Imagine it's 2030 and you're heading to the airport to catch a flight. At the curb, hop on a Segway-like scooter that serves as the airport's personal vehicle. Scan data from your phone to determine your gate number, glide in and out of giant elevator banks without escalators, and move between check-in and security floors. Along the way, a machine will scan your face to confirm your identity and you will be guided through a separate security tunnel where your luggage will be self-inspected.
None of this is science fiction. Architecture firm Gensler says it will install such a prototype at a major North American airport within six years, with all of the above features.
“Airports are starting to move toward autonomy,” said Ty Osbaugh, Gensler's Global Cities Leader, who is leading the project. Airport innovation is moving faster than we think, and he predicts a focus on self-service to align with an already mainstream lifestyle that favors digital over physical interaction. says.
This isn't a new idea. Airports have been steadily increasing the use of biometric technology in recent years, with major cities such as New York, Dubai and Tokyo already implementing self-service security in experimental pilot programs (usually for travelers who have undergone pre-screening). Testing sites are beginning to be used.
All of this has a business rationale that goes far beyond convenience and modernization. As airport terminals are lengthened to accommodate larger planes, the need for more space between gates to get in and out of parking spaces means airlines are having trouble getting passengers to their gates on time. They are struggling and find themselves missing flights and connections as a result.
Technology enhancements will help airlines run smoother and more efficient flights by ensuring passengers arrive at their gates on time and connect faster. Osbaugh says these changes will eventually become standard practice in the industry.
Upgrading existing airport terminals is a time-consuming and expensive undertaking, often costing hundreds of millions or even billions of dollars. Like New York-area airports Newark International Airport (EWR) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA), both of which opened facilities last year. A large-scale renovation on a 10-digit scale.
Change is happening at an unprecedented pace, thanks to aggressive funding from the Biden administration. This month, the company allocated nearly $1 billion in grants to 100 U.S. airports, something it has done annually starting in 2022. Still, no single feature remains, such as the self-screening security tunnel introduced this year at Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas. Research, development, and testing can take more than five years.
Osbaugh believes security screening could eventually lead to a specially designed smart car picking you up at your home before you even arrive at the airport.
It may take some time. For now, here are five of his innovations you'll see by the end of the year.
Self-service security inspection
Location: Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
How it works: Imagine going through the security screening process without interacting with a TSA officer. (Watch on video.) Travelers departing from his LAS with a TSA PreCheck permit will soon be able to do this. The program was scheduled to roll out in January, but the Department of Homeland Security and TSA confirmed exclusively to Bloomberg that the pilot program will roll out in early March.
Travelers access self-service lanes through the TSA PreCheck line. Digital ID authentication opens the gate to access them. You will be tracked by a camera that doubles as a metal detector, and your movements will be monitored remotely. Just like in a supermarket, you place items such as your luggage and cell phone on a conveyor belt. If something is detected in your pocket, a video screen that acts like a mirror will show you where it is. If everything is completed successfully, a green prompt will appear and the automatic exit door will open, allowing you to go outside and find the gate. If further screening is required, a red prompt will appear and you will be subject to additional screening by a TSA officer. Instructions are projected in real time. If you need real-time assistance, you can use the help button to call her TSA officer.
As with most new technologies, this will initially be optional and will be a new experience for early adopters rather than an immediate replacement for familiar systems. It may seem like a distant future, but the engineers responsible for its development are already hard at work on an even more advanced version.
face recognition
Venues: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA), Los Angeles International Airport ( LAX), Dubai International Airport (DXB), Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK), Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
Next stop: Singapore Changi Airport (SIN)
How it works: Tagging and unloading checked baggage is being reduced to a simple facial scan, similar to identity verification before security. This means she no longer has to show her ID and boarding pass to an agent at the counter or in front of the security line. Instead, you smile into a small camera, as if you were taking an ID photo in a corporate office building, and the airline's software scans your image and checks it against a database to verify your identity.
American Airlines has such a system in place for pre-check travelers at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), and United Airlines is doing so at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD). Dubai and Frankfurt are among the international airports that have introduced this technology. Delta Air Lines' digital ID facial recognition program recently expanded to JFK, LGA, and LAX after a successful three-year pilot in Atlanta and Detroit. To use Delta's system, you need TSA PreCheck and a SkyMiles number, and your passport number must be saved in the Fly Delta app. (Eligible travelers will receive a special push notification when they are at an airport that has this technology installed.)
Expect more in the near future. Singapore will allow outbound travelers to use biometrics in place of physical passports to pass through border checks early this year.
autonomous wheelchair
Locations: Kansai International Airport (KIX), Narita International Airport (NRT), Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV), Haneda Airport (HND), Winnipeg Richardson International Airport (YWG)
Coming up next: Zurich Airport (ZRH) How it works: With accessible travel at an all-time high and demand for wheelchair pushing services at airports increasing, airlines are scrambling to add staff. Swiss-based startup DAAV has designed a lightweight robotic electric wheelchair specifically for use at airports. Scan your mobile boarding pass and tell her where you're going, or select “Follow” on the built-in touchpad to have her second adult lead the way. Slim proportions allow it to fit into tight spaces such as security lines. Omni-directional steering allows you to navigate easily even in crowded areas. The pilot is scheduled to begin in Zurich by the end of this year.
Japanese mobility company WhILL has been working with Panasonic to develop autonomous wheelchairs since at least 2017. These models can already be seen at some airports in the United States and Japan, including Savannah and Haneda.
Pre-booked security time slot
Locations: Approximately 24 airports in North America and Europe, including Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS), London Heathrow (LHR), LAX, and Singapore.
Next stop: Barcelona El Prat Airport (BCN) and Malaga Costa del Sol Airport (AGP)
How it works: If you make a reservation at a restaurant, you (in theory) don't have to wait at the bar. The same now applies to airport security lines, with many airports introducing online booking to avoid checkpoint queues. Details vary. Some airports allow you to make reservations three days in advance of your flight, while others allow you to start making reservations a week in advance. Most airports have a 20-30 minute arrival time, so you have some leeway.
The largest provider of this service is Clear, which is an international alternative to PreCheck. At 20 locations across North America and Europe, we offer free advance reservations to the general public (not just Clear members) through our Reserve program. Barcelona and Malaga will soon be offering this. Some airports, including Toronto's Pearson International Airport (YYZ), Denver International Airport (DEN), and Heathrow Airport, have rolled out their own initiatives, including one in October for travelers departing from Terminal 3. A six-month trial operation has begun.
Schiphol Airport was one of the first airports to measure demand for this service. In the first five months from March to August 2023, 500,000 security check bookings were recorded.
robot mini manicure
Locations: JFK, Las Vegas (LAS), Miami International Airport (MIA), Denver, Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City (OKC)
Where next: TBA
How it works: If you've ever walked by XpresSpa's stores in airports around the world and wondered who gets there early enough to get their nails done, these stores are now equipped with robotic “Mini Cure” Consider yourself one of the few stores in the world that offers “. Just 10 minutes. The treatment is done with the help of futuristic AI-powered machines like 3D printers. Follow the on-screen prompts to choose from dozens of colors. It tells you where to place your fingers so you can coat each nail perfectly.
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