Articles tagged “sita”

Airlines and airports own SITA, but the two groups are at odds over who controls passenger data. New CEO Barbara Dalibard shows signs of having enough finesse to keep the company unified.

Consumers are more comfortable with biometrics than ever, and we can probably thank Apple for that. Now airlines are starting to ask whether they might use facial recognition, fingerprints or iris scans to make the passenger experience better. Here's hoping they succeed.

Abu Dhabi is preparing for dramatic growth ahead of demand by modernizing IT systems and introducing more automation to the passenger process. This is a general trend at major international hubs, which serve as convenient transfer terminals for extra long-haul flights, and want to have passengers spending more time shopping or dining and less time standing in line.

Baggage drop systems complement today's self-serve travel process. Passengers increasingly using early check-in via the airline app, or avoiding the queue at the check-in desk. But having your electronic boarding pass ready on your smartphone when you get to the terminal loses its convenience if you have to wait in line for the check-in desk, just to drop off your bag.

Singapore Airlines has built a reputation on offering a comfortable long-haul flying experience and adding high-speed connections to the mix fits in with today's trends for the onboard services passengers value most.

The thinking behind this is that tap-tap and connect is easier for passengers—and more intuitive to mobile-device users—than loading a portal and entering information to connect through a browser. There's something to that. The beacon ‘reminders’ to use the connection, however, will have to be designed carefully so they don’t annoy.

When you connect the dots the fact that only 12% of passengers are willing to pay for extras but over 90% of them want to enjoy them calls airline’s up-selling strategies into question.

Technology promises to improve the passenger experience around the world, with projects ongoing in every region, but dramatic growth in Asia makes it the perfect testing ground for cutting-edge programs.

As the use of beacons to connect with customers becomes commonplace in other areas of life, such as retail, aviation will have an easier time making passengers comfortable with these exchanges. The trick is data exchange with airports, and between airlines. The commercial and strategic value of the Big Data airlines gather about us at various stages of the journey makes them loathe to share too much.

The growth of connectivity and entertainment in-flight is both encouraging and impressive. We still feel the birds-eye view from the window is the most thrilling and entertaining thing about being on a plane, but it's great to have something to do when the lights are off.