The International Air Transport Association (Iata) and the Airports Council International (ACI) has launched a new initiative to explore advancements in technology and adapt them to handle the projected doubling of air travel demand by 2036.
The New Experience in Travel and Technologies (Nextt) initiative aims to enhance the on-ground transport experience, guide industry investments, and help governments improve their regulatory framework.
“We will not be able to handle the growth or evolving customer expectations with our current processes, installations and ways of doing business, and accommodating growth with ever-bigger airports will be increasingly difficult if not impossible,” said Iata director general and CEO, Alexandre de Juniac.
ACI director general, Angela Gittens, noted that Nextt would address these challenges by finding potential ways to integrate technological systems in order to reduce or eliminate queues and use space or resources more efficiently through deployment of artificial intelligence and robotics.
Nextt will specifically investigate how passengers, cargo, baggage and aircraft move through the complete travel journey with a focus on change in off-airport activities, advanced processing technology and interactive decision-making.
