Prioritising the Passenger Journey at the HIA
The Hamad International Airport, or HIA, is the only international airport in Qatar. Passenger numbers fell during the pandemic, but the airport has recently seen a marked increase in traffic as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted across the world. This has resulted in a 381% increase in passenger traffic between April 2020 and April 2021.
As the airport returns to pre-pandemic traffic levels, HIA management teams will be starting to think about how to streamline the passenger journey in one of the world’s busiest airports.
What is the Passenger Journey?
The passenger journey is the journey each passenger takes throughout each area of an airport, from arriving at the airport to checking in and boarding the plane. Streamlining the passenger journey is key to improving customer satisfaction, as well as managing airport traffic by reducing the amount of time each passenger has to spend at each stage of the journey.
Broadly speaking, a passenger journey includes:
– Arriving at the airport, including any identity and security checks made here.
– Placing flight bookings and shopping at the airport.
– Checking in to a flight.
– Locating the flight terminal and boarding the plane.
– Collecting and dropping off baggage.
– Getting through security and border control.
The passenger journey can take an hour or more, making it a substantial consideration both for passengers themselves and airport managers.
How can the HIA use technology to put the passenger journey at the forefront of airport management?
Streamlining the passenger journey has been made possible by modern technology. Contactless technology is playing a huge role in improving the passenger journey; it can be used to help when dealing with safety checks and queues, allowing large volumes of passengers to check-in quickly and quietly. Of course, in a post-Covid world, contactless technology will also play an important role in minimizing virus transmission across the airport.
The HIA can also make use of surveillance technology in a similar way, using surveillance to manage baggage volumes and security queues. CCTV and other kinds of surveillance can also be used to feedback data relating to runway and flight status which can then be communicated to passengers using apps and text notifications: if a flight is boarding late, let your passengers know sooner rather than later.
From biometric scanners to notifications and apps, much of the technology that is employed in airports around the world is designed to make the passenger journey faster and more efficient. But what about making it more pleasant? Simple investments into air conditioning and dining facilities can also help to improve the passenger journey.
How can Bayanat Engineering help to improve the passenger journey at the HIA?
At HIA or any airport, it’s clear that technology is key to improving passenger journeys in the 21st century. At Bayanat Engineering, we can install a number of systems designed to improve passenger journeys and streamline workloads for airport staff at the same time, including:
– Passenger check-in and boarding solutions (CUTE/CUPPS)
– Baggage Reconciliation Systems (BRS)
– Baggage Handling Systems (BHS)
– Queue Management Systems (QMS)
– Passenger Tracking Systems
Using our IT solutions, you can track and record the passenger journey in your airport, identifying areas for improvement and installing cutting-edge technology to streamline the passenger journey from entry to takeoff.
The HIA is consistently ranked as one of the world’s top airports, in part because the management team working at the HIA is willing to invest in world-leading technology with a focus on improving passenger satisfaction.
To find out more about our airport IT solutions, contact us today at Bayanat Engineering.