Airports world over are increasingly getting more and more automated. Customer oriented functions are fast becoming self serviced, such as, Check-in process, Bag Drop, Boarding, immigration, etc., etc. are now self serviced. Airports are also designed keeping self sustainability and going green as prime concern. I have also tried to list out initiatives taken up by some of the prestigious institutions/organizations in aviation industry.

1. Recent Trends in Airport Operations
By: Sanjeev Kumar Sinha (PMI-PBA)
LinkedIn Profile: https://in.linkedin.com/in/sanjeev-sinha-pmi-pba-5a7b392

2. Self Service Airports

3. Self Check-In
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Self Check-In
Self check-in helps save passenger’s time by letting them print their own boarding pass through multiple channels, such
as – Web, Mobile, Kiosk installed at the airport. This reduces burden on check-in counters. Multiple check-in Kiosks are
installed at the airport terminal to reduce the check-in time.
Self Check-In:
 Passenger can check-in through web, mobile, Kiosks installed at the airport terminal by entering flight confirmation
code/booking reference or by using identification (e.g. passport or credit/debit card) & booked flight number.
 Passenger gets to choose or confirm seats, enter number of bag to check in.
 Print the Boarding Pass & Bag Tag for the checked baggage.
Benefits
 Reduced Queue at the check-in counters.
 Reduced number of counters and staff deployed.
 More passengers can check-in at the same time
resulting into much faster check-in process.
 Saves on passenger’s time providing them more time to relax
and enjoy duty free shops.
 Helps airlines and airports in accommodating & serving more passenger in less time & space eliminating the need for
the airports for expansion of existing terminals or building new terminals due to increased passenger flow.

4. Self Bag Drop
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Self Bag Tagging
Self bag tagging helps save passenger’s time by letting them print their own bag tags from home or at several self-service
kiosks installed at the airport terminals and placing them directly on their luggage and taking the luggage to the
designated drop-off location for self Bag Drop.
Self Bag Tagging & Drop:
 Passenger can print the bag tags at home or at the self service Kiosk installed at airports.
 Attach the printed bag tag to each checked bag.
 Take the self-tagged baggage to the designated drop-off location.
Benefits
 Reduced queue at check-in counters.
 Improves customer service efficiency.
 Reduced staff. Staff required only to assist passengers who are needing help.
 Multiple bag tag printing Kiosks installed at the airport terminal speeds up the bag check-in process.
 Saves on airport’s terminal expansion, if any, due to passenger growth.

5. Self Boarding
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Automated (Self) Boarding
Self boarding is fast catching up at airports world around. This is an automated process that allows passengers to self-
scan the boarding pass to board the flight. This eliminates the need of physical boarding desk and number of staff
processing boarding.
Self Boarding:
 At the gate multiple boarding pass scanners is installed and fewer staff deployed only to assist passengers needing help
 Passengers checking in through Kiosk, web or mobile device, get either printed or (barcode) e-boarding pass on their
mobile device
 Passengers scan the boarding pass (paper or mobile device) in the scanner to get past the gate
 Boarding pass scanner authenticates passengers by verifying the passenger data from Departure Control (System) data
Benefits
 Multiple boarding lines possible at each gate.
 Fewer staff needed, only to assist passengers.
 Reduced boarding time.
 Improves flights on-time performance.
 A happy and satisfied customer.
 Allows time for staff to interact with passengers and to provide better service.
 Saves on airport’s terminal expansion, if any due to passenger growth pressure.

6. Automated Document Authentication
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Automated Passport Control (Kiosks)
Automated Passport Control expedites entry process by providing and automated process where travellers use Kiosks to
submit their customs declaration form and biographic information. Instead of filling out a paper Customs declaration
form, eligible passengers can proceed directly to the Automated Passport Control kiosks in the passport control area.
Self Authentication:
 Passengers can proceed directly to the Automated Passport Control kiosks in the passport control area.
 Travelers are prompted to scan their passport, take a photograph using the kiosk, and answer a series of questions
verifying biographic and flight information.
 A receipt is issued.
 Travelers bring their passport and receipt to a Customs and Border Protection Officer to finalize their inspection for
entry.
Benefits
 Shorter wait time for travellers
 Faster processing of document authentication
 Reduced queue

7. Automation

8. Beacon
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Beacon
Airlines says that 65% of passengers arrive at their gate early because they are worried about being late or getting lost.
Most arriving passengers at airports struggle to locate bags.
Airlines are fast taking up use of beacon location detection coupled with the addition of feature like Bluetooth low
energy (BLE) to enhance mobile app to combat many of these challenges and give passengers travelling through the
airports accurate way-finding information, location based offers and enhanced personalized passenger experience.
Beacons are low-cost, low-powered transmitters equipped with Bluetooth Low Energy or BLE (also called Bluetooth 4.0
or Bluetooth Smart) that can be used to deliver proximity-based, context-aware messages customized for each
passenger. Beacons are detected by apps within range of 0 to 100 m.
Benefits
 The strategy of giving personalized services such as discounts
at duty free shops based on personalized information like
birthday, anniversary etc. would make passengers feel special
and valued throughout their travel with the airline.
Uses:
 Passengers can receive service like auto check-in,
estimated walk time to several locations like
check-in counters, security check, duty free shops,
boarding gate or auto popup of boarding pass etc.

