SITA AERO in talks to boost BIA efficiency with smart kiosks

From right: SITA CEO David Lavorel and SITA APAC Sumesh Patel address journalists in Colombo
PIC BY PRADEEP PATHIRANA 

As Sri Lanka is on the lookout for avenues to improve passenger services, SITA AERO, a leading technology provider for the air transport industry, shared that it is in discussion with the local authorities to expand smart self-service kiosks and self-bag drop facilities.
This will help increase the efficiency of Terminal 1 at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA). 
SITA AERO, which marks 57 years of operations in Sri Lanka, held talks with Airport and Aviation Services and SriLankan Airlines this week on how it can expand the services that there is limited capacity at present. 
“We did a consultation study as a partner and we have recommended on what Sri Lanka needs to do for quick wins and also, when Terminal 2 comes up what needs to be in place,” said SITA APAC President Sumesh Patel addressing journalists in Colombo this week. 
He pointed out that with air travel picking up pace after the Covid-19 pandemic, the current capacity in passenger handling is already reaching its peak. 
“So, we are looking at how we can use the current assets and infrastructure to process more passengers and provide a better service. We will be looking at new other implementations of feeder technology at the airport,” he said. 
With inbound tourism on the rise, all international flights are currently limited to Terminal 1, until the completion of Terminal 2, which is set to be completed soon. 
Data from the Tourism Development Authority showed that the country attracted over 85,000 international tourists, with the predicted amount by the end of the month fixed at over 220,000. 
Patel pointed out that only 20 percent of the entry and exit processes at the BIA are being processed through self-service, which stresses the need to augment the self-service capacity to optimise Terminal 1. 
He went on to affirm SITA’s commitment to engage authorities to deploy innovative biometric technologies such as facial recognition and digital identity systems at the airport security checkpoints. 
“These advancements are designed to facilitate quicker and more secure passenger processing, ultimately contributing to a more seamless travel experience,” he said. 
Meanwhile, SITA AERO CEO David Lavorel stressed the need for Sri Lanka to have such services as there is a critical need for improved communication systems, digital identification and streamlined passenger processes at the international airports in the country. 
SITA has played a pivotal role in optimising airline operations in Sri Lanka through the implementation of the latest technologies, data analytics and technological solutions for nearly six decades. (NS)