can cut down time spent at security terminals, while intelligent machines can guide travellers to shopping discounts or food outlets. Meanwhile, machine learning can predict traveller behaviours to send them shopping offers available in real-time. Essentially, technology creates opportunities to increase employment across airports, increase passenger footfall and contribute to the economy of cities.

Whether its baggage handling, use of chatbots or digital interaction with travellers through push notifications, any new airports being constructed will have to be future-ready to keep up with the pace of the digital transformation.

But how soon could we see these innovations start to really help the passenger experience? In this edition of Inside AB, Jeremy Lawrence and Shayan Shakeel discuss the views of Rajendra Pawar and Sudhir Singh from NIIT Technologies, who outlined their vision for a better airport experience for travelers.

For more on the story visit: http://www.arabianbusiness.com/transp…

Website: http://www.arabianbusiness.com/

The airport giant Groupe ADP has announced Charles de Gaulle will become the first airport in France to trial autonomous shuttle busses.

TRAILBLAZERS: From left to right: Christophe Sapet, Navya; Youenn Dupuis, Keolis; Edward Arkwright, ADP

The vehicles will connect its suburban train station with the Environmental and Sustainable Development Resource Centre and Groupe ADP’s headquarters.

Keolis, the operator, has joined forces with Navya, the French autonomous shuttle designer, to carry out the pilot project until July 2018.

This initial trial represents an important milestone in Groupe ADP’s strategy to become a key player in the autonomous vehicle ecosystem. The itinerary of the two shuttles has been designed to test how automated vehicles will behave on a high-traffic roadway, as well as how they merge and pass within an extremely dense environment that includes many pedestrians.

An intelligent road infrastructure system that uses traffic signals to communicate with the shuttles has been set up, a world first, in order to optimise the crossing of the road in complete
safety. Feedback from users (employees and passengers) is also one of the trial’s determining factors.

Charles de Gaulle’s airport city is a key area for the development of autonomous vehicles.

Edward Arkwright, Deputy CEO of Groupe ADP, said: “Autonomous transport services will play a key role in our aim to create a new generation of connected airports. With this first trial, Groupe ADP is paving the way for developing this technology within our airport networks in France and abroad. In these constrained environments, autonomous technology is a lever for optimising infrastructures for of a new mobility offer.

“Our airports’ mobility needs are quite considerable – between the various terminals, between carparks and departure areas, or even airside – and could lead us to develop an autonomous vehicle fleet in the future.

“Within the framework of our Innovation Hub programme, the future of mobility is being built in the heart of the airport city.”

The shuttles

The two shuttles, accessible to persons with reduced mobility, can carry up to 11 seated and four standing passengers. Each can reach 25 km/h on a 700-metre-long track. The service operates from 07:30 am to 08:00 pm and is free. An on-demand shuttle service is available by scanning a QR code with a smartphone.

“Keolis and the ADP Group have been working closely for several years now in order to develop mobility services adapted to the airport zones of the Paris region,”  said Youenn Dupuis, Keolis’ Deputy CEO for Greater Paris region. “Keolis is proud to be supporting the ADP Group in their new autonomous vehicle trial, which enhances the range of services that we already provide them with, including the management of the Roissypôle bus station, the shuttle buses for Orly Airport, as well as our partnership with Le Bus Direct, a premium coach service between Paris and Orly and Charles de Gaulle airports.

“This is Keolis’ second autonomous shuttle project in the Greater Paris region, following the launch of a first trial in Paris’ La Defense business district in July 2017, with the local transport authority, Ile-de-France Mobilités. The Keolis Group is accelerating its transformation into new mobility solutions, and this new trial strengthens our status as a pioneer in autonomous mobility, with more than 90,000 passengers carried on our autonomous shuttles since September 2016.”

NAVYA CEO Christophe Sapet added: “NAVYA is delighted to be marking out the airport of the future together with Groupe ADP and Keolis. The airport of the future is based on smart and specially adapted mobility solutions that are able to communicate with the infrastructure that we have set up at Roissypôle with Groupe ADP.

“Airports are areas where the traffic is extremely concentrated and so it is really important to manage and optimise the flow. The aim of this trial is from now on, to provide a service that takes into account future deployments. Once again, NAVYA is showing that its fleets of autonomous shuttles are just as suited to improving the daily running of airports as they are to improving the overall passenger experience.”

source : https://tinyurl.com/y9qcja9e

Interviews with G.C. Phong, Singapore Airlines, C. Mueller, Emirates, T. Gebremariam, Ethiopian, R. Gustafson, SAS at IATA’s 73rd Annual General Meeting

Olympics sponsors showcase innovative tech products as 2020 Games draw near

Kyodo

For sponsor companies, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics is a golden opportunity to develop and showcase new technologies, not only to impress foreign visitors but also to provide a legacy for future generations.

