THE Wrap is a round-up of news in the travel and technology industries, and to keep track of developments in these sectors as businesses adapt and reset to meet challenges in the era of coronavirus.
Malaysia Airports to roll out facial recognition for faster, safer passenger authentication, replacing boarding pass
Travellers will soon be able to use their face instead of physical travel documents for their journey through the KL International Airport (KLIA) with the introduction of facial recognition technology.
Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (Malaysia Airports) is rolling out the first phase of the “Single Token Journey” where facial recognition will replace physical travel documents such as airlines tickets and boarding passes.
According to Malaysia Airports, the initiative “utilises facial recognition technology to provide passengers with one single-token biometric identification authentication, which will take them through the entire airport journey without having to show their boarding passes at all touchpoints from check-in right until the boarding gates.”
The authentication process is expected to take about five seconds for each passenger at every touchpoint, shortening the airport journey considerably.
The first phase of the technology rollout is expected to be completed in the first half of 2021. This will see 50 self-check-in kiosks, 20 check-in counters and 56 eGates at security checkpoints and boarding gates at both KLIA Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 equipped with facial recognition technology.
Malaysia Airports group chief executive officer Dato’ Mohd Shukrie Mohd Salleh said the Single Token Journey is part of the organisation’s Airports 4.0 initiative, which it “forged ahead with despite constraints caused by the pandemic.”
“Apart from the obvious benefit of improving our service levels to passengers by reducing airport processing time, it will also enable our passengers to go through a completely contactless experience and enhance their safety at the airport within the parameters of the new travel norms.”
The initiative will also minimise instances of fraudulent identity use, he added.
According to Mohd Shukrie, the technology will also be integrated with the MYairports app where passengers can enrol their facial authentication even before they arrive at the airport itself.
“Integration with the immigration system will also enable foreigners to utilise the Immigration auto gates instead of queuing at the counters.”
He disclosed future implementation may also include other touchpoints such as retail purchases as well as access to airline lounges
With the use of facial recognition Malaysia Airports aims to make the airport “future-ready” especially when travel picks up again..
“We are making this technology available at the airport because we also need to restore confidence among air travel passengers, and we hope to gain the cooperation of our airline partners to integrate their processes to adapt to this available technology,” Mohd Shukrie stated.
D-EDGE helps industry regroup with new resource platform
D-EDGE has launched D-isplay, a complimentary streaming resource platform for hoteliers with content from hospitality experts, examining issues on how to rethink, rebuild and recover.
The contents, in video or webinar formats, are aggregated into 10 categories including digital marketing, revenue management, distribution, market trends, legal, customer relationship, communication and brand image, payment, market and Covid-19 related trends.
“Hoteliers are resilient regardless of economic situations. They are always keeping up-to-date with the latest trends and thought-provoking insights to get inspired for the next steps,” Pierre-Charles Grob, CEO of D-EDGE Hospitality Solutions.
“Adapting to the new reality, D-EDGE has launched D-isplay, a virtual resource platform with the latest content from forward expert thinkers who are our partners as well as competitors within the hospitality community. These aggregated content fuel inspirations amongst hoteliers to rethink, rebuild and recover. It is a one-stop virtual complimentary resource platform we hope hoteliers will find useful.”
Hoteliers can log in anytime to D-isplay. It is currently only available in English but other languages will follow. D-edge is also seeking partners and competitors to contribute content and can connect on D-isplay for submission.
Emirates trials IATA Travel Pass to help passengers manage travel securely
Emirates has joined forces with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to trail IATA Travel Pass, a mobile app that the association said would “help reconnect our world safely.”
The carrier said it is “one of the first airlines in the world” to launch the app “to help passengers easily and securely manage their travel in line with any government requirements for Covid-19 testing or vaccine information.”
The pass, which enables Emirates passengers to create a ‘digital passport’ to verify their pre-travel test or vaccination, meets the requirements of the destination. They will also be able to share the test and vaccination certificates with authorities and airlines to facilitate travel, as well as manage all travel documentation digitally and seamlessly.
Emirates will implement phase 1 of the rollout in April, starting in Dubai for the validation of Covid PCR tests before departure. Its customers travelling from Dubai can use the app to share their Covid test status with the airline before reaching the airport. The information will then auto-populate the details on the check-in system.
The app also has information on travel and entry requirements for all destinations including a registry of testing and vaccination centres that meet the standards for testing and vaccination requirements of their destination. Authorised labs and test centres are also able to securely send test results or vaccination certificates to passengers.
“While international travel remains as safe as ever, there are new protocols and travel requirements with the current global pandemic. We have worked with IATA on this innovative solution to simplify and digitally transmit the information that is required by countries and governments into our airline systems, in a secure and efficient manner,” said Adel Al Redha Emirates chief operating officer.
Nick Careen, IATA senior vice president for airport, passenger, cargo and security said the implementation of the Travel Pass is the “first step in making international travel during the pandemic as convenient as possible giving people the confidence that they are meeting all Covid-19 entry requirements by governments.”
He added as borders reopen the pass would be enhanced with more capabilities to meet all governments testing or vaccination verification requirements.
Travelport partners TravelFlan to boost its solutions with AI and big data
Travelport is adding new artificial intelligence (AI) and big data-driven capabilities to its Digital Media Solutions portfolio through a partnership with Hong Kong-based AI digital solution startup TravelFlan.
Among the solutions the technology company is offering to its travel suppliers and destination marketing organisations are TravelFlan’s AI digital engine and eConcierge Chatbot, which provide targeted and personalised travel recommendations.
There is also an ancillary revenue solution, which tailors product bundles personalised to traveller personas, informed by big data from more than 30 million travellers.
According to Travelport, through TravelFlan’s partnership network its customers can put their offers in front of nearly 200 million consumers across China, South Korea and Hong Kong using Samsung smartphones and China Mobile apps.
The travel technology firm added that packaged with its DMS technology, which reaches over 68,000 Travelport-connected agencies, “the new partnership will provide travel supplier and DMO customers the ability to engage consumers directly, as well as via recommendations from travel agents.” Malaysia Airport, facial recognition technology, KL International Airport, The Wrap, D-EDGE, D-isplay, Emirates, The travel technology firm added that packaged with its DMS technology, which reaches over 68,000 Travelport-connected agencies, “the new partnership will provide travel supplier and DMO customers the ability to engage consumers directly, as well as via recommendations from travel agents.”
A Travelport survey spanning 20 countries found that 87% of the 17,000 travellers surveyed rely on recommendations from travel professionals when researching their trips.
Anna Au-Yeung, head of global destination marketing at Travelport, commented: “With people choosing to travel primarily for leisure at present, we’ve seen clients increasingly seeking to reach consumers directly. This partnership with TravelFlan provides our clients with an omni-channel marketing solution, which is personalised and enables direct up-selling and cross-selling.”
• Featured image credit: metamorworks/Getty Images
