Singapore’s Changi Airport is switching to biometric technology, which should speed up the security process, giving travelers more time to explore the airport. 

Courtesy of Jewel Changi Airport.

With the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, a terraced tropical garden with more than 900 trees and 60,000 shrubs, and a walking path dotted with life-size dinosaur sculptures, Singapore’s Changi Airport is consistently ranked the best in the world. And soon, it’ll also be one of the most high-tech.

Starting sometime in the first half of 2024, you won’t need to show your passport if you’re traveling through Singapore. All you’ll need to pass through security and immigration is your face—the airport is switching to biometric technology and facial recognition technology instead of having agents physically check travel documents to move travelers through the airport more quickly.

“Biometrics will be used to create a single token of authentication that will be employed at various automated touchpoints, from bag-drop to immigration and boarding,” the country’s communications minister, Josephine Teo, said in a speech to Singapore’s parliament on September 18. “This will reduce the need for passengers to repeatedly present their travel documents at these touchpoints, allowing for more seamless and convenient processing.”

In just August 2023, more than 5.15 million passengers transited through Changi, which is still shy of the nearly 6 million passengers the airport saw in the same month in 2019. As the tourism industry continues to recover from the effects of the pandemic, that number is expected to rise, especially after the completion of Changi’s Terminal 5 (slated for around the mid-2030s).

“Our immigration systems must be able to manage this high and growing volume of travelers efficiently and provide a positive clearance experience while ensuring our security,” Teo said.

Already, Changi uses the technology for automated lanes at immigration. And while you won’t need to flash your passport in the Singapore airport once the new tech goes into effect, you will need to bring it on your travels, as it will still be necessary when you land in another country and upon returning home from abroad. (And it’s a good idea to keep on hand in case customs officers need to double-check your documents.)

Singapore isn’t the only airport that is increasing its reliance on biometric technology and facial recognition. Those flying Emirates through Dubai (specifically those using the Terminal 3) can board their aircraft with just facial recognition by the end of the year.

Europe is working on a new tech-driven Entry/Exit System (EES) that will keep track of visitors as they cross borders. And in the United States, biometric face scanners are already in use at Global Entry kiosks, and some airlines (like United, American, Delta, and JetBlue) are testing facial recognition technology for check-in, bag drops, and boarding at select gates.

source : https://www.afar.com/magazine/singapores-changi-airport-will-soon-go-passport-free

Hamad International Airport is elevating its passengers’ airport experience with the introduction of innovative digital wayfinding. QR codes are leveraged to provide an easy to use wayfinding solution through different digital touchpoints located across the terminal.

Whether trying to navigate from ORCHARD to LampBear, wanting to try one of the many dining or retail experiences at the airport, or finding a departure gate, the aim is that passengers will experience frictionless wayfinding.

The QR Codes are available across the airport through Flight Information Display Screens, Passenger Digital Assistance Kiosks and other key touchpoints. The new digital solution is compatible with all mobile devices and passengers can seamlessly connect to Hamad International Airport’s next-generation Wi-Fi to use the service.

“We are constantly reviewing and evaluating our multiple digital touchpoints for passengers to ensure we meet their requirements,” said Suhail Kadri, Senior Vice President of Technology and Innovation, Hamad International Airport. “By investing and utilising the latest innovative technological solutions and listening to global passenger requirements at our airport, we will continue to set and exceed industry standards.”

Digital Concierges located at ORCHARD include information about retail and F&B offerings, flight information, relaxation and rejuvenation options, and attractions at the airport. Travellers can scan the QR code to navigate to their chosen point of interest on their mobile.

The airport has also introduced the Passenger Digital Assistance Kiosks, which are located at the North Plaza and around the iconic LampBear to further enhance the passenger experience.

