The Flight Token biometrics solution at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) has been voted the Best Innovation in Airport Passenger-Related Processes in the Amadeus and ACI World Technology Innovation Awards 2021.
Flight Token was rolled out after the airport’s launch of e-security gates and e-boarding gates in Terminal 1 in 2018 and 2020 respectively. The solution begins with departing passengers scanning their passports and completing the check-in procedures at the touchless, self-service, smart check-in kiosks in HKIA’s departures hall. It then creates a biometric token containing the passengers’ travel documents and boarding pass information, enabling passengers to move on to the self-bag-drop counters, where the camera validates their identities and they can drop off their baggage. After that, passengers need only scan their faces again at the e-security gates and e-boarding gates without having to show their travel documents and boarding passes again. Flight Token therefore speeds up the whole departure journey since the technology removes the need for repeated document checks. For this reason, Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) is installing biometric cameras and touchless features at all its self-bag-drop counters and smart check-in kiosks and conducting trials with airlines for the full implementation of Flight Token at HKIA.
Vivian Cheung, executive director of airport operations at AAHK, said, “It is our honor to receive the prestigious award, which recognized our effort in enhancing passengers’ experience through applying technological innovations to provide passengers with a seamless airport journey. Flight Token not only speeds up the departure process of passengers but also effectively improves the accuracy of document and identity checking compared with manual check. It also enables minimal people interaction, which is favorable for creating a touchless environment for air travelers given the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Click here to download a video about HKIA’s biometric solution.
HKIA 3RS Update
Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) has redesignated the existing North Runway (07L/25R) at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) as the Centre Runway (07C/25C), signifying an important milestone for the expansion of the airport into a three-runway system (3RS).
The new Third Runway will be put into operation in 2022. However, prior to that, the existing North Runway must be redesignated as the Centre Runway (07C/25C) according to International Civil Aviation Organization requirements. At midnight on December 2, the North Runway of HKIA was closed to undergo the final redesignation procedures.
Vivian Cheung, executive director of airport operations at AAHK, said, “We are pleased to see the smooth operation of redesignating the North Runway. Though the final changeover took only one night, the entire process started over a year ago, involving meticulous planning and close communications with other runway users. Apart from system upgrade and airfield works, all necessary updates on equipment, operation plans, procedures and manuals have been updated as well.”
Click here to download a video about the runway redesignation.