Page 14 - World Airnews Magazine December 2020

AIRPORTS AIRPORTS

FACIAL RECOGNITION enable borders to open safely. ALREADY IN PLACE IN BEIJING COULD YOU ESTIMATE WHEN IN
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT - WHEN
THE FUTURE COULD THIS COME TO

We see an acceleration of interest in
DID SITA DO THIS? AND HOW LONG
AFRICA?

deploying our existing Smart Path solution,
DID IT TAKE TO GET ALL OF THE

FOR AIRPORTS given the more significant need for a touch- DIFFERENT PARTIES TALKING TO JB: SITA’s Smart Path solution is highly
less airport experience. Reducing waiting

adaptable to the requirements of any major
EACH OTHER AND THE PROJECT

airport. And the solution can be used in
times and congestion, in particular, are

more critical than ever before since these ROLLED OUT? conjunction with existing technologies and

transport industry, working with almost every are not merely a matter of passenger com- JB: We delivered SITA Smart Path at Beijing infrastructure at the airport.
Capital International Airport (BCIA) in

airline and airport in the world, we develop fort but also a safety issue as we endeavour SITA Smart Path technology aims to

ihad Boueri, SITA vice president, airports solutions informed by and support this com- to help promote best safety practices like December 2019. It included the implemen- streamline passenger processing, thereby

Jand airlines sector spoke to World munity’s needs. We launched the SITA Smart social distancing and decrease the spread tation of over 600 biometric checkpoints creating a more efficient airport, and is
Airnews about the role of the SITA Smart Path Path solution - our company’s common-use, of COVID-19. Biometric checkpoints, through the airport, including 250 lanes of suitable and recommended for any busy

technology can play in boosting recovery. mobile, and biometrics enabled self-service self-service kiosks, and self-bag drop automatic gates, 80 kiosks, and 30 self-bag airport. The top three busiest airports in

solution for passenger processing - around stations are likely to see an increase in drop stations to process passengers from Africa are O. R. Tambo International Airport

WAN: CAN YOU BRIEFLY TELL US two years ago. There were several drivers/ adoption even after COVID-19. international flights. in South Africa, Cairo International Airport

A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF (YOUR considerations in developing the solution For instance, Qatar’s Hamad International This deployment of the SITA Smart Path in Egypt and Bole International Airport in

BACKGROUND) AND THE CURRENT pre-COVID-19, including: Airport recently introduced SITA’s mo- solution at BCIA is the largest rollout of Ethiopia. Combined, they processed nearly

POSITION YOU OCCUPY IN YOUR • Significant increases in passenger num- bile-enabled kiosks to deliver a completely its kind. The automation of the entire 50m passengers in 2019. These passenger

COMPANY? AND HOW LONG YOU bers over the years and were predict- contactless way for passengers to check-in passenger journey using SITA technology numbers more than qualify these airports
HAVE BEEN IN THIS POSITION? ed to rise in the coming years. for their flight. The mobile application pro- has been achieved at the airport - from for this solution, and the technology to

JB: I am based in Beirut, Lebanon. In my cur- • Limitations in airport capacity; the vides a cost-effective solution as it lever- check-in and bag drop to immigration, se- facilitate this is available in these regions.

rent role, I am responsible for managing SITA’s ability for many airports to expand their ages existing common-use kiosks and does curity, and finally boarding. Passengers only We continue to work with our customers

airport and airline portfolio across the Middle physical footprint has led to a rise in not require modification to airlines’ existing need to enrol once during check-in, then in Africa to support them to deliver a safe

East, India, and Africa (MEIA), which includes smarter technology to enable airports IATA CUSS standard check-in applications. experience a seamless journey through the and seamless passenger journey, wherever

solution design, pricing, bid management, to cope with passenger numbers which SITA has also developed some new appli- airport enabled by facial recognition. Im- biometrics can help.

and delivery. I have extensive experience integrates with existing, often com- cations to support the industry’s COVID-19 proved processing efficiency means shorter WAN: WHAT CHALLENGES DOES

in solution architecture, master systems mon-use, infrastructure to reduce the recovery and the new safety measures. queuing time and more social distancing for PUT SUCH A SYSTEM/TECHNOLOGY

integration, and project management. need to invest in new infrastructure. Some of these solutions integrate facial all passengers. An added benefit during the INTO AN AIRPORT FACE AND WHAT

