Recent Trends in Airport Operations

By: Sanjeev Kumar Sinha (PMI-PBA)

LinkedIn Profile: https://in.linkedin.com/in/sanjeev-sinha-pmi-pba-5a7b392

Self Service Airports

Self Check-In

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Self Check-In

Self check-in helps save passenger’s time by letting them print their own boarding pass through multiple channels, such as – Web, Mobile, Kiosk installed at the airport. This reduces burden on check-in counters. Multiple check-in Kiosks are installed at the airport terminal to reduce the check-in time.

Self Check-In: Passenger can check-in through web, mobile, Kiosks installed at the airport terminal by entering flight confirmation

code/booking reference or by using identification (e.g. passport or credit/debit card) & booked flight number. Passenger gets to choose or confirm seats, enter number of bag to check in. Print the Boarding Pass & Bag Tag for the checked baggage.

Benefits Reduced Queue at the check-in counters. Reduced number of counters and staff deployed. More passengers can check-in at the same time resulting into much faster check-in process. Saves on passenger’s time providing them more time to relax and enjoy duty free shops. Helps airlines and airports in accommodating & serving more passenger in less time & space eliminating the need for

the airports for expansion of existing terminals or building new terminals due to increased passenger flow.

Self Bag Drop

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Self Bag Tagging

Self bag tagging helps save passenger’s time by letting them print their own bag tags from home or at several self-service kiosks installed at the airport terminals and placing them directly on their luggage and taking the luggage to the designated drop-off location for self Bag Drop.

Self Bag Tagging & Drop: Passenger can print the bag tags at home or at the self service Kiosk installed at airports. Attach the printed bag tag to each checked bag. Take the self-tagged baggage to the designated drop-off location.

Benefits

Reduced queue at check-in counters. Improves customer service efficiency. Reduced staff. Staff required only to assist passengers who are needing help. Multiple bag tag printing Kiosks installed at the airport terminal speeds up the bag check-in process. Saves on airport’s terminal expansion, if any, due to passenger growth.

Self Boarding

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Automated (Self) BoardingSelf boarding is fast catching up at airports world around. This is an automated process that allows passengers to self-scan the boarding pass to board the flight. This eliminates the need of physical boarding desk and number of staff processing boarding.

Self Boarding: At the gate multiple boarding pass scanners is installed and fewer staff deployed only to assist passengers needing help Passengers checking in through Kiosk, web or mobile device, get either printed or (barcode) e-boarding pass on their

mobile device Passengers scan the boarding pass (paper or mobile device) in the scanner to get past the gate Boarding pass scanner authenticates passengers by verifying the passenger data from Departure Control (System) data

Benefits

Multiple boarding lines possible at each gate. Fewer staff needed, only to assist passengers. Reduced boarding time. Improves flights on-time performance. A happy and satisfied customer. Allows time for staff to interact with passengers and to provide better service. Saves on airport’s terminal expansion, if any due to passenger growth pressure.

Automated Document Authentication

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Automated Passport Control (Kiosks)Automated Passport Control expedites entry process by providing and automated process where travellers use Kiosks to submit their customs declaration form and biographic information. Instead of filling out a paper Customs declaration form, eligible passengers can proceed directly to the Automated Passport Control kiosks in the passport control area.

Self Authentication: Passengers can proceed directly to the Automated Passport Control kiosks in the passport control area. Travelers are prompted to scan their passport, take a photograph using the kiosk, and answer a series of questions

verifying biographic and flight information. A receipt is issued. Travelers bring their passport and receipt to a Customs and Border Protection Officer to finalize their inspection for

entry.

Benefits Shorter wait time for travellers Faster processing of document authentication Reduced queue

Automation

Beacon

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Beacon

Airlines says that 65% of passengers arrive at their gate early because they are worried about being late or getting lost. Most arriving passengers at airports struggle to locate bags.

Airlines are fast taking up use of beacon location detection coupled with the addition of feature like Bluetooth low energy (BLE) to enhance mobile app to combat many of these challenges and give passengers travelling through the airports accurate way-finding information, location based offers and enhanced personalized passenger experience.Beacons are low-cost, low-powered transmitters equipped with Bluetooth Low Energy or BLE (also called Bluetooth 4.0 or Bluetooth Smart) that can be used to deliver proximity-based, context-aware messages customized for each passenger. Beacons are detected by apps within range of 0 to 100 m.

Benefits The strategy of giving personalized services such as discounts

at duty free shops based on personalized information like birthday, anniversary etc. would make passengers feel special and valued throughout their travel with the airline.

Uses: Passengers can receive service like auto check-in,

estimated walk time to several locations like check-in counters, security check, duty free shops, boarding gate or auto popup of boarding pass etc.

Automated Security for Terminal Entrance

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Barcode on Air Tickets

People entering Airport on fake tickets has become a serious problem. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security in India has been working with the airlines to get a barcode on all air tickets for authenticity check. Barcode on tickets would ensure passengers with valid tickets would enter the airport.

