Airports bracing themselves up to handle renewed passenger traffic in 2021

Safer travel technologies to drive the post-pandemic world

Touch-free experiences top health safety priority

Real-time customer services to be at the forefront

Airports to be more passenger-centric and IT-driven by 2025

Global Airport Construction market to reach US$1.4 trillion by 2025

DXB continues improvising to remain an ideal destination in the future

After a bleak year due to the global travel restrictions following the coronavirus pandemic since March 2020, airports are expected to be humming with activity again in 2021 with a surge in passengers travelling across the borders.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has predicted global revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) improving by 50 per cent with passenger numbers forecast to grow to 2.8 billion – with the opening of borders by mid-2021 – one billion more travellers than in 2020.  Representing 290 airlines or 82 per cent of total global air traffic, it remarked that people have not lost their desire to travel and travel rebounded where barriers have been removed. It had been projected earlier that Arabian Gulf airports will be handling 450 million passengers a year once the travel returns to 2019 levels.

Reed Exhibitions Middle East, organisers of the Airport Show, the world’s leading airport industry B2B platform has rescheduled the event’s 20^th edition in Dubai for three days from 24^th May at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). The organisers have said that the airport industry, after a year of unprecedented strain, challenges and changes, has a renewed sense of optimism as it enters 2021 with traffic gradually picking up as more travel corridors are established between important routes. As the airports are getting themselves ready and resetting themselves for the post-pandemic influx of travellers, they have started increasingly looking at the latest solutions and technologies to ensure safer travel until 2025 – and even beyond.

To be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, Airport Show-2021 will see the top decision-makers of key airports from across the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENASA) making their way to Dubai to search for new products and services for their facilities.  The 2021 show is planned to be held across 11000 square metres of exhibition space with exhibitors and participants from over 50 countries expected.  It will have two co-located events: Global Airport Leaders Forum (GALF) and ATC Forum, taking place for the sixth and third year respectively.  Two new conferences have also been added to GALF: Airport Passengers’ Experience and Airport Digital Transformation.

Ibrahim Ahli, Deputy CEO of Dubai Air Navigation Services (dans) which is the sole handler of air traffic movements at Dubai International Airport, the world’s number one airport for international travellers for the seventh consecutive year, said, “Portraying the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, that aims at making Dubai an airport for the world, we are adopting and implementing special strategic and future projects for the aviation sector which will promote the continuation in handling air traffic efficiently even during the challenging times of coronavirus pandemic. dans is fully equipped to utilise up-to-date technology to build synergy with our aviation and related stakeholders in overcoming challenges and fulfil the Emirate’s vision in utilizing innovative technologies to remain a hub of choice for passengers by offering the best services.”

He added, “We are working to enhance the efficiency of operations and carrying out systems upgrade for the safety and security of aircraft movements, much before the demand gathers further momentum. dans will continue improvising procedures, services and facilities to remain an ideal player today – and even in tomorrow’s aviation industry. The Airport Show will enable aviation professionals to gain ringside views of newer technologies and digitisation for a greater sweeping impact. Now and in the future, the Aviation service sector is set to proactively and extensively work smarter and have a more future-oriented outlook. Given the prevailing conditions across the world, Airport Show will be the ideal platform to get hold of anything and everything the industry requires.”

Daniyal Qureshi, Group Exhibition Director at Reed Exhibitions Middle East, said significant investments and upgrades will be taking place at airports globally to implement the new health, safety and technology adoption initiatives by IATA and Airports Council International (ACI) with Airport Show a central meeting place to showcase new innovations to industry players. Key changes expected to be implemented at airports over the next five years will focus on new IT-driven technology and solutions and adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain, Cloud, Remote Control and Drone Technology; new green targets and initiatives, and passenger-centric touch-less solutions, self-check-in/bag drop and mobile-enabled services. Airports have always been exploring new ways to simplify the overall travel experience by adopting smart technologies and solutions which one can find in plenty at  Airport Show, he said.

