SITA has released the results of its biometric-enabled Proof of Concept (PoC) designed to support a low-touch passenger experience and optimize passenger processing at Istanbul Airport (iGA).
The company says its six-month trial showed a 30% reduction in boarding times and increased satisfaction of participating passengers and airlines. The biometric solution enabled airline agents to enroll passengers on the existing SITA Flex common-use check-in counters. Once enrolled, passengers were able to simply scan their face at every step of the journey, for security check, lounge access and boarding, without having to touch any surfaces.
The PoC conducted with Turkish Airlines involved the use of biometric technology across multiple touchpoints. These included a common use terminal (CUTE) for Smart Path enrollment, a Pax Check boarding pass verification point where passengers gain access to the gates, iGA lounge access verification and boarding gate verification.
Hani El-Assaad, president, Middle East, India & Africa (MEIA), SITA said, “SITA is considered as the technology partner of iGA in terms of airport systems and operations, with solutions implemented throughout the airport. This latest PoC harnesses existing SITA technology infrastructure including SITA Smart Path and SITA Flex to further optimize passenger processing at a time when safety and efficiency are in sharp focus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Ersin Inankul, chief digital and commercial officer at iGA, added, “Despite the challenging economic environment we are confident that smart technology implementations are crucial to boost passenger confidence and increase the airport’s efficiency. Istanbul Airport is a technology-driven airport and we’re proud to be leading the way in terms of low-touch smart systems that can help keep passengers safe while reducing operational burdens on the airport.”