SITA automated Istanbul Airport

2021: Biometric Solution Implementation Result

On April 23, 2021, SITA announced the results of the implementation of biometric solutions at Istanbul International Airport (iGA), which speed up passenger service and conduct contactless pre-flight procedures. Smart technologies were tested using the Proof of Concept method.

According to the results of the audit, the time for registering and identifying passengers was reduced by 30%. In addition, the level of satisfaction of tourists and airlines with the quality of services increased, and the risks associated with the spread of COVID-19 were minimized.

The effectiveness of SITA's intelligent development at Istanbul Airport was tested jointly with Turkish Airlines for six months and included the use of sophisticated biometric technologies in filled points of the air harbor. Such solutions include the SITA AirportConnect (CUTE) public access platform for self-registration, passing through e-gates with built-in facial recognition technology, contactless boarding verification, which allows airport visitors to easily get into the waiting room, and boarding without showing a ticket.

Intuitive solutions made it possible for vacationers to check in quickly through the SITA Flex biometric identification system. After this pre-flight procedure, travelers confirm their identity using face scans, minimizing contact with airport equipment at each stage of the trip - from passing the inspection and passport control to boarding the plane.

SITA acts as a technology partner of Istanbul International Airport and participates in the modernization of its systems and operations thanks to smart solutions that are used throughout the harbor. The company's technologies, including SITA Smart Path and SITA Flex platforms, allow you to improve the IT infrastructure of the airport and accelerate the identification of passengers, which is extremely important in our time, when the safety of vacationers and the efficiency of airports are under special attention, said Sergio Colella, president of SITA in Europe.

According to the latest SITA IT Insights report, security and speed have become key conditions for the successful resumption of airports and airlines after a protracted period of the pandemic. As travelers return to flights, new operations related to passenger health control (for example, providing PCR test results) allow you to prevent the spread of COVID-19, as well as monitor and regulate airport congestion.

Despite the difficult economic situation, we believe that the introduction of intelligent technologies plays a decisive role in restoring passenger confidence in air travel and optimizing service processes at the airport. In the air harbor of Istanbul, digital transformation programs are being actively implemented, and we are proud to occupy high positions in the field of the use of contactless systems that help ensure the safety of passengers, give them seamless travel experience and at the same time reduce the load on the airport infrastructure, noted Ersin Inankul, Chief Digital & Commercial Officer, Deputy General Director for Digital Services and Commerce at İGA Airport Operations.