Page 59 - DAEP PR REPORT - FEBRUARY 2025

2/19/25, 5:17 PM Airports racing to win the hearts and minds of passengers through technology-led transformation | UAE News 24/7
According to a white paper by global consultancy Frost & Sullivan, airports are constantly evolving es-
pecially 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 com-
prehensive 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 op-
erators 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 chal-
lenges while speeding up operations.”

According to ICAO, technology plays a key role in incremental innovations and facilitates improve-
ments. 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, sustain-
able 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, computer-
ized gates, LED lighting, optimized water and air systems, and low-consumption electronics. Social ro-
botics, 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 opera-
tions. The year 2040 will be a decade away from the net-zero goal.

—Ends—

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