As part of its digital transformation strategy, Hamad International Airport is constantly investing in the latest technology and innovative solutions designed to “optimise operations and provide a seamless and enhanced airport journey for passengers”.

source : https://www.futuretravelexperience.com/2023/08/hamad-airport-launches-new-navigation-and-digital-customer-service-solution-for-seamless-and-enhanced-airport-journey/

Electric vehicles are slowly catching up with combustion-engined cars, which explains why EV charging stations are already being built all over the US. Airports are starting to adapt to the EV industry as well as they add autonomous robots that can charge your EV right where you parked.

(Photo : EV Safe Charge)

ZiGGY the EV Charger

The advanced mobile EV charging robot will be placed in airports in the US, with the Dallas Forth Worth (DFW) International Airport being the first to soon have them. This allows for a more convenient way for EV owners to charge their vehicles while on a flight.

Through the EV charger’s phone app, drivers can book a robot for them to use, which will then guide them to the parking spot they selected. As they head to the marked location, the robot will also save the parking space for the user to keep it from being occupied.

It will do so by rolling through to the spot reserved and waiting for the driver to arrive. Once the driver is near the booked space, the ZiGGY robot will simply roll out so the EV could take its place, and the EV charger would position itself behind the car.

Once the driver has parked, they would then have to confirm the activation. Based on the demonstration video, it can be done through a QR code. Once that’s done, the driver can start charging, and the robot will alert them through the app once the car is fully charged.

ZiGGY is developed by the company EV Safe Charge. Its founder and CEO Caradoc Ehrenhal stated that due to the robot’s innovative flexibility to reach every car in a parking lot, DFW chose to display the tech, as reported by Interesting Engineering.

DFW Executive Vice President of Innovation, Paul Puopolo expressed that the airport is aware of EVs becoming a part of their future, and so they are finding the right technology solutions to meet the future challenges, which he stated was a major focus for their team.

Given that ZiGGY is portable, it’s likely that it or other technologies like it will be seen in other places as well aside from airports. They can be useful for parking spaces in retailers like Walmart, which already has plans to install EV charging networks in several locations.

Why Portable EV Chargers Might Be Better

EV charging stations are already being set up in various locations to accommodate EV drivers who need a quick boost in the middle of a trip. However, there are parking structures that don’t have enough space for the equipment.

Since a portable EV charger can just roll to the parking spot, there’s no need to worry about allotting space for the charger. A mobile robot will also solve the limitations that a stationary charging station will have.

The robot itself will return to its station once the electric vehicle has already been charged completely. This means that other EVs won’t have to wait for the vehicle parked in a charging spot to leave before they get their turn.

source : https://www.itechpost.com/articles/117776/20230602/autonomous-robotic-ev-chargers-will-arrive-airports-soon.htm

At Aviation Festival Asia, Mr Ayman Aboabah, CEO King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) joined renowned travel industry analyst Henry Harteveldt for a keynote interview. During the conversation, Aboabah discussed the airport’s plans for a seamless passenger journey which focuses on innovation as well as financial and environmental sustainability. In line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals, the airport is preparing for a rapid scaling up of demand expecting to grow over 2.5 times within the next seven years. A significant component of this demand comes from religious travellers. Approximately 40 per cent of the predicted passenger traffic is formed of religious travellers, with the airport acting as a gateway for pilgrims to the Holy Mosques (Hajj and Umrah). The interview highlights the varying requirements and expectations of religious travellers, many of whom may be first time flyers, people from small towns, and some who do not engage with technology on the same level as the average traveller. Consequently, this presents KAIA with a range to consider when crafting the best travel experience for all passengers. Aboabah explains during the conversation that despite these travellers speaking hundreds of languages, coming from all over the world, harbouring differences in education and mindset, they all share a common goal; the desire for seamless travel.

For more information see: https://wp.me/pdIrRr-5Kp

BYJEAN CARMELA LIM 2023-03-10

MONOPOLY919 / Shutterstock.com

We have often wondered what airports will look like in the future. But with the fast development of new technology, the future airports that we envisioned seem to be gradually becoming a reality.

From advanced biometric capture software and shoe scanners to immersive retail experiences, AeroTime takes a closer look at five newly implemented innovations that are coming to an airport near you.

