Page 51 - DAEP PR REPORT - FEBRUARY 2025

2/20/25, 4:26 PM Airport Show 2025 to reflect the pace of technological progress at airports
According to a white paper by global consultancy Frost & Sullivan, airports are constantly evolving
especially now when the rate of change is faster than ever. They are faced with changing demand,
varied operating conditions, rising costs, and workforce shortages coupled with rising passenger
demands. Stakeholders across the ecosystem are working on innovating, backed by advanced
technology to solve airport’s various pain points and achieve the desired goals and priorities. These
innovations span across landside and airside for passenger processing and for operations
management.

It noted: “Airport operators, with the support of technology suppliers, are working on deploying
comprehensive Digital Twin solutions that covers not only airside but also Landside and the Terminals.
This gives operators the ability to get better real-time insights into operations and processes but also
gives operators ability to try out various changes to evaluate impact and to choose the one to be
deployed. Technology providers and airports are working on leveraging robotics to aid baggage
handlers in loading/offloading baggage which would reduce human intervention and the linked risks
and challenges while speeding up operations.”

According to ICAO, technology plays a key role in incremental innovations and facilitates
improvements. By 2030, common will be self-service options like Near-Field Communication (NFC) and
Radio-frequency Identification (RFID), robotic airport assistants, improvements to route planning, air
traffic control, and passenger experience through AI, wider use of IoT and cloud technology, and
infrastructure digitalization. Digital technologies like AI, Internet of Things (IoT), 5G, healthcare
integration, sustainable energy, quantum computing, and human-machine interaction will converge in
the next decade for sweeping transformation across the travel ecosystem.

Experts say airports are investing in technologies like self-service kiosks, mobile apps, and contactless
payment systems, along with the AI-based screening systems, biometric monitoring systems,
computerized gates, LED lighting, optimized water and air systems, and low-consumption electronics.
Social robotics, a developing field for airports, is bound to enhance engagement and interaction with
passengers. SITA noted that the world’s 200 major airports which handle 43 percent of the world’s
passengers are buckling due to swelling passenger numbers and budgetary constraints even as safety,
security and speed of service remains top priorities for passengers.

In a report over the travel trends by 2050, ACI and global management consultancy Oliver Wyman says
the airport industry needs concerted investments in everything from green tech to biometrics as the
state of travel – and the way people move around the world – will change dramatically. It said:
“Advances in biometrics, AI, ML, 3D printing, and automation will disrupt traditional airport operating
models and transform the passenger experience while also enhancing efficiency. The deployment of
technology will provide the opportunity to rethink the internal design and layout of airports.”

By 2030, wider implementation of biometrics is expected to replace paper passports, boarding passes,
and other travel documents such as visas. Paper baggage tags will be progressively replaced by 2030,
leveraging electronic luggage tags. 2030, AI and the IoT technology will be a core part of airport
operations. The year 2040 will be a decade away from the net-zero goal.

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