The Future of Travel and Passenger Experience Requires Connectivity, Biometrics, RFID and More

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Aviation leaders have had a busy September with two major events taking place that focus on the future of travel. Last week, industry leaders attended FTE Global before heading to the APEX EXPO 2019. Both events highlighted the growing shift in the passenger experience as we enter a new era of travel. Not only is there a new generation of travelers with new demands, but also an ongoing emergence of new technology advancements that enable safer, more efficient and secure travel.

These issues and more were highlighted on the show floor and during educational sessions throughout the month. For those of our readers that missed it, we’ve provided highlights below:

Across the aviation industry, connectivity continues to be at the core of discussion. From understanding the passengers evolving needs, to building customer loyalty, and developing safer and more efficient systems, connectivity plays a major role in today’s aviation ecosystem.

Inmarsat released the final chapter of the Sky High Economics report, “Chapter Three: Capitalizing on Changing Passenger Behavior in a Connected World,” at the APEX EXPO. The report outlines the opportunity for airlines to embrace connected cabins to win $33 billion in market share from competitors, among other trends.



In addition to connectivity, there was a dedicated education track to biometrics at FTE Global, including speakers from across the industry discussing the impact of emerging technologies and their effect on travel.





During one opening session, APEX CEO commented that biometrics will be a universal “fast pass solution” to move passengers through the airport and terminal.







Similarly, other emerging technologies such as RFID for baggage continues to be a hot topic for the aviation industry. It’s low cost and highly scalable, according to experts.





The concept of tracking baggage is evolving and with many systems being connected, we are starting to see the Internet of Things (IoT) make an impact inside the airport, airplane, and cargo.



While technology and connectivity took center stage at these events, there is no doubt that aviation stakeholders are also looking at the long-term impact of travel on our environment and seeking sustainable solutions. Ed Bastian, Delta CEO, spoke at APEX Expo and confirmed that the two most important topics today are technology and sustainability.




As these events come to a close, we know that the discussion will continue. Follow Connected Aviation Today for more insights on the impact of connectivity and emerging technologies on the aviation ecosystem.