BARCELONA (EFE).— The Mobile World Congress (MWC), being held in Barcelona, shows what the experience of traveling by plane could be like in the coming years: from planning a destination with the help of a virtual assistant to crossing the airport without having to show your passport and being guided by robots to the boarding gate.
These innovations are part of an immersive space that recreates the passenger’s entire journey in 14 technological stages designed to transform each phase of the journey.
The objective of this tour is to demonstrate how digitalization can streamline processes and improve the traveler experience.
According to the organizers, the solutions presented seek to “transform airports and improve each stage of the trip” through the use of artificial intelligence, biometrics and advanced connectivity.
GSMA Fusion’s Head of Connected Aviation, Barney Stinton, explained that the industry faces a significant challenge due to the growth in air traffic. “Air traffic has already recovered pre-pandemic levels and will continue to grow, while 99% of airports cannot become larger,” he declared, warning that the sector needs to optimize processes without expanding infrastructure.
Against this backdrop, the strategy focuses on incorporating technology to make airport procedures more efficient.
Stinton noted that the key will be to “polish and perfect” the processes with digital tools that allow “guaranteeing identity, security and continuous connection.” The ultimate goal is to create a faster and more seamless travel experience.
Among the solutions presented, the concept of “hands in pocket” experience stands out, that is, carrying out the entire process without taking out documents or devices.
“We are looking for a ‘hands in pocket’ experience, being able to verify the identity of passengers before leaving home and not having to take out their passport or stand in unnecessary lines,” said Stinton.
The technological journey begins before you even arrive at the airport. The Spanish airline Vueling shows at the MWC a conversational assistant that will be launched this year and will allow you to find destinations through chat or voice.
The system proposes dates, prices and places according to the user’s preferences to “add inspiration to a purchasing process that until now only requires entering origin, destination and dates.”
Once the trip is confirmed, other platforms provide personalized information about flight delays, security wait times or distances within the terminal.
In parallel, Aena presents an electronic luggage tag that the passenger configures from home and that allows “avoiding the check-in queue, reducing luggage losses and locating suitcases in real time,” as explained by the head of Innovation for the airport manager, Carlos Cantudo.
Automation also reaches border control and airport facilities. Facial recognition kiosks validate travelers’ identities without needing to show documents, while humanoid robots guide passengers and answer questions.
According to Tomás García, manager of Digital Experiences at NTT Spain, these systems allow processes to be streamlined because “we automate verification and reduce queues so that the system only refers to an agent if it detects an error.”
At a glance
Digital journey
With the help of technology, trip planning can be done by talking to a virtual assistant that suggests destinations, dates and prices according to the user’s tastes, making it easier to choose vacations or getaways.
Biometric identity
Facial recognition will allow you to confirm who the passenger is without showing a passport or documents, which will speed up passage through controls and lines.
Smart luggage
The suitcases will have electronic labels that are configured from home, which will avoid lines to check luggage and will allow you to know where the suitcase is at all times.
Automatic review
Some airports use robots with sensors to check runways and facilities, detect possible faults and avoid problems that cause flight delays.