With everything from a mist curtain designed to cool people off in the oppressive summer heat to hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and robots delivering refreshing drinks, companies are sparing no expense as they gear up for a marketing bonanza.

Major electronics maker Panasonic Corp. aims to do its part to spread omotenashi (the “spirit of hospitality”) with its “Green Air Conditioner,” which it is testing this summer.

The air conditioner sprays a very fine and dry mist, which evaporates quickly and brings down the temperature in a semi-enclosed space surrounded by a stream of air dubbed the “air curtain.”

Unlike conventional mist cooling systems, objects like newspapers or eyeglasses will not get wet and makeup does not wash off, according to Panasonic.

The aim is to help curb the urban heat island effect in Tokyo during the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which will run from late July through early September.

The company is testing the air conditioners at bus stops, rest areas and similar spots in Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, until Sept. 30.

“Hospi,” another product from Panasonic, is a robot that can deliver drinks to customers and clear away dishes from tables at airports or in hotel lobbies. The robot navigates around people and obstacles using high-performance sensors and mapping information stored in its memory.

Demonstrations of Hospi were held at Narita airport and the nearby ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel earlier this year. Panasonic hopes to see Hospi robots guiding hotel guests to their rooms and also providing room service.

Panasonic is also inventing an automated electric-powered robot cart that can assist disabled people in wheelchairs with their luggage. The carts will follow behind with the person’s bags.

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. has been developing new ways for spectators to view sports using its “Kirari!” immersive 3-D tele-presence technology.

The system can transmit life-size images of athletes from the stadium to the user’s remote location in real time, creating the illusion of being directly in front of the action.

Every motion — every muscle and sinew — of an athlete can be observed close up, and even the cheers from spectators seem to be right there with the user in the hologram-like experience.

Kenichi Minami, chief researcher in charge of the project at NTT, said, “We see a wealth of opportunities in this business, expecting the system to be used during traditional arts performances, music concerts and other events.”

Toyota Motor Corp. has a blueprint for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles or buses, which only emit water, to ride around the Olympic venues in an official capacity.

The development comes in line with the Tokyo organizing committee’s goal of making the Olympics a model of a “hydrogen society.”

Toyota has already delivered two fuel cell buses to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and aims to raise the number to about 100 by providing some to bus companies.

The automaker also hopes to promote the Toyota Mirai — the world’s first mass-produced hydrogen fuel cell vehicle that went on sale in December 2014 — to Olympic officials and visitors. Seen as a wave of the future by Toyota, the car has not yet seen widespread commercial use.

Toyota is also set to unveil its automated driving systems.

Masaaki Ito, general manager of Toyota’s Olympic and Paralympic division, said, “We plan to propose a society well supplied by various vehicles and give visitors a sense of what the future holds.”

Although the Olympics will serve as a great opportunity for companies to gain publicity, Tatsuya Nakabushi, head of the Mitsubishi Research Institute’s Platinum Society Center, warned they should have longer-term marketing plans to create a true legacy.

Beyond the Olympics, the companies “need to consider development of markets and how to become pervasive in society,” Nakabushi said.

source : https://tinyurl.com/ybfjr5q8

from the invention of the wheeled suitcase to the release of the iPhone.

What will it be? What impact will it have? Until a “crystal ball” is invented with the answer to those questions, it’s all about being open, flexible and experimental. Katherine Grass, Head of Innovation & Ventures at Amadeus, discusses Amadeus’ approach to innovation and some of the latest ideas we’ve been playing looking into.

How should the global aviation industry address the opportunities and challenges of digital disruption?

How can an industry that has historically struggled to be profitable harness the power of emerging technologies to move to a sustainable future?

These were the primary questions asked by the Financial Times at its inaugural Aviation and Aerospace summit held in London this week.

Debating those questions was an audience of 120 industry experts and insiders led in conversation by the FT’s Industry Editor Peggy Hollinger and Robert Wright, recent Transport Correspondent.

Setting the tone for what was to follow was keynote speaker and aviation futurist Rohit Talwar (@fastfuture) of Fast Future, who advised companies to consider three horizons in their strategic and tactical thinking.

The first of these is a 12 month span in which they should strive for operational excellence. This is followed by a 1 to 3 year period in which a search for growth should be prioritised alongside thinking about future planning and what a changing environment will look like.

