What are airport taxes and how do they work?

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Surely you have noticed that when you purchase an airline ticket, there are different prices, which add up to a stipulated amount for your ticket.

Beyond a simple flight ticket, a specific amount is always reflected when you purchase your ticket.

One of the amounts that appear on your flight ticket is estimated by the transportation service, that is, the airline. However, there is another price that corresponds to the popular airport tax. 

A fee is different from a tax since a fee corresponds to a fixed amount or tax that is added to the provision of a service. In this case, the airport tax is the amount fixed for the use of airport facilities. 

This fee is set by the government and the airline is then responsible for paying the airport tax to the airport. 

The airport tax is charged on both domestic and international flights and is reflected on the departure ticket. For example, if you purchase your ticket through a web page, where not only the airport tax appears, but also other established fees. 

This amount is not the same in all airports worldwide, it varies according to governmental stipulations, that is, the price of the fee is different at El Dorado Airport, at Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport, and so on, worldwide. 

Secure and optimal administration 

That is why airport management systems must be agile and optimal to ensure a safe and timely collection relationship. Nowadays, there are different management software. 

However, at GP Nauticals we provide specialized software for the management of aviation administration. 

PAY AIMS in conjunction with AERO AIMS, is software that is integrated to perform billing at the airport level. 

AERO AIMS, is in charge of managing all airport revenues, including the airport above tax, to subsequently generate an invoice. 

Then, with PAY AIMS, the final step is to generate the payment of the total collection or the collection from the airport to the airline. 

This way, you will be able to integrate several services in one to optimize time and minimize the margin of error. If you want to know more, please visit our products section. 

 

 

 

Technologies for airport management

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In our articles, we talk about the digital transformation in the airport sector and the benefits it brings, to  passengers and also to the administration. 

The passenger’s opinion is more critical, from the entrance to an airport, the user becomes the judge who will give the final verdict, to evaluate improvements in the airport sector. 

This is reflected in the results provided year after year by Skytrax, which not only rewards airlines but also airports. 

That is why, we see that airports continue to break new ground and go beyond barriers to provide comfort, confidence, and punctuality from start to finish. 

A sample of what we talked is the Passenger Terminal Expo, which this year returned to Paris to bring it new trends, innovations, and materials to improve the experience at airports worldwide. 

Technological proposals on demand…

This year has the particularity that the technological leap is imminent. From Artificial Intelligence proposals, intelligent surveillance, and interactive kiosks to easily find boarding gates and terminals. 

Intelligent baggage handling logistics and, many more offerings are just some of the challenges that port management will face in the coming years. 

This results in a wide range of options to further improve the technological development structures at large airports. 

And it gives rise to those airports that are still in the process of development, which can join these endless technological options that ensure sustainability, durability, and confidence over time. 

That is why, at GP Nauticals we rely on developing specialized software to provide the port administration, a window that allows us to manage payments, collections, and everything related to billing and administration in a simple way. 

In addition, our SUITE is integrated to improve the performance and management of an airport, thanks to the analysis and reports that allow you to visualize results firsthand. 

Meet PAY AIMS, AERO AIMS, and all the SUITE that GP Nauticals have to facilitate and optimize the time of administrative procedures. 

How is the security at airports?

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Airports are one of the most regulated places in terms of security systems, but how do they manage to control the high amount of luggage and hundreds of travelers at the same time? In this article we will review how the different types of airport screening work and some of their most common practices to make their facilities a safe place for their customers and workers.

 

Concerning passengers, the first checkpoint they must go through is the one before entering the restricted area where they must check their boarding pass. Either employing a scanner that reads the code printed on their boarding pass or directly on their cell phone. It is expected that soon this control will be carried out using biometrics with facial recognition systems, as is already being done in many airports as a test. 

 

After entering the restricted area, passengers must go through a second checkpoint, where their hand luggage will be checked by a second scanner. At this point, the objective is to check that no passenger or employee can access the terminals with prohibited or potentially dangerous objects. For them, passengers must introduce their hand luggage, shoes, and other belongings, and using X-rays will be able to detect any restricted object.

 

This type of scanner at this checkpoint manages to greatly streamline the transit and entry to the facilities since this control should be done manually and individualized. 

 

But what about checked baggage? While passengers enter the terminal, the bags they have previously checked-in are also subjected to several security controls. Once they are received by the airline, the bags pass through the “cheeks yard”, which is nothing more than conveyor belts that take the luggage through 5 different types of control and allow them to avoid dangerous situations such as explosions or fires.

 

Once they have entered the terminal, the controls do not stop, passengers must pass through one or another checkpoint where their data is verified, especially before entering the aircraft. For this reason, airport security personnel play a fundamental role in risk detection and are a key part of the whole security system in the airport. They require very specific training and constant renewal, especially because this area is constantly renewing its technologies and, today they can rely on multiple devices for early detection of risks. 

 

For this reason, GP Nauticals has developed a software called Pax AIMS that allows airports to keep track, control, and audit all passengers entering the airport facilities, deploying fixed or mobile checkpoints and allowing concessionaires to validate boarding lists.

 

If you are interested in learning more about the company or any of its AIMS Suite products, you can visit its website https://gpnauticals.com/ or contact any of its consultants.