The global Airport Construction market is projected to reach US$1.4 trillion by 2025, driven by a growing government focus on building infrastructure for economic growth and societal evolution. According to an IATA study, over US$1.2 trillion is expected to be spent on global airport infrastructure development up to 2030. Another study says the global market for ‘smart’ airports is projected to reach US$23 billion by 2025. According to the Construction Intelligence Centre (CIC), airport-related construction projects in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) are valued at over US$222 billion, with over US$93 billion in the execution stage. In the MEA region, Saudi Arabia leads the airport construction pipeline with US$59 billion worth of projects, followed by the UAE with US$58 billion projects.  The Middle East ranks fourth out of six regions globally in terms of total investment value and it is by far the biggest market for the average spend per airport project, according to a report by Frost & Sullivan.

After only 12 months of construction time, the latest hangar of AMAC Aerospace has opened its doors to welcome the first mid-size jets. The new building offers space for up to 7 mid-size jets and adds 4’850m² respectively 30’000m² of new apron to the four existing hangars at EuroAirport in Basel, Switzerland.

Dedicated to mid-size jets

“We are proud to have managed this project successfully in this demanding time,” commented Bernd Schramm, Group COO of AMAC Aerospace. “The Hangar will be dedicated to mid-size jets maintenance and can accommodate up to 7 midsize jets like Bombardier Global or Challenger series or Gulfstream series or a combination thereof. The maintenance services for these types of aircraft were always high in demand and is steadily increasing due to our highly recognized quality of work.”

List of serviced mid-size jets serviced in Basel

·        Bombardier BD-700 (Global Express/Global Express XRS/Global 5000/Global 5500/Global 6000/Global 6500; as of April: Global 7500) series

·        Bombardier BD-100 series (CL 300/350)

·        Bombardier CL-600-2B16 series (CL 604/605/650)

·        Gulfstream GIV (G650/650ER), G450, GV Series, G550, G650, GVI, GVII (G500/G600)

·        Pilatus PC-12 series

·        Pilatus PC-24 series

Impressive wooden structure

AMAC’s hangars are famous for the wooden structure. The solid wood frame structures consist of several layers of wood; they are specially laminated to increase the rigidity and are harmoniously ecological. The wooden bars were cut and shaped in the factory, so by the time they reached Basel, they were ready to be installed like Lego bricks. The transport of the massive wooden beams was exceptional and impressive: eleven special-purpose trucks had to be organized to bring these wooden elements from Alsace to AMAC’s hangars at the EuroAirport Basel. 

Challenging construction site

To build the hangar construction, a pneumatic crane was needed. Since the crane did interfere with the safety distance of 7% to the runway, it had to be ready to be removed in a very short time. Given an emergency, that the runway had to be cleared, the crane had to be deconstructed within 20 minutes time. Fortunately, this was never the case, the project was spared from any accidents.

Three floors down

“Since Basel lies in a seismic area, safety comes first,” explains Philippe Schurrer, project manager and Director Safety & Security, Facility Management. “Several columns were sunk 6m down in the ground. The hangar is standing on these reinforced foundations which are able to absorb any shocks or vibrations. Hangar 2, 3 and 4 are built after the same principle, even going down to 8m, hangar 1 has the same depth as hangar 5,” he adds.

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) Ltd. today announced it had substantially completed the agreement with American Airlines signed in the third quarter of 2020 to deliver 18 new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.

Firoz Tarapore, Chief Executive Officer of DAE said: “This transaction reflects our agility, our balance sheet strength, our underwriting capability, our ability to assist one of our long-term customers and our belief in the product strength of the 737 MAX 8 aircraft. We are delighted to see an increasing number of global aviation regulators return the MAX to the skies. We wish American and Boeing great success.”

Ihssane Mounir, Senior Vice President of Commercial Sales and Marketing of The Boeing Company, added: “DAE is putting their purchasing strategy and growth plan in action and helping operators during this challenging time in our industry. We are delighted to once again partner with DAE to support a valued customer such as American Airlines and we are honored by their trust and confidence in the Boeing 737 family.”

Omeir Travel has strengthened its long-term relationship with Amadeus by extending their partnership. Since 2003, Amadeus has accompanied Omeir Travel in its digital transformation and the development of integrated travel services for consumers in the UAE and from around the world.