Since joining SITA in 1986, I have worked • Optimising security processes to im- biometrics with other technologies like COVID-19 era is that it removes the need to RESOURCES NEED TO BE AVAILABLE

closely with nearly all airlines and airports prove border management. mobile self-service to deliver a safe and touch any airport equipment, reducing the IN ORDER FOR IT TO WORK

operating in MEIA, developing a strong un- • Passenger satisfaction is higher with seamless journey before travellers reach infection risk. PROPERLY AND SMOOTHLY?

derstanding of their operating environment more self-service and automation, so senger safety, convenience, and confidence. the airport, through the airport, and on The rollout of this solution was made

and the wider air transport industry. enhancing the airport experience and WAN: HOW HAS THE PANDEMIC arrival and beyond. For example, our new possible in a relatively short amount of JB: Most airports have their infrastructure in

I hold a master’s degree in Telecommuni- enabling a seamless passenger jour- IMPACTED ON THIS TECHNOLOGY Health ETA application, part of SITA’s Travel time. Much of the project’s success can be place. The challenge comes in integrating new

cation Engineering from St. Joseph Univer- ney were other crucial outcomes of AND YOUR PROJECT? Authorization solution, uses biometrically attributed to: processes and technology into an existing

sity in Beirut and an MBA from Strathclyde automating passenger processing and enabled, secure mobile technology for • our experts, on the ground, that were environment. But, because SITA Smart Path

Graduate Business School in Scotland. I also biometric identity management. JB: We continue to work with the industry governments to verify digital health decla- able to accelerate the deployment. is based around industry standards and

have an ACI-ICAO AMPAP Associate Diplo- While the COVID-19 pandemic has result- to identify ways of maintaining the accuracy rations via advance passenger information • the longstanding relationship between designed to integrate with existing airport

ma and ACI Airport Operations Diploma. and speed of facial recognition technology, (APP) before travel. It paves the way for a SITA and BCIA, which goes back common-use infrastructure and airline

ed in a significant decrease in passenger with masks now being mandatory in public seamless and touchless contactless arrival 20+ years. In that time, SITA has systems, it is straightforward for us to deploy.

WAN: WHAT WAS THE THINKING volumes, the need for a more secure, less spaces in most parts of the world. process through immigration and customs. provided numerous technological Stakeholder coordination, including

THAT INFORMED SITA’S SMART congested, contactless, and seamless The pandemic has increased the drive for We anticipate that more airports worldwide solutions to help BCIA handle large airports, airlines, governments, is critical

PATH TECHNOLOGY? HOW LONG passenger journey has become even more greater operational and cost efficiencies and will accelerate their digitalization and biomet- passenger volumes. to ensure that the technology meets

HAS THIS BEEN IN THE MAKING important to mitigate the new health risks. a focus on sustainability and health. There ric technology adoption strategies in response fundamental business needs and that op-

AS SURELY YOU AND YOUR TEAM As the world emerges from the COVID-19 is a lot of industry innovation occurring, to passengers changing requirements in the WAN: CAN YOU SEE THIS BEING PUT erationally it functions and is coordinated.

(DEPARTMENT) HAVE BEEN pandemic, a growing number of passengers using facial biometrics, in response to the recovery and the post-COVID world. INTO ANY AIRPORT IN AFRICA? IF SO Data sharing protocols among stakehold-
WORKING ON THIS LONG BEFORE will be returning to the skies. To sustain the pandemic and designed to build confidence WHICH ONE? HAVE YOU HAD ANY ers also need to be fully worked through

COVID-19? industry’s recovery, airlines, airports, ground among travellers and governments, support WAN: I SEE FROM THE ID4AFRICA INTEREST OR DEALINGS WITH ANY and, of course, be compliant with relevant

JB: As a company wholly owned by the air handlers, and many others must prioritize pas- a safe and low touch airport experience, and INTERVIEW THAT THIS IS AFRICAN AIRPORT AND PERHAPS legislation. Q
MALTA
MOVEMENT
An interesting arrival of

the Tunisian Air Force
C-130J, delivered in
January 2013. It is has
both military markings
as well as a civilian
registration TS-MTK. The

aircraft is seen landing

on runway 31 at the
Malta airport (LMML).
Photo by Mario Caruana
World Airnews | December 2020 World Airnews | December 2020
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