Biometric technology 

Image credit: metamorworks / Shutterstock.com

Biometric technology has been around since 1969 when the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) pushed for the use of automated fingerprint identification. The first fingerprint scanners were introduced in 1975, and in the 1990s and 2000s, biometric security authentication is commonplace in companies and institutions. 

In 2001, United States legislation mandated the use of biometrics at airports for entry and exit following the 9/11 attacks. Since then, the use of biometrics, particularly hand and fingerprint scanning, have been widely used in airports worldwide. 

The pandemic accelerated the development of non-contact biometric authentication to facilitate a more hygienic and seamless experience for passengers. The International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) 2021 global passenger survey showed that 73% of passengers were willing to share their biometric data to improve airport processes (up from 46% in 2019).

According to the Société Internationale de Télécommunications Aéronautiques (SITA) 2021 Air Transport IT Insights, nearly a quarter of airports worldwide had begun to invest in biometric solutions and airline investment in biometric boarding is expected to rise 60% by 2024. 

Two notable airlines that use contactless biometrics for its passenger processing are Emirates and British Airways.

Emirates’ biometric path at Dubai International Airport (DXB) launched in October 2020 and is open to Emirates passengers traveling from and through DXB airport. 

Using the latest biometric technology, a mix of facial and iris recognition, Emirates passengers can now check in for their flight, complete immigration formalities, enter the airline lounge, and board flights, simply by strolling through the airport. Biometric data can be collected without the need for passengers to even stop. 

In November 2022, British Airways launched a “smart technology trial”, where a group of passengers were invited to scan their faces, passports and boarding passes on their smartphone or tablet ahead of travel. The information was kept safe and secure. 

When the trial passengers arrived at London Heathrow’s Terminal 5,  Smart Bio-Pod cameras verified their identity in under three seconds, allowing them to keep their passport safely in their pocket until they reached their destination. 

Mobile passport control app 

Image credit: Jacob Lund / Shutterstock.com

Some of the latest airport security innovations can literally be kept in the palm of a hand.

Launched in March 2023, the US Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Mobile Passport Control (MPC) program is now a mobile phone app that allows eligible passengers flying to the US from Canada to avoid the customs queue. 

According to the CBP, travelers who successfully use the MPC app will no longer have to complete a paper form or use an automated passport control (APC) kiosk. As a result, travelers may experience shorter wait times, less congestion and more efficient processing.

The app can be downloaded for free from the Apple App and Google Play stores. This technology is made possible because of secure information sharing. Travelers will be prompted to create a profile with their passport information, including the traveler’s name, gender, date of birth, and country of citizenship.

 It is currently available for eligible travelers to use upon arrival at MPC approved sites.

Next generation explosives trace detection

Image credit: Suppawit Rmmabut / Shutterstock.com

The MIT Lincoln Laboratory is a US-government funded research and development center chartered to apply advanced technology towards national security. 

In February 2023, the lab announced that its researchers are working to develop an explosive detection system that would work in tandem with a canine fleet to improve current airport security systems. 

Researchers are developing a machine that can mimic canine abilities to detect concealed explosives, a ‘superpower’ of four-legged friends that airports have relied on for decades.

The team’s research builds on the laboratory’s ongoing work to create and use a mass spectrometer to help train bomb-sniffing dogs, a project that is supported by the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) Detection Canine Program. 

Researchers are using the spectrometer to measure explosive vapors in order to understand the requirements for creating an operational explosive detection system. This system would then work in tandem with the canine fleet to improve current airport security systems.

The laboratory’s end goal is to build a non-contact explosives detection instrument through vapor detection. 

This technology will certainly be useful, especially when passengers check in baggage that contains explosives. 

Shoe scanner technology

Image credit: d13 / Shutterstock.com

While the technology is still in development, it is one that many will be relieved to see implemented in real life.

In 2010, a CNN survey showed passengers dreaded removing shoes at airport security the most. Although the survey is more than a decade old, passengers in 2022 still find pat-downs and shoe removal at airport security to be a humiliating experience.  