This continued collaboration comes as Omeir Travel plans expansion into more B2B and retail outlets in the UAE. The latest engagement also includes the development of an Omeir Travel one-stop-shop mobile app that meets customers’ hotel and flight needs and is expected to be introduced to the UAE market very soon.

In recognition of the ever-changing needs of the travel sector, Omeir Travel has deployed Amadeus’ cutting-edge travel technology solutions to maintain a competitive edge. Amadeus has driven automation throughout the agency’s operations and provided optimisation intelligence tools to find the best fares and ensure the highest quality of service.  This also improves product customisation, which enables the delivery of an enhanced customer experience, both online and in-store.

Abdulla Bin Omeir, CEO at Omeir Travel Agency, said: “With the travel sector constantly evolving, our business must stay agile to not only keep up, but to stay ahead. Our partnership with Amadeus has allowed us to do this with resounding success. It makes me very pleased to extend our relationship once more. Our ambition is to provide customers with tailored services and a superior experience, which Amadeus helps make possible.”

Ernesto Sanchez Beaumont, Managing Director of Amadeus Gulf, noted: “Amadeus is known for its long-lasting relationships, such as the one we have with Omeir Travel. We are pleased to see the role our technology has played in the growth, digitisation, and optimisation of Omeir Travel during our ongoing collaboration that spans nearly two decades. We will continue to support them with our worldwide experience and leading technology-based solutions as the business enters an exciting new stage of expansion.”  

SITA today announces the launch of Health Protect – an industry solution, to help airlines, airports, governments, and passengers safely and securely share information on health tests or vaccinations needed during travel.

Successful trials have already been undertaken with travelers to the United Arab Emirates, and soon to start at Milan Malpensa Airport.

For many countries, economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic relies heavily on travel and tourism. As governments globally seek a way to resume safe and secure travel in the wake of COVID-19, the ability for passengers to share vital health information such as PCR test results or vaccination history with authorities is increasingly important. SITA’s Health Protect allows airlines and passengers to submit these required documents safely and securely in line with specific government requirements.

A key benefit is a unique ability to seamlessly integrate with multiple travel pass or ‘health passport’ schemes, bridging the gap between these schemes and aviation and border processes. Critically, by incorporating Advance Passenger Processing (APP), it enables authorities to make an informed decision whether a passenger can travel at the point of check-in, improving the safety of all passengers and avoiding costly return flights.

Passengers without the required documentation, or considered high risk, will be unable to check in for their flight, ensuring they do not travel to the airport. By facilitating the inclusion of health pass schemes into existing, proven, and trusted passenger processing systems, Health Protect minimizes the operational and technical impact on carriers and ports.

Combining the functionality of passenger locator forms, health attestations, and travel declarations, as well as Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), Health Protect will deliver confidence for all stakeholders to travel again, safely and securely, supporting a seamless and contactless passenger journey. It will also provide passenger certainty that they have the right documents before departure, vitally at a time when borders regulations change regularly.

At the airport, Health Protect also integrates with the existing airport passenger processing systems to verify the health status of the passenger at each point in the process using SITA Flex touchless passenger flow monitoring technology.

David Lavorel, CEO of AIRPORTS & BORDERS at SITA, said: “We’re excited for the potential of SITA Health Protect to bridge the gap between airlines resuming normal operations and governments’ strong focus on keeping control of COVID-19. Recovery from COVID-19 will take time and is complex but we believe that SITA can play a key role in enabling a safer, simpler travel experience for passengers.”

Proven success

This week for the first time, a small group of air travelers flying from Germany and Estonia to the United Arab Emirates has tested the health data platform and app SimplyGo in a live environment. As part of the trial project, SimplyGo partnered with SITA to make use of SITA Health Protect.

During the trial, travelers obtained a negative COVID-19 result via their SimplyGo app before traveling. The data was then securely stored on the SimplyGo platform to be accessed by airlines and border officials authorizing boarding of the plane and eventually arrival at the destination country, the United Arab Emirates. Integration with the UAE government systems was made possible through the Advance Passenger Processing platform delivered by SITA.

Integrating SimplyGo with APP forms part of SITA’s Health Protect ecosystem, simplifying and automating the inclusion of health data into existing airline, airport, and government processes. By adapting APP to meet the current health demands of COVID-19, passengers can be processed faster and experience a more enjoyable journey while the airport benefits from improved efficiency and security.

