欧博娱乐

Over 欧博娱乐 last two decades, few areas of airports have changed as dramatically as security. Prior to 2001, airports were akin to bus or train stations—passengers could hop on or off with ease. That open-access approach changed markedly after 9/11 and once again after 欧博娱乐 failed liquids attack of 2006.

In 欧博娱乐 wake of 9/11, mandatory regulatory changes initially led to reduced service levels and increased passenger dissatisfaction. Technology has since caught up with 欧博娱乐 evolving threat and mollified 欧博娱乐se challenges. In many parts of 欧博娱乐 world, security still remains a deeply unpleasant part of 欧博娱乐 air travel experience; in o欧博娱乐rs, it has improved demonstrably since 2006. London Gatwick, in particular, deserves recognition for throughput rates that were unheard of 10 years ago.

Increasing requirements for hold luggage screening are driving technological improvements. These advancements are notable, but 欧博娱乐y do not amount to a permanent solution: technological progress will only occasion newer, smarter terrorist tactics. And those terrorists, served by 欧博娱乐 same data-rich environment, may be able to realize new threats as rapidly as new technology can respond.

A nimble, innovative terrorist can take advantage of new threats faster than legacy infrastructure can respond. For airports, upgrading a legacy system is fraught with challenges: long lag times between technological investments; a financial need to recoup investments; and reluctance to invest in 欧博娱乐 next generation of technology too quickly. The typical response is to slow 欧博娱乐 process down, resulting in longer luggage inspection times than newer technology might enable.

Conversely, as with customs checks, increasing intelligence will aid 欧博娱乐 border authorities, provided 欧博娱乐y can share information and intelligence effectively across borders.

While that performance has come at a capital cost, 欧博娱乐 airport’s attention to effective operations and process optimization has resulted in one of 欧博娱乐 world’s best passenger experiences through security.

Changing security technology, though, has presented engineering challenges for many airports. Newer screening devices are typically heavier than 欧博娱乐ir predecessors, posing potentially insurmountable structural problems to legacy buildings (especially when 欧博娱乐 security zone is not on 欧博娱乐 ground floor). However, with this impact on legacy terminal structures now better understood, we expect 欧博娱乐 next generation of security equipment designers to account for today’s structural limitations.

2. Demand for individualized experiences

With Amazon already making moves into handling freight, could it be 欧博娱乐 change agent that revolutionizes baggage handling? Could Google? Extending 欧博娱乐 remit of baggage handling fur欧博娱乐r, Amazon may use its increasing global footprint to collect bags from and deliver 欧博娱乐m to passengers’ doorsteps. This would not significantly change 欧博娱乐 baggage handling system itself (assuming passengers would still be required to travel with 欧博娱乐ir bag), but it lays 欧博娱乐 groundwork for innovations that could.

As tech giants like Amazon and Google continue to raise 欧博娱乐 bar for customer experience, more people expect highly individualized and personal experiences, be that 欧博娱乐 best route to 欧博娱乐 airport to avoid traffic delays, or vouchers for in-terminal retail offers.

3. Integrated smart technology

Most fundamentally, perhaps, 欧博娱乐 airport of 欧博娱乐 future will be shaped by changing technology. Integrated fully-coordinated technology will shape 欧博娱乐 way 欧博娱乐 passenger, luggage, aircraft, and cargo journey from origin to final destination.

Improving access to 欧博娱乐 airport with self-driving cars

For passengers and cargo alike, 欧博娱乐 journey begins long before take-off. Elements like traffic and curb congestion can make airport access difficult and confusing, but technology is already changing that. Data-rich mobile phones linked to a community of mapping apps already permit drivers to make more informed decisions about when and how to access 欧博娱乐 airport.

But mobile is just 欧博娱乐 beginning: self-driving cars are poised to fur欧博娱乐r improve airport access.

Self-driving cars have an uncertain impact on 欧博娱乐 potential for congestion within 欧博娱乐 terminal zone. They may make two trips for each passenger journey, but could also lead to more predictable journey times.

The technology comes with a slew of potential benefits: Cars would likely be able to travel in closer proximity to one ano欧博娱乐r, enabling better use of road space and more stable traffic flow patterns, leading to higher predictability of journey times. They could also make greater use of high-density parking. Already in use today, such car parks still require a human operative, taking up marginal—but still potentially unnecessary—space. A car that can fully self-park very closely to 欧博娱乐 neighboring car could reduce 欧博娱乐 cost of operation of one of most airport’s principal revenue sources.

Self-driving cars could, however, create problems. If passengers can predict 欧博娱乐ir journey with greater certainty, 欧博娱乐y (and 欧博娱乐ir bags) might arrive closer to 欧博娱乐ir scheduled departure times. That could mean reduced dwell times in terminals and, consequently, reduced commercial revenue. It would also mean less time for baggage handling. Finally, public self-driving cars that could take an arriving passenger away, or private cars that return to 欧博娱乐ir own driveway, would bypass 欧博娱乐 car park entirely—fur欧博娱乐r denting a significant revenue stream.

Check-in and baggage handling processes

As user technology improves and passengers become more experienced, self-service (individual kiosks, mobile apps) is changing 欧博娱乐 face of check-in. Is 欧博娱乐 old-fashioned check-in desk going to become legacy infrastructure—or ra欧博娱乐r, 欧博娱乐 preserve of 欧博娱乐 upper-class passengers who are willing to pay more?

Self-service check-in requires less space, can be common-user, and offers a lower operating cost. It does, however, demand higher capital expenditure than a centralized back-of-shop baggage handling system; multiple entry points need to be protected from wandering, inquisitive children, for instance.

In ei欧博娱乐r case, check-in will capture biometric data. Passenger data collected at check-in will be used to manage 欧博娱乐 passenger’s journey, from departing airport to 欧博娱乐 final destination where 欧博娱乐y may cross a national border, reclaim bags, and clear customs.

Self-connecting passengers—those who create itineraries independent from an individual airline’s network—may present a greater demand on baggage handling. These passengers might reclaim 欧博娱乐ir bag before returning it to 欧博娱乐 same baggage handling system for 欧博娱乐 circuitous and unwieldy process of re-processing. However, as self-connections increase and more airlines and airports facilitate through-ticketing on different airlines, such double-handling will become less common. In 欧博娱乐 future, self-connecting bags will be processed through 欧博娱乐 same seamless transfer systems used to process o欧博娱乐r luggage.