Finally, there is a 4 to 10 year horizon in which the future inevitably becomes less knowable and secure. While thinking about this period, companies need to adapt a high level of flexibility in their thinking and their tools, giving them an opportunity to look for flexible solutions that will enable them to address a variety of potential outcomes.

Two other key messages from Talwar stood out. In the first, in a discussion about Artificial Intelligence, he recommended companies focus on ‘game changers’ rather than incremental improvements. Second, he discussed the need for leadership teams to embrace more feminine thinking in their innovation and operations, arguing that more empathetic and less process-oriented approaches could help companies better understand their customers’ needs. 

During much of the discussion that followed Talwar focused on two important factors: Big Data and how the industry can use its information to deliver better outcomes for customers and other stakeholders; and secondly, how important it is to ensure that organisations maintain both the culture and skills within their workforce to deliver digital innovation.

Most speakers acknowledged that the industry was still in the relatively early stages of development of data solutions and strategies that could unlock value, but a number of real and impressive achievements in the area were highlighted by companies including Ryanair and Dublin Airport.

Both airlines and airports, as well as technology providers such as Amadeus, agreed that the industry would benefit from a more collaborative approach to information and data sharing while acknowledging that critical issues including data ownership, privacy and security continued to present challenges.

John Dabkowski, VP, Airlines at Amadeus, highlighted two of the key issues:

“So with data you ask the questions: who owns it? where has it come from? how can you get it in a way that is seamless? Once we have the data and more importantly, how can we communicate this in an understandable way? Because that’s not good in many areas at present.”

Dabkowski also keyed in on an area discussed by many speakers: people.

“Technology can solve a lot of problems, it can create a huge number of opportunities, but any system is only as good as the people who are using it, and we really need to make sure we bring them along and have them trained and able to make a difference for passengers and the industry.”

source :https://tinyurl.com/kpplkoo

have seen Europe’s airports invest in a raft of new technologies and digital channels in recent months. Ryan Ghee provides a round-up.

AirPortr’s vision for ‘seamless end-to-end bag-free travel’

Currently, ‘AirPortr + Bag Check-In’ is available for British Airways flights departing from Heathrow, Gatwick and London City airports.

With the constant development of technology, the airport journey has become faster than ever. Self-service technologies and mobile devices have transformed the check-in process. Faster methods to hand over luggage, such as self-service bag drop, however, haven’t addressed the “much-needed separation of bag from passenger”, according to Paul Mewett, Executive Vice President, Portr.

The ‘AirPortr + Bag Check-In’ service is a virtual bag drop at the passenger’s doorstep, enabling them to travel bag-free to their destination airport. Customers pre-book a one-hour time slot for AirPortr to come to their home, office or hotel to check-in their luggage. Numerous security checks are performed during the handling process, and passengers can track their luggage.

“AirPortr’s product is a real paradigm shift and allows users to travel bag-free from their doorstep to the final destination carousel, optimising their time and overall experience,” Mewett explains.

Currently, ‘AirPortr + Bag Check-In’ is available for British Airways flights departing from Heathrow, Gatwick and London City airports, and has so far been well-received by passengers.

“The immediate and most visible impact is less passengers having to queue for bag drop when they arrive at the terminal,” Mewett adds. “In terms of physical differences to the airport landscape, the reduced need for check-in and bag drop desks has the potential to change the entire layout of the airport, leaving more space for retail and leisure opportunities for passengers. From a security perspective, this process de-centralises check-in and, as it scales, will eliminate crowds gathering in non-secure areas.”

The vision is to facilitate seamless end-to-end bag-free travel, so along with growing the business geographically, the natural progression is to deliver the bag from the arriving carousel, so the customer can enjoy the same benefits at both ends of the journey.

Helsinki Airport offers F&B pre-ordering via app

Helsinki Airport’s ‘ToGo’ service allows passengers to avoid queues by pre-ordering F&B items.

Helsinki Airport has launched a new service called ‘ToGo’, which allows passengers to order food & beverage items in advance, and then collect them at dedicated pick-up points. Orders and payment can be made via the airport’s mobile app.

Four outlets – Tapio Café, Upper Crust, Grab & Fly and 60° Bar & Brewery – are participating in the service at present. According to Elena Stenholm, Finavia’s Commercial Director, more F&B outlets will be added during 2017.

Stenholm added: “People want their everyday life to be easier. Online stores and various food pick-up and delivery services have become more common in recent years. Now you can order food for your flight conveniently from your home sofa, and the ready packed items can be picked up at the pick-up point without needing to queue.”

Passengers flying from Helsinki Airport can also order Helsinki Duty Free products through the online ‘Reserve & Collect’ service. These pre-ordered items can also be collected at pick-up points in the airport.