Benefits Enhanced Airport security. Ensures only authorized passengers enter the airport terminal. Eliminates the need to rely on security agents judgement at all

time.

Barcode Implementation: Airlines would barcode on tickets/Itinerary issued. A barcode scanner at the gate would scan the

barcode on the tickets/itinerary carried by the passenger.

Passenger with valid tickets would be allowed to enter the airport terminal.

SITA’s Baggage Robot

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Leo the robot

Passenger at the Geneva airport now can skip the long queue to check in their luggage and instead can drop off their luggage to a robot called Leo. Leo can collect luggage from airline passenger and check it in for them. Additionally it can weigh, print bag tags & bag receipts, display gate number & check-in time, and transport 2 luggage at a time to bag drop area where staff can load it on conveyer belt.It is programmed to avoid obstacles and passengers.

Benefits Reduced queue at the check-in counter/kiosk for check-in and bag

drop . Passenger can directly move to security check. Futuristic step towards fully automated airport.

How it works: Passenger arriving at the airport can drop their luggage in

available robot and scan their boarding pass for flight information.

Leo the robot prints bag tags and displays gate number & check-in time.

Passenger attaches the bag tags to luggage. The robot prints the receipt and locks the luggage in its container. The robot moves to bag drop location where an agent picks up

the luggage and drops off on conveyer belt.

IATA Initiatives

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‘Mobile Self Service’ FAST Travel at AirportsIATA’s Fast Travel Program is addressing passenger demands for more choice, convenience, and control through self-service options in the following areas: Check-in: Allows passengers to receive their boarding pass via self-

service channels (automated, web, mobile phone or kiosk), avoiding long lines at check-in desks.

Bags ready-to-go: Enables passengers to self tag their bags ready for acceptance, speeding up the check-in and bag drop process.

Document check: Allows passengers to scan their travel documents at kiosks for data verification and onward transmission to government agencies, avoiding ID checks at check-in desks or gates.

Flight re-booking: Enables passengers to proactively handle the re-booking for cancelled or delayed flights and obtain a new boarding pass via a self-service kiosk, avoiding long lines at transfer desks.

Self-boarding: Provides automated boarding processes for passengers, reducing boarding queues.

Bag recovery: Allows passengers to report a missing bag at a kiosk, over the web or mobile instead of waiting in line at a baggage service counter.

Lower costs: Fast Travel will save up to US$2.1 billion across the industry every year*. Passengers will have options for more control over their journey and complete airport formalities faster. Self-service facilities will free up airport space for other use – they occupy less space than traditional check-in desks and

reduce passenger queues.

Benefits

Sustainability & Going Green

Innovative Airport Design

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SustainabilityGrowing trend is sustainability embedded into every part of the airport design. The buildings are able to heat and cool by clever ventilation rather than air-conditioning. Building are designed to harvest rainwater and sunlight to be able to re-use. Intelligently designed ventilation also work for lighting. This reduces dependency and saves on energy.

San Diego International Airport, USA is one example of innovative design that has its own storm drain filtration system that helps to prevent pollution of the local water, and is landscaped to incorporate a variety of drought-tolerant plants – ideal for southern California’s hot, dry climate.Its roof reflects heat to reduce the need for air-conditioning, while natural light and ventilation is used wherever possible.

Galapagos Ecological Airport, Ecuador is another example of innovative design of self sustainable airport. For instance, the terminal is positioned at a 45-degree angle a safe distance from the runway, ensuring that aircraft emissions can’t enter the building and reducing noise levels.

The building also makes extensive use of mechanical skylights fitted with sensors, which automatically open and close in response to changes air temperature: a much smarter and more eco-friendly system than air-conditioning.

In addition to all this, Galapagos Ecological Airport operates its own desalination plant, which reduces water wastage by converting seawater into usable water.

Galapagos Ecological Airport, Ecuador

México City International Airport, México

San Diego International Airport, USA

O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, USA

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Green Airport

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Going Green

Modern airports are fast adopting use of renewable energies, such as, solar and wind energy to make airport greener.

Every effort is made to reduce carbon footprint. Number of airports around the world are adopting solar panels and trying to produce own green and renewable energy. In effort to go green different airports around the world have introduced LED lights on runways and in other parts of airports. Airports terminals are designed with ventilation that would provide natural lights and air. Light weight steel and glass and recycled materials are used in construction to reduce carbon footprint.

Cochin International Airport, India, uses a battery of over 46,000 solar panels that supply 100% of its energy needs. The solar panels produces between 50,000 and 60,000 units of electricity every day: enough to cover Cochin’s usage and even sell some on to India’s National Grid.

Galapagos Ecological Airport, Ecuador, runs on 100% renewable energy – 65% wind and 35% solar.

San Diego International Airport, USA, replaced the lights on its runways and airfield signs with LEDs, and today it operates a 3.3-megawatt solar array that produces 12.5% of its overall energy needs.

sanju.sinha@gmail.com

Thank you

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