Airport liquid rule turns to dust
London City Airport will become the UK’s first to scrap the 100ml liquid rule thanks to new CT machines that will use X-Ray technology to take a high-resolution 3D image of luggage, giving security staff more detailed view of the contents. Current security scanners only produce a 2D image.
It means travellers will no longer have to remove items such as drinks, creams and make-up and put them in plastic bags to go through security.
The amount of liquids a passenger can carry will still have a two litre limit for hand luggage. Passengers also won’t have to remove laptops to be scanned separately.
London City Airport, located in London’s Docklands district, claims an average start-to-finish security screening process of under three minutes.
Qantas on credit watch
Qantas is launching a new website dedicated to helping customers find and redeem their lost flight credits.
Thousands of Qantas customers accumulated credits accumulated due to cancelled trips – mostly due to COVID-19 and border closures – which has left the airline looking at wats to shed A$800 in unclaimed flight credits.
Qantas also has a dedicated concierge line to assist with lost credits and is incentivising customers to use their credits with special promotions.
Qantas is also paying travel agents an additional $10 fee when they help their customers to redeem Qantas flight credits.
Australia’s competition watchdog, the ACCC, this week revealed complaints about Qantas in 2021-2022 reached 1780 – “the most of any company”.
“Qantas needs to do more to adequately invest in its systems, processes and people to dramatically improve its customer contact services and customer dispute resolution,” the ACCC said in a report.
Frankfurt Airport is working on a ‘common use’ biometric platform.
Your face is your security pass at Frankfurt Airport
Travellers to Frankfurt will soon have increased access to touchless technology, with biometric solutions being rolled out at all terminals for check-in, security, and boarding.
The airport has begun working with IT provider SITA and tech integrator NEC to roll out a ‘common use’ biometric platform that will allow travellers to pass through various checkpoints throughout their journey by simply scanning their face.
The move follows similar trials with biometrics by Lufthansa and combines Star Alliance Biometrics with additional biometric hubs under the SITA Smart Path platform.
Eviivo launches Independent Accommodations Day
Eviivo, the cloud-based booking and property management system whose software suite allows property owners, hoteliers and hosts to manage guests, bookings and online travel agencies in one platform, has launched eviivo Collective to recognise “unique, notable and luxury independent properties worldwide”.
The Collective programme is designed to promote and advocate the independent accommodation sector, working with its partners — such as online travel agencies (OTAs) and other hospitality brands — to showcase independently owned properties, “many that are considered among the best in the world”, says eviivo CEO Michele Fitzpatrick.
As part of eviivo’s 10-year anniversary of eviivo Suite, the UK-based company has registered Independent Accommodations Day, a day of recognition, globally and annually every March 24 — “a day everyone is invited to participate and recognise independently-owned properties and their workforce worldwide”, Fitzpatrick added.
All eviivo properties worldwide are automatically part of eviivo Collective.
Microsoft, Amadeus plot the ‘next-gen’ travel experience
We also covered this story in a separate article here.
A new report produced jointly by Amadeus and Microsoft explores how a greater focus on the purpose and context of each trip will allow the travel industry to maximize value, for businesses and travellers alike.
Together the two technology leaders are working to deliver a new set of tools, solutions and data applications to offer a next-generation experience for travellers, travel sellers and providers.
Explored within the report, “Delivering Traveller Value,” is the growing role of artificial intelligence – including the potential of chatbots like ChatGPT – when it comes to making time-sensitive offers, the impact of new technologies such as the metaverse and an evaluation of how enhanced data analytics can better serve travellers.
The report makes a case that the demand for change and a greater focus on the whole trip experience is growing. And as travel becomes less predictable – adapting to global climate or health crises, among other disruptions – travel providers will become more important if they have the data they need to respond to travellers’ needs or wants in a timely manner.
Source: Phocuswire
Travelsoft on the march in Asia
We also covered this story in a separate article here.
Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) group Travelsoft has moved on its quest to become the world’s leading travel SaaS by acquiring B2B booking engine provider to travel companies, Travel Compositor.
Spanish headquartered Travel Compositor’s ‘multi-destination’ booking engines are expanding from southern Europe to emerging markets Latin America and Asia.
Founded in 2014, Travel Compositor employs 90 staff and operates a SaaS model, generating €1 billion in bookings and €11.5 million in revenues annually.
This makes Travel Compositor the third company of the Travelsoft group, which was founded in Paris in 2000 and specialises in software that makes it easier for the tourism industry to sell travel packages by automating production and booking, efficiently handling data for marketing purposes, and increasing conversion rates.
With the inclusion of Travel Compositor, the Travelsoft group will now transact bookings in the order of €5 billion annually through over 300 tour operators connected to 600 suppliers in over 40 countries, mainly in Europe and the Americas.
