SITA slashes passenger processing time at Istanbul Airport with smart low touch solution

SITA, the technology provider for the air transport industry, today announced 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 six-month trial showed a 30% reduction in boarding times and increased satisfaction of participating passengers and airlines, as well as reducing risks associated with COVID-19 thanks to the low-touch passenger journey.

The intuitive biometric solution allowed airline agents to easily enrol 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 way, from security check, lounge access, and boarding, without having to touch any surfaces.

The PoC conducted with Turkish Airlines involved the use of sophisticated biometric technology across multiple touchpoints. These included a common use terminal (CUTE) for Smart Path enrolment, a PaxCheck 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.”

Safety and operational efficiency have become critical factors for airports and airlines to emerge from the pandemic according to the latest SITA IT Insights report. As passengers return to the skies, new health-focused processes such as PCR test verification present operational challenges to reduce congestion at airports.

Ersin Inankul, Chief Digital & Commercial Officer, 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.”