 

Technology and Big Data improve the experience at airports around the world

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These are times of great changes and with them, we have to adapt and do things differently. However, I would dare to say that the airport sector has rethought from many angles the way it had been operating and providing its services. Now we can find “super modern” airports where the priority is to provide a positive travel experience by making passenger traffic more efficient, but how did they achieve this?

The development of specific technology for the industry, and big data have been a fundamental key to having more efficient airport management. Since the analysis of this data allows them to predict and measure the movement of passengers, determine schedules, routes, and travelers’ crowds to manage resources more optimally.

Airport technology trends aimed at improving the experience and satisfaction of travelers are leveraged on mobile devices supported by the cloud, which allows modernizing the operational and logistical environment of airport facilities.

A good example of this type of technology is Seeking, implemented in Barajas T4 and El Prat T1. Which allows the airport to know how passengers move around its facilities, even if they visit the Duty-Free and VIP lounges if they connect to the airport WI-FI and even send relevant information. In this way, they provide an anonymous digital identity and track each of their actions, being able to analyze the behavior of their passengers and detect new business niches.

The operational evolution of airports with the analysis of this data in real-time allows greater planning in terms of infrastructure management, which translates into greater convenience for the traveler. 

If a flight arrives at the airport and has a later connection, it could be more easily planned to provide a nearby gate to avoid travelers from transit long distances. Thus shortening the waiting time of the plane on the ground optimizing the service and providing a better user experience and this can only be achieved with data collection and analysis.

Currently and as mentioned above, much-specialized software is being developed for the aviation industry, as is the case of GP Nauticals Suite, which focuses mainly on optimizing airport management and facilitating the collection and analysis of information in each of its areas and with minimal investment. 

If you want to learn more about GP Nauticals and see all the products available, you can do so by visiting their website or contacting a specialist in the area.

A new moment for America

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Facing the new times has undoubtedly been a great challenge for the aviation sector. Worldwide, recovery is expected to be imminent this year. 

So far this year, restrictions have been lifted, sanitary processes remain, but freedom to travel is becoming more common. People are gradually returning to “normal” life, and airports are looking for new strategies to attract traffic in the sector. 

The recovery has been somewhat delayed due to conflicts in Europe, recent variants of the virus in China, and inflationary pressure. This has led to further restrictions in Europe and Asia. 

North America takes off

The new horizons are clear for the American continent, as air traffic increases exponentially, and it is estimated that, in the case of North America, it will be the region with the greatest recovery worldwide, with 97.79% of demand compared to 2019, according to Bain & Company. 

Like the United States, Mexico is the other country that will see early aeronautical recovery. This is because domestic and international flight operations were maintained and did not restrict air traffic. 

This allowed the impact on tourism to take off considerably after one season. It is estimated that other countries in recovery are Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. 

In the rest of the world, according to Bain & Company statistics, it is estimated that pre pandemic traffic figures will be seen again by the second quarter of 2025. In 2022 it is expected that “the recovery will be 65% and 73% of traffic at pre-pandemic levels”.

New technologies 

Despite the long wait, airports worldwide are committed to improving and embracing new technologies. For the aeronautical sector, finding new ways to adapt has been fundamental in its recovery. 

Part of this is the automation of administrative processes to improve the user and customer experience. This is where GP Nauticals, joins the automation of processes with a SUITE of products dedicated to the aeronautical and maritime sector. 

PAX AIMS is one of our main products which will allow you to audit the number of passengers that circulate in an airport. Cumbersome processes are avoided and waiting times are optimized. This product can be easily integrated with other AIMS SUITE products.

 

If you want to know more, please visit the products section. 

 

The future of passenger traffic

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The operation and development of an airport are paramount to avoid delays and inconveniences in air traffic. The communication between airlines and airports must be effective to minimize mishaps. 

The participation of both plays a fundamental role to respect the regulations stipulated for air transportation. And keep the management and transit of passengers as impeccable as possible. 

Behind good management and development, there is an infinite amount of paperwork, permits, invoices, contracts, and transactions that the passenger does not perceive.

Goodbye to paper

Nowadays, almost all processes are automated. However, some processes are always left aside, and are fundamental for payment management processes.  

Have you ever wondered how many people pass through an airport daily or perhaps how many flights take place worldwide? Keeping track manually is not entirely feasible due to the number of boarding passes or paperwork you see daily.

At GP Nauticals AIMS SUITE we have created PAX AIMS, the passenger control system that will allow both the airport and the airlines to have accurate control of the number of people transiting through the airport. 

In addition, to carry out a database that allows both the airport and the airline to be able to audit effectively and make the invoices for the collection of fees and services, in less time and automatically. Without the need to make a paper count with paper and then filter the information. 

Finally, time is reduced, there is better control of passenger data, and invoices are issued in an optimized way. 

How do PAX AIMS work?

PAX AIMS technology is software that is implemented through an optical reader device, mobile or fixed that must have an internet connection. This gives you the facility to adapt at various points of the airport to keep track of passengers entering the airport.

This device is subject to the IATA protocol, where you can make use of a barcode or QR code to scan the boarding pass and obtain accurate data. 

For the passenger, there will be no extra control. For the airport and airlines, it will be easier to keep track of incoming passengers. 

Once the scan is done, that information goes directly to the airline and the airport to avoid cumbersome processes. 

It should be noted that with PAX AIMS when the service is implemented, there is a training manual for customers. In this way, there is no need for an external provider. Everything is done quickly and easily. 

Want to know more about PAX AIMS? Visit the products section and see what we have to offer.