9. Automated Security for Terminal Entrance
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Barcode on Air Tickets
People entering Airport on fake tickets has become a serious problem. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security in India has
been working with the airlines to get a barcode on all air tickets for authenticity check. Barcode on tickets would ensure
passengers with valid tickets would enter the airport.
Benefits
 Enhanced Airport security.
 Ensures only authorized passengers enter the airport terminal.
 Eliminates the need to rely on security agents judgement at all
time.
Barcode Implementation:
 Airlines would barcode on tickets/Itinerary issued.
 A barcode scanner at the gate would scan the
barcode on the tickets/itinerary carried by the
passenger.
 Passenger with valid tickets would be allowed to
enter the airport terminal.

10. SITA’s Baggage Robot
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Leo the robot
Passenger at the Geneva airport now can skip the long queue to check in their luggage and instead can drop off their
luggage to a robot called Leo. Leo can collect luggage from airline passenger and check it in for them. Additionally it can
weigh, print bag tags & bag receipts, display gate number & check-in time, and transport 2 luggage at a time to bag drop
area where staff can load it on conveyer belt.
It is programmed to avoid obstacles and passengers.
Benefits
 Reduced queue at the check-in counter/kiosk for check-in and
bag drop .
 Passenger can directly move to security check.
 Futuristic step towards fully automated airport.
How it works:
 Passenger arriving at the airport can drop their luggage in
available robot and scan their boarding pass for flight
information.
 Leo the robot prints bag tags and displays gate number & check-
in time.
 Passenger attaches the bag tags to luggage.
 The robot prints the receipt and locks the luggage in its container.
 The robot moves to bag drop location where an agent picks up
the luggage and drops off on conveyer belt.

11. IATA Initiatives
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‘Mobile Self Service’ FAST Travel at Airports
IATA’s Fast Travel Program is addressing passenger demands for more choice, convenience, and control through self-
service options in the following areas:
 Check-in: Allows passengers to receive their boarding pass via self-
service channels (automated, web, mobile phone or kiosk), avoiding
long lines at check-in desks.
 Bags ready-to-go: Enables passengers to self tag their bags ready for
acceptance, speeding up the check-in and bag drop process.
 Document check: Allows passengers to scan their travel documents
at kiosks for data verification and onward transmission to
government agencies, avoiding ID checks at check-in desks or gates.
 Flight re-booking: Enables passengers to proactively handle the re-
booking for cancelled or delayed flights and obtain a new boarding
pass via a self-service kiosk, avoiding long lines at transfer desks.
 Self-boarding: Provides automated boarding processes for
passengers, reducing boarding queues.
 Bag recovery: Allows passengers to report a missing bag at a kiosk,
over the web or mobile instead of waiting in line at a baggage
service counter.
 Lower costs: Fast Travel will save up to US$2.1 billion across the industry every year*.
 Passengers will have options for more control over their journey and complete airport formalities faster.
 Self-service facilities will free up airport space for other use – they occupy less space than traditional check-in desks
and reduce passenger queues.
Benefits

12. Sustainability & Going Green

13. Innovative Airport Design
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Sustainability
Growing trend is sustainability embedded into every part of the airport design. The buildings are able to heat and cool
by clever ventilation rather than air-conditioning. Building are designed to harvest rainwater and sunlight to be able to
re-use. Intelligently designed ventilation also work for lighting. This reduces dependency and saves on energy.
San Diego International Airport, USA is one example of innovative design that has its own storm drain filtration system
that helps to prevent pollution of the local water, and is landscaped to incorporate a variety of drought-tolerant plants –
ideal for southern California’s hot, dry climate.
Its roof reflects heat to reduce the need for air-conditioning, while natural light and ventilation is used wherever
possible.
Galapagos Ecological Airport, Ecuador is another example of innovative design of self sustainable airport. For instance,
the terminal is positioned at a 45-degree angle a safe distance from the runway, ensuring that aircraft emissions can’t
enter the building and reducing noise levels.
The building also makes extensive use of mechanical skylights fitted with sensors, which automatically open and close in
response to changes air temperature: a much smarter and more eco-friendly system than air-conditioning.
In addition to all this, Galapagos Ecological Airport operates its own desalination plant, which reduces water wastage by
converting seawater into usable water.
Galapagos Ecological Airport,
Ecuador
México City International
Airport, México
San Diego International Airport,
USA
O'Hare International Airport,
Chicago, USA
AIRPORTS

14. Green Airport
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Going Green
Modern airports are fast adopting use of renewable energies, such as, solar and wind
energy to make airport greener.
Every effort is made to reduce carbon footprint. Number of airports around the world
are adopting solar panels and trying to produce own green and renewable energy. In
effort to go green different airports around the world have introduced LED lights on
runways and in other parts of airports. Airports terminals are designed with ventilation
that would provide natural lights and air. Light weight steel and glass and recycled
materials are used in construction to reduce carbon footprint.
Cochin International Airport, India, uses a battery of over 46,000 solar panels that supply
100% of its energy needs. The solar panels produces between 50,000 and 60,000 units
of electricity every day: enough to cover Cochin’s usage and even sell some on to India’s
National Grid.
Galapagos Ecological Airport, Ecuador, runs on 100% renewable energy – 65% wind and
35% solar.
San Diego International Airport, USA, replaced the lights on its runways and airfield signs
with LEDs, and today it operates a 3.3-megawatt solar array that produces 12.5% of its
overall energy needs.

15. sanju.sinha@gmail.com
Thank you
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