How COVID-19 pandemic is transforming every airport into smart airport

The wake of the COVID-19 pandemic has drastically reduced passenger traffic, which has ultimately affected the revenue generation of the airport industry. The entire airport industry is going through the drastic effect of the pandemic. As a result, it has surged the demand for efficiency measures in order to increase the safety of airports. The growing adoption of innovative technology is expected to bring smart airports all across the world.

Airports in various affected countries have started adopting sanitizing booths, cleaning robots, contactless kiosks, etc., in order to maintain efficiency and a safe environment. This pandemic is expected to reshape the aviation industry as well as user experience by transforming them to smart airports. Passengers are forecast to witness an unforeseen environment that includes smartphones, robots, biometric authorization, and other technology.

Various airports have already started implementing advanced solutions in order to enhance the efficacy of the services. For instance, Changi Airport Group signed a contract with Genetec Inc. in 2021 to sign a contract for the up gradation and enhancement of its security systems. According to the contract, the firm will set up its integrated security platform, Genetec Security Center, for video surveillance. The firm is projected to complete this project by the end of 2023. Apart from that, various innovations are taking place in the industry. Here is the list of factors defining how the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to transform airports into smart airports:

Growing Use of Technology for Smart Airport

The COVID-19 pandemic has emerged as an opportunity for airports to reshape entire operational processes and deploy innovative solutions to transform into smart airports.

Simultaneously, smart airports are required to check for solutions that are efficient and cost-effective at the same time. Apart from that, the shortage of experienced staff and cyber-security concerns are forecast to pose a significant challenge in this evolution. The growing efforts toward the recovery process are expected to change the future of airports. For instance, NATS started the trial of AI technology at Heathrow in 2019, intending to reduce delays. Meanwhile, Frankfurt Airport adopted Machine Learning technology in the same year in order to foresee the aircraft arrivals. The German airport operator Fraport installed this runway arrival time technology at Frankfurt Airport with the aim to improve the efficacy of the operations.

Touch-less Travel: the new feature of Smart Airport

The coronavirus outbreak may hasten the adoption of technology that provides a low-touch or even touch-free travel experience to the passenger. Due to the wake of the pandemic, various airports adopted the technology to offer a touch-free experience to the visitors. For instance, Air Asia, a Malaysian low-cost carrier, placed contactless kiosks and payment options at airports in the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, and Thailand, in May 2020. Thus, these contactless systems will allow passengers to check-in and make payments without the need to touch anything. Thus, such smart technology is expected to boost the growth of smart airports in the coming years.

Smart Airport to Offer Automated screening systems:

Various airports have installed automated screening systems to involve less workforce in the process. Automated screening eliminated the need for human inspection. Moreover, it also offers convenience to the visitors by shortening check-in times.

Mobile Check-Ins to Become A New Trend:

As of now, various airports use biometric technology for check-in and check-out purpose. Check-in desks are expected to be entirely replaced by online or mobile check-in services in the future. British Airways is among the 30 airlines that offer mobile boarding pass services. Mumbai airport in India also introduced mobile-enabled kiosks.

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Thermal Screening Helmets in Smart Airport:

Thermal screening helmets are integrated with advanced technology to increase passenger and staff safety. In May 2020, Hamad International Airport (HIA) made headlines as it started the implementation of advanced thermal screening helmets and robotics. In addition to that, Dubai International Airport and Vietnam Airport have also deployed the technology to maintain the security of staff and passengers. Thus, it will escalate the development of smart airports in the coming years.

COVID-19 Testing Stations for Smart Airport:

As global travel has resumed significantly, the demand for high security will also increase. Airports could not take a single chance to compromise security as it may lead to a major loss. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has recognized the potential of the Covid-19 pandemic, and testing is expected to become a new normal. Governments are also announcing stringent regulations in order to combat this situation.

Hong Kong International Airport primarily implemented Covid-19 testing. All inbound passengers are taken directly from the airport to a temporary off-site testing center, where the tests are being done. The staff takes nearly 3 minutes to check the samples and provide reports. Moreover, the area is also disinfected so that the next person does not get sick.

Cleaning Robots and Booths at Smart Airports

Robots have suddenly become a new normal in the aviation industry. These robots are used to clean the airports as efficiently as a human. Hong Kong International Airport, along with many other airports, has included self-driving robots in its space in order to automatically clean and disinfect public areas. Thus,the range of smart airports is growing steeply.

Biometric Sensors:

Biometric systems are also getting traction for identifying the passenger. The technology works on facial recognition methods to speed up check-in times. The primary benefit of the technology in this COVID-19 situation is that it drastically decreases the need for passenger interaction. Airports all across the world are now adopting this technology. For instance, Lufthansa Group announced the installation of Star Alliance Biometrics in November 2020. In addition, the companies have invested in the development of advanced products in order to increase their market share. The deployment of such technologies that promote airport contactless processing is expected to increase in the coming years. As a result, it will be opportunistic for the developers. According to a study by Astute Analytica, the global smart airport market is forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.9% during the forecast period from 2022 to 2027.