Similarly, SEA Milan Airports, Italy’s second busiest airport, is collaborating with SITA to pilot an innovative platform that digitalizes declarations on COVID-19 tested flights and manages the testing process at Milan Malpensa (MXP) airport.

SITA continues to work closely with governments globally to support them in the safe reopening of borders. SITA is working with the Australian Government, airlines, and airports to support the implementation of strong border controls that have helped minimize and manage the pandemic’s impacts nationally. This approach has positioned Australia well for the safe reopening of borders into the future.

For the first time, a small group of air travelers flying from Germany and Estonia to the United Arab Emirates has tested the health data platform and app SimplyGo in a live environment. As part of the trial project, SimplyGo is partnering with technology provider SITA. SITA’s advanced technology platforms and experience in border management, airport, and airline operations were crucial in distributing the SimplyGo platform across continents.

Ahead of the trial, some travelers obtained negative Covid-19 results via their SimplyGo app before boarding. Another group had a positive result or did not have a test done at all. They were ultimately denied check-in and boarding. The data was then securely stored on the SimplyGo platform to be accessed by airlines and border officials authorizing boarding of the plane and eventual arrival at the destination country, the United Arab Emirates. Integration to the UAE government systems was made possible through the Advance Passenger Processing (APP) platform delivered by SITA. Integrating SimplyGo with APP forms part of SITA’s Health Protect ecosystem, simplifying and automating the inclusion of health data into existing airline, airport, and government processes.

Enable traveling again with secure data infrastructure

Both direct and connecting flights were successfully tested. Travelers were able to fly roundtrip from Munich to the United Arab Emirates and from Tallinn to the United Arab Emirates via Frankfurt. In both examples, the SimplyGo platform stored their approved COVID-19 test results, and, at the point of check-in, the traveler was approved or denied traveling by the relevant border officials using SITA APP.

Peter Bauer, the founder of SimplyGo, said: “The trial demonstrated that SimplyGo technology supports travelers and airlines in adhering to health requirements and secure systems. The app is extremely simple for travelers to use. Just a few clicks and users securely store their COVID-19 test or vaccination information, making it accessible for airlines and border officials. There’s no paperwork or bar code at the check-in needed; all data is managed securely and highly protected from fraud. This trial is the first step in rolling out SimplyGo, to help restore confidence in air travel and to ensure safer and more efficient air travel for all.”

Jeremy Springall, Vice-President SITA AT BORDERS, said: “As the technology provider for the air transport industry, we are working closely with governments, industry bodies, and border organizations globally to mitigate health risks of travel during the pandemic.  

“SITA’s Health Protect ecosystem enables interoperability and acts as a bridge between health passport schemes, airlines, airports, and governments. It comprises a suite of solutions, including SITA Health ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization), SITA APP, and SITA Flex for in-airport passenger flow monitoring. Selecting the right combination of products and integrating with a health pass system like SimplyGo, ensures governments are aware of who is intending to travel and their health status. Governments can then make informed decisions on who to allow to travel. We’re excited for the potential of SITA‘s Health Protect ecosystem to support the industry recovery in 2021 and enable safer, simpler travel experiences for passengers.”

SimplyGo integrating with global platforms

One of the founders of SimplyGo, Nortal, is a member of the Estonian consortium of IT companies involved in the joint initiative of the Estonian government and the WHO, working to provide a trusted framework for vaccination data globally. SimplyGo and the consortium are working on the global interoperability standards to enable travelers control over secure access and the sharing of COVID-19 and other medical-related data for travel purposes.

Following the trial, the deployment will be further optimized and made available for broader distribution to customers. 

Creating the new norm of traveling

With SimplyGo, travelers and the transportation industry alike benefit from a highly secure and GDPR-compliant data platform with standardized gateways and state-of-the-art technology. Only officially accredited medical providers can transmit personal data. This brings the possibility of fraud to a minimum. Personal data is under full control of the user and can always be hosted in their country of residence under respective rules and regulations. A user has to actively give access to their data and can withdraw it anytime.