Across the world, new technologies are constantly developing and influencing our daily lives. These technologies change the way we think, work, and transport — and the developments within airport technology are no exception.
New airport technologies develop every day to ease the process of how people travel and transport all around the world. Airport technology trends often bring enhancements for passengers, allowing them to travel more efficiently and with less stress along the way.
In this article, we’ll cover five airport technology trends to look out for in 2024 and how they improve both the passenger experience and airport management at large.
1: Automation and robotics.
Both automation and robotics are increasingly prevalent throughout modern airports and can be seen in areas such as:
- Security screening: Airports are deploying automated security systems to increase efficiency while maintaining high standards throughout security checks. This includes advanced body scanners that reduce the need for physical pat-downs, as well as automated trays at security checkpoints.
- Check-in and baggage drop: Common use self-service systems for check-in and automated baggage drop points use advanced technologies to scan passports, print boarding passes, and tag luggage. This significantly reduces wait times and streamlines the check-in process.
- Baggage handling: Advanced robotic systems that can sort, load, and unload bags faster and more accurately than manual handling are being used for baggage handling, improving efficiency and reducing the chances of bags being mishandled or lost.
- Cleaning and sanitization: Airports have begun using robots for cleaning and sanitizing restrooms and public areas. These robots — typically equipped with UV lights or disinfectant sprayers — can operate autonomously, ensuring consistent and thorough cleaning.
2: Biometrics and digital identity.
Biometric technology is ever evolving. As an airport technology, biometrics has vast potential to create a safer, more seamless, and contactless passenger experience. The technology is convenient, scalable, and cost effective, making biometrics an airport technology trend to keep an eye out for.
Recent developments in biometric technology for airports include:
- Facial recognition: Airports are increasingly adopting facial recognition technology for identity verification at checkpoints such as check-in, security checkpoints, and boarding. This biometric technology makes it possible to compare the passenger’s facial features with the photo in their passport or other ID documents.
- Iris recognition: Recent advances in iris recognition have made this technology faster and more reliable. Due to its high accuracy and contactless nature, iris recognition is becoming increasingly more prevalent in airports.
- Biometric boarding passes: Some airports and airlines are experimenting with biometric boarding passes. For example, Delta Air Lines have built dedicated bag drop spaces for TSA PreCheck customers in a number of U.S. airports. Delta SkyMiles members with a TSA PreCheck membership can use the Fly Delta app to drop off their bags, pass through the security checkpoint, and board their plane using only their digital identity.
- Mobile device integration: Many biometric systems now work seamlessly with mobile devices. This enables passengers to store their biometric data on their phones for use at various verification points. This enhances convenience and can help streamline the passenger experience.
3: Contactless technology.
One of the great promises of biometric technology is that in time, it will enable a fully contactless experience for passengers. Some airlines have already made updates to their inflight entertainment to offer a touchless experience to passengers and encourage a bring your own device-model. Innovations such as this can help increase onboard hygiene, as well as passenger comfort.
The future of airport retail will likely also be shaped by contactless technology. For example, in Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL) and Chicago Midway International Airport, among other places, you will find the Hudson Nonstop store.
Using Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology, these stores enable travelers to enter with a swipe or their credit card or using “Tap to Pay,” take the products they’re looking for, and simply walk out of the store. These stores help to eliminate checkout-line friction for a quick, seamless shopping experience.
4: Virtual queuing.
Tying in with contactless technology, virtual queueing is an increasingly popular airport technology revolutionizing the way people wait in line at airports. Using technology, virtual queueing manages passenger demand by creating a virtual line or space for passengers.
The virtual queue can be managed in a variety of ways depending on the solution, including:
- Through an app
- By phone
- Via email
- Via the airline’s website
- Via SMS
The technology allows passengers to pre-book a slot in the virtual line — slots are typically offered in intervals of around 15 minutes.
When the virtual slot is booked, the passenger receives a confirmation and a QR code via email. The passenger can then use the QR code to validate their slot at the touchpoint, enabling them to be let through the dedicated lane or checkpoint. This makes it possible for airports to reduce wait times and improve passenger satisfaction throughout the journey.
If you want to know more about Virtual Queuing, read our blogpost on Airport Queue Management: What is Virtual Queuing?
5: Airport Management Software.
In recent years, airport operations have undergone significant changes. These developments place new demands on airport technology to keep operations running smoothly and optimally every day. This is where airport management software comes in.
An airport management system is a specialized digital platform designed to automate and streamline core airport operations such as check-in, baggage, security, stand & gate, and immigration. With the right software, airport analysts and operators can utilize data on passenger flow, baggage flow, aircraft movements, and much more to improve essential touch points throughout the airport.
However, to optimize operations in the modern airport, it isn’t enough to implement an airport management software. For airports to get the most value out of this solution, their core operations can no longer be conducted in silos: they must be connected.
This is why Copenhagen Optimization has developed Better Airport®: a cloud-based airport management SaaS platform that gives all airports, regardless of size, a simpler way to run core operations.
As a common operating platform, the system enables everyone you collaborate with, internally and externally, to easily access and use all functionality.
Further, Better Airport utilizes all the data points that your airport has access to — including those collected by the airport technologies mentioned above. Through machine learning, Better Airport enables your airport to get the most value out of the data available. This allows you to better manage your operations, from forecasting and planning to day-of-operation and real-time adjustments.
Featuring seven core modules for airport optimization, Better Airport allows airports to mix and match modules to create a solution perfectly suited to the specific needs of the individual airport. Every module can be connected, making it easy to forecast, understand, and plan passenger, baggage, and aircraft flows throughout the airport. We call this way of working Connected Operations — and we believe it’s the future of airport technology.
Also read our article on how to Leverage Data for Competitive Edge and Operational Excellence.
