this end, efforts are underway to revolutionize the industry with technological tools for digital transformation to help create smart ports that continue to operate even when there is a pandemic or the development of green fuels to help reduce the environmental impact of the industry.

 Efforts are aimed at investing in supply chains to make ports, maritime fleets, and connections more prepared for future crises. Improve their service offerings and stay in the game, making strategic changes and transforming a very traditional industry into opportunities for improvements with more efficient processes and full utilization of all its resources.

 

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.

 

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.

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.

 

Port of Singapore a world leader

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At the end of the year, the Asian Freight, Logistics, and Supply Chain (Aflas) awards were held to recognize the best seaports in the world. 

The AFLAS annually brings together the most important companies in the logistics, supply chain, and cargo sectors. The best ports worldwide are awarded, taking into consideration innovation, service, quality, and consistency, as well as reliability. 

This year, those in charge of selecting the best suppliers awarded the Port of Singapore as the winner of “Best Global Seaport”, due to its efficiency in the sector for complying in efficiency with the supply chain and being cataloged as a leader in maritime transformation. In addition, the Port of Singapore was also ranked as the Best Port in Asia for the 34th time. 

Worldwide recognition 

As mentioned above, this award, held annually, also recognizes the work of ports worldwide, such as the Port of Hamburg, which won “Best Seaport – Europe” for the third consecutive year. 

On the other hand, other ports were awarded by region and different categories, among which the following stand out: 

  • Best seaport in the Middle East: Port of Jebel Ali.
  • The best seaport in North America, the East, and the Gulf Coast region is the Port of Houston.
  • Best seaport in Oceania: is the Port of Auckland.
  • Best global shipping line: CMA CGM.
  • Best Logistics Service Provider – Sea: CEVA Logistics.
  • Best green seaport: HAROPA, Port of Le Havre.

 Port of Singapore, the leader at sea

 The Port of Singapore is known worldwide in the maritime sector in areas such as competitiveness, reliability, and efficiency. 

 In addition, it has a privileged geographical location that facilitates communication with routes all over the world. Also, it has managed to position itself as one of the ports that use Artificial Intelligence and other technologies to manage its port services. 

 This is just a glimpse of the broad spectrum of the maritime world and the efforts to carry forward the technological transformation in the sector. 

 

These and other news about the maritime and aviation world at GP NAUTICALS. 

 

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.

Ports digitization: Application of digital twins in the maritime industry

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The maritime industry has always been a sector considered traditional, however, new digital technologies open an opportunity for the modernization of the port sector that increasingly faces greater challenges in terms of resource management, infrastructure, management of meteorological events, and even changes in consumer habits.

 

To provide greater reliability in the services offered and to deal with any disagreement that could threaten to paralyze the sector, many ports worldwide have chosen to join the era of digitalization, investing a large part of their budgets in technological tools that allow them not only to streamline their processes. But rather to create smart ports that provide more and better services at each step of their logistics chain.

 

The creation of digital twins in the port context allows, among many other things, to generate impact study models in any area of the logistics chain or the community and thus predict the best alternatives for the development of a specific niche or new services. All this digitally tested in different scenarios and without real risks, which facilitates decision making, cost reduction and especially implementation times.

 

Nowadays, digital twins are one of the most used technologies in almost all sectors, due to their analysis potential to improve the behavior of systems, processes, services, and simulations of any type of assets of any company. 

 

The crisis generated by the Covid-19 pandemic helped accelerate the implementation of this type of information technologies since they ensure the permanence of companies in the market, but above all, because many sectors evidenced the importance of data analysis, remote monitoring of activities, and prediction of future scenarios.

 

Most of the implementations of digital twins are based on Big Data and are combined with artificial intelligence methods since it enables the dynamic and updated representation in real time of a real and/or physical system, but being itself a controlled and safe environment for experimentation, which allows to detect failures, plan maintenance tasks, avoid delays or unexpected stops and best of all is that you can build and test new scenarios, more efficient and agile; without risking new investments.

 

The implementation of a digital twin in the port sector, not only allows a significant improvement in the decision-making of shipping companies, port operators, and other ecosystem players but also facilitates the creation of regulations that encourage the integration of transport supply chain operations and collaborative work.

 

Having a digital twin model in the maritime sector influences 3 main areas such as fleet, port, and terminal optimization. Ecosystem stakeholder analysis and end-to-end supply chain optimization.

 

Digital transformation brings with it a disruption of business strategies, plans for a cultural change, how things are done, and how the new processes will be to compete in a new digital environment, which leads us to understand that we are facing the technological revolution of the maritime industry.