The US Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) has licensed technology for a shoe scanner developed in 2021 to Liberty Defense Holdings, a concealed weapons detection company based in Georgia.

According to the developers, the scanner allows shoes to be screened without the need for passengers to remove them. The millimeter-wave scanners use advanced imaging to detect concealed objects in footwear. Passengers will be asked to step on a low-profile imaging platform for two seconds while electromagnetic waves generate an image of their shoes.

The PNNL said that the shoe scanner could improve wait times at security kiosks by as much as 15% to 20% by eliminating the time it takes for travelers to remove their shoes.

Immersive retail experiences

Image credit: globalcosmeticsnews.com

Passengers can expect more immersive retail experiences at airports with the use of Virtual and Augmented Reality technology. 

A 2017 study carried out by the University of Southern Mississippi showed that emotions are involved when people shop at airports. Leisure travelers often feel happy and buy souvenirs to share with friends back home and also to give themselves a reminder of their holiday. Boredom at the airport can also bring passengers to shop in order to kill time.

So airport retailers are taking advantage of advanced technology to further improve conversion and sales. In November 2021, ahead of the holiday season, LHR airport partnered with Chanel, Dufry and JCDecaux to launch a No 5 Spaceship activation in the departure lounge at Terminal 5.

The immersive experience included a “Find No 5” game for customers, which sells the brand’s fragrance line as well as a curated offering of skincare and cosmetics. 

An augmented reality (AR) digital screen also allowed shoppers to virtually try on products.

According to Future Travel Experience, old-fashioned “bricks and mortar” shopping is in decline and such experiential retail tactics could be the answer to increasing conversion and yield at the airport. 

source : https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/five-airport-innovations-that-will-make-travel-easier-in-2023

SOUTH KOREA. Airports Council International (ACI) World today announced a new level in its Airport Customer Experience Accreditation programme and revealed the first airport to reach it: Incheon International in South Korea.

Since ACI launched the world’s first Airport Customer Experience Accreditation programme in 2019, 45 airports around the world have joined the programme to improve their customer experience management.

Incheon Airport President & CEO Kyung Wook Kim: Pledges to adopt new and advanced technologies to lift the consumer experience further at the Korean hub

Incheon – one of a few Level 3-accredited airports in 2020 – joined the piloting phase of Level 4 accreditation to contribute to its development. Accreditation included site verification which starts from Level 4 – this was conducted virtually due to the constraints of the pandemic – leading to Incheon being recognised as the first level 4 accredited airport in the world.

“Incheon already has a strong record in customer experience management, and we were grateful for their participation in the pilot of Level 4 of the Airport Customer Experience Accreditation programme,” said ACI World Director General Luis Felipe de Oliveira. “As the aviation industry continues to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and prepares to support a sustained recovery, meeting the changing needs and expectations of customers will be ever more important and we congratulate Incheon on being the first airport in the world to achieve this level of accreditation.”

Incheon International has ranked highly in the ACI Airport Service Quality rankings over many years (T2 pictured)

Incheon Airport President & CEO Kyung Wook Kim said: “We are proud to be recognised as the first Level 4 accredited airport in the world, and it is our honour to participate and contribute to the development of the Level 4 – Airport Customer Experience Accreditation programme. The programme provides a true 360° view of airport customer experience management. Incheon will continue to improve its best-in-class customer experience by providing a new and pleasant experience to customers and by adopting advanced technologies in all areas of airport operations based on innovative thinking.”

The accreditation programme offers a common definition and framework for customer experience management. ACI said that it helps airports to assess and improve their management of the traveller experience and to identify new practices that can be developed to progress through the levels of accreditation. Accreditation at each level also serves as a marketing tool for airports to show their commitment to improving customer experience.

The programme is designed with five levels of accreditation and the pilot phase of the final level – Level 5 – is expected in 2022.

source : https://www.moodiedavittreport.com/incheon-international-named-worlds-first-airport-customer-experience-level-4-accredited-location/