Frankfurt Airport launches Messenger bot and Twitter flight info service

Frankfurt Airport has continued its investment in digital services with the development of a Facebook Messenger bot and a Twitter-based flight information tool.

The Messenger bot, called FRAnky, can communicate with passengers in German and English. Powered by artificial intelligence, it can provide answers to passengers’ questions, provide flight updates, and offer information on airport restaurants, shops, services and facilities. If the bot can’t provide an answer to a question it will direct the user to the contact information page or the Fraport Communication Centre.

In addition to the new chat bot, passengers flying from Frankfurt Airport can now make use of a flight information service on Twitter. Travellers can use a dedicated handle – @FRA_FlightInfo – to request real-time flight status updates.

London City Airport offers lounge access for all

London City Airport has opened a new Business Lounge, which is open to all passengers, regardless of airline or class of travel. The lounge is located in the newly transformed area of the airport’s Private Jet Centre, which is accessible from the main terminal via a private taxi shuttle. Travellers can pay £35 (€40) for entry.

The new Business Lounge at London City Airport can accommodate 30 guests at a time.

The stylish interior includes hand-made furniture, a flat screen TV, and charging points for personal electronic devices. High-speed Wi-Fi access is also included in the entry price, while guests can enjoy a selection of food and drinks. Shower facilities are also available, along with a meeting room, which can be hired.

Chris Clayton, London City Airport’s Jet Centre Customer Service Manager, said: “London City Airport’s new Business Lounge is the perfect option for passengers who want first-class hospitality, comfort and privacy. Our priority is our passengers and the team will always go the extra mile to ensure they have what they need to keep their airport experience memorable and stress-free.”

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol announces cooperation with FLIO

Stephan Uhrenbacher, a founder and CEO of FLIO: “We are delighted to be able to announce this official tie-up with Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. We will be working with one of the most digital of all airports in Europe to jointly develop a digital channel to reach their passengers.”

In a first-time agreement between an airport and FLIO, it has been announced that the FLIO app is to be officially adopted and supported by Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.

The airport’s media division will sell advertising in FLIO and also market the app to its passengers, sharing in revenues from the sale of Schiphol’s retail and other commercial services when they are generated through FLIO.

“We are delighted to be able to announce this official tie-up with Amsterdam Airport Schiphol,” says Stephan Uhrenbacher, a founder and CEO of FLIO. “We will be working with one of the most digital of all airports in Europe to jointly develop a digital channel to reach their passengers. Their decision to officially recognise FLIO and to enter into a formal commercial agreement creates great opportunities for both of us, and a very important demonstration of how FLIO can be a collaborative asset for all airports.”

Arthur de Groot, Sales Director, Schiphol Media, adds: “This agreement offers Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and its brand partners yet another opportunity to interact with our passengers in a very relevant way, thus improving the passenger experience at the airport.”

FLIO is a global airport app, aiming to offer travellers a one-stop source for ‘all things airport’, providing easy access to public WiFi, real-time departures and arrivals information, and hints and tips. It also allows users to find an airport’s shopping and food & beverage services, as well as commercial services such as VIP lounges, fast track security and transportation.

source : https://tinyurl.com/k8f46us

spoke with Skift Executive Editor Dennis Schaal at Skift Global Forum 2016 about “Creating a Framework for Travel Innovation.”

Get details about future Skift events at http://forum.skift.com.

Known for its highly interactive, 3D moving maps – which offer eye-catching features including a “glass plane” view that makes use of augmented reality technology – FlightPath 3D showed FTE how it can now help airlines tap into “aircraft-to-door” ancillary revenue opportunities with its new ‘In-flight Travel Planner’, which is supported by multiple patents.

As Duncan Jackson, President of FlightPath3D, demonstrated to FTE at APEX EXPO in Singapore, passengers can enter their final address (hotel, home, etc.) into the moving map in order to access myriad personalised features. For instance, rather than simply displaying the estimated time of arrival at the destination airport, the In-flight Travel Planner can draw upon historical or real-time traffic data to provide an accurate time of arrival at the passenger’s final destination. Partnerships with the likes of Uber and SuperShuttle also allow passengers to view and book ground transportation options while they are flying to help make the arrivals experience more seamless. After booking their ride in-flight, passengers receive an SMS upon landing to confirm their booking and pick-up location.

Jackson also highlighted how the next generation map takes destination guides to a new level. The concept FTE previewed included a virtual open-top bus tour of San Francisco, highlighting points of interest, which are complemented by information from the tour company, along with images and audio descriptions. If a passenger likes the look of the tour, they can book their ticket in-flight and make payment upon landing. For the airline, this provides another opportunity to generate ancillary revenue at 30,000 feet. As Jackson suggested, destination based activities, such as tours, could be added for any city, enabling airlines to provide passengers with tailored and relevant offers.

“Once a passenger is on the plane, they’ve gone to the destination and for many this is the first time they’ve thought about what they’d like to do at the destination,” Jackson explained. “When they’re on the plane, the passenger has got time to think about the destination and we’re providing them with an interactive experience that is personalised to their own journey.”

In-flight and on-ground entertainment

Interactive Mobility already counts Air France and Aéroports de Paris among its customers and one of its goals is to recreate a “Netflix-style” experience for passengers who might otherwise have limited access to in-flight entertainment.

As FTE discovered in Singapore, the company focuses on the wider travel experience, offering entertainment options both in-flight and on the ground. The app, for instance, allows passengers to download content before they travel for consumption in-flight, while the media kiosk offers an entertainment solution for passengers waiting in lounges and gate areas. Post-flight, passengers can use the service to access content such as destination guides.

As Camille Cruchaudet, Marketing Project Manager, explained to FTE, the Interactive Mobility solutions offers airlines and airports another welcome ancillary revenue generation opportunity, as it is up to them whether to give content away for free or to charge passengers for access.

Lufthansa Systems focuses on audio and ancillaries 

Audio quality is perhaps the most overlooked element of the in-flight entertainment experience, but Lufthansa Systems has taken steps to address this with the launch of the Virtual Sound module. As FTE experienced in Singapore, the new module provides cinema-like sound, regardless of the type of headphones being used.

As Norbert Müller, Senior Vice President BoardConnect at Lufthansa Systems, explained, the company is also expanding its BoardConnect partner network, enabling airlines to choose from a wide range of well-known partners in the areas of entertainment, infotainment and ancillary revenues. This flexibility, Müller stated, is possible thanks to BoardConnect’s open software architecture.

For instance, Lufthansa Systems is partnering with Napster in the area of music content and G.U.E. Tech on HTML5 games. In addition, the new GoGobot infotainment application provides individual destination-based recommendations based on a passenger’s preferences. Other Lufthansa Systems partners include PXCom and RIM, brining expertise in the areas of destination information and on-board sales.

3D apps: the key to a more exciting IFE experience?

Neutral Digital has an ambitious aim – “we’re here to revolutionise IFE,” according to company Partner Christian Grou – and in order achieve its goal, the company is offering something very different. Grou and his colleagues are keen to avoid offering “flat and boring” content and instead are focusing on 3D apps. “We’ve set out to improve the experience of IFE…passengers, especially on long-haul, want a more exciting experience,” Grou said.

Among the apps the company has developed are the Fleet Explorer, which lets passengers explore an airline’s aircraft fleet in 3D; the Cabin Explorer, which allows users to take a 3D tour of aircraft cabins; and a range of interactive games, such as Paint My Plane and Airport Dash. Each of the apps can be tailored to the exact needs of the airline in question.

The company also specialises in virtual and augmented reality, providing another layer of opportunity for airlines wishing to create unique experiences.

A modular approach to customer experience

While digEcor was rightly celebrating the news that it has been selected, in conjunction with IFPL, by Mirus Aircraft Seating to provide in-seat USB power for the new Hawk lightweight seat (for which AirAsia was recently announced as the launch customer), FTE caught up with the company’s Chief Executive, David Withers. digEcor boasts a vast portfolio – ranging from portable IFE solutions and in-seat power to lighting and cabin management systems – and Withers explained that the company’s motivation is to find the right technology to help improve the passenger experience. This, in turn, often results in the development of modular, bespoke solutions for airlines.

“Airlines differentiate with their onboard product and pretty much every airline is focusing on passenger experience now,” Withers stated. While he said he doesn’t expect to see a decrease in the number of aircraft being delivered without seatback IFE installed, Withers explained that the continued adoption of onboard Wi-Fi is allowing more airlines to explore portable IFE, which feeds the need for in-seat power.

With its broad selection of solutions, digEcor is clearly well positioned to satisfy airlines’ differing needs and the next stage of the journey is likely to focus on the addition of software and applications, to complement the impressive hardware portfolio.

Mark your diary for FTE Asia EXPO 2017 – 7-8 November 2017, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

Future Travel Experience Asia EXPO 2017 – which will host Asia’s largest exhibition of in-flight and airport products and services – will take place at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore from 7-8 November 2017. We are delighted to announce that the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) is the Headline Partner and Panasonic Avionics Corporation is the Lead Sponsor. Contact us to find out more about exhibition and sponsorship opportunities.

source : http://tinyurl.com/j8kg9b8