Insights
Newsletter - Q2 2020 - ICTS Europe Systems
Published: Thursday, October 1, 2020
TOUCHLESS SMARTAPP WITH QATAR AIRWAYS AT LONDON HEATHROW
International traffic is slightly coming back, yet one of the airlines that have continued its operation throughout at a high level is Qatar Airways. The current challenges also led to changes in the terminal in London Heathrow, with the airline being diverted to terminal 5. Qatar Airways is known for its global presence, and this type of operation required close attention to connectivity and to the continuously changing regulations. It led to specific requirements in which we have partnered with Amadeus, ICTS UK, and Maxworth to design the first of its kind, the Touchless SmartApp (with the presence of an agent assisting passengers to check-in on the mobile unit). With two kiosks and two of our dedicated agents located at the check-in area, we helped Qatar Airways process more than 50% of their daily passengers without the need to visit the counter.
The proof of concept at Heathrow Airport also includes trialing the PassBoard solution, which composed of advanced passenger information validation, automated document checks and is cloud-based and free from CUTE / CUSS costs. Please click here to watch the operation process.
TOUCHLESS SMARTAPP AT BANGALORE AIRPORT (BLR), INDIA
In order to help travelers during the difficult times of COVID-19, BLR has introduced a seamless Parking-to-Boarding touchless journey. Together with our partners, Maxworth Systems, we have immediately upgraded SmartApp to a touchless application serving tens of thousands of passengers every month. Touchless SmartApp is available at present for AirAsia, Indigo, SpiceJet, GoAir, Air India, Vistara and TruJet, and there are other airlines that are currently in the integration phase.
Please click here to see the application in operation.
ICTS BOARDING APPLICATION WITH TEMPERATURE CHECK AT LHR AND FRA LUFTHANSA FRANKFURT
The current situation has hit the aviation industry to an unprecedented degree. Airports and airlines face new challenges in their airport operations, from social distancing, sanitation, health checks, and document checks by security. It is essential to adapt current airport operational processes to cope with the new situation in a costeffective manner that can support a smooth recovery operation while minimizing risks. ICTS has introduced a new product to help airlines and airports adapt to the new situation we all find ourselves in, the ICTS Sentinel Kiosk.
ICTS Germany is currently trialing the Sentinel Thermal kiosk with Lufthansa at Frankfurt Airport. The unit is situated at the entrance of the boarding gate with clear markings on the floor. Each passenger is asked to present and scan their boarding card, (paper or mobile device). The Sentinel Kiosk will then use the infra-red thermal camera to perform a rapid, touchless, and accurate temperature check. A successful test will trigger a green screen and a welcome message, prompting the passenger to proceed. Touchless boarding mode enables a selfservice and contact-free boarding method, whereby passengers are processed quickly and easily. Conversely, should a passenger be registered with high temperature, he will not be allowed to board, and an alert will follow straight away.
The ICTS Sentinel Kiosk has been developed in-house during the lockdown. The unit offers an efficient, user friendly, and confidence-boosting measure for passengers.
Please click here to watch the operation process.
AIR CANADA LHR
Air Canada has introduced Air Canada CleanCare+, an industry-leading program committed to end-to-end health and safety protocols. Using new biosafety standards and enhancing preventive measures, they are elevating the steps taken to keep passengers safe throughout their journey. As a part of this program and among other solutions, Air Canada has trialed ICTS Europe Systems’ Sentinel kiosks at London Heathrow Airport to provide pre-flight infrared temperature checks for customers.
The kiosks have been set up in self-service mode before the boarding gates. Passengers approach and scan their boarding passes, engaging with the temperature check on the kiosks. Once the temperature measurement has been taken – in 4 seconds, on average – passengers receive a clear and visible message on the kiosk determining if they are OK to travel or NOT.
With ICTS’ staff supporting the kiosks, they were able to present to the passengers the next steps of their journey. The passengers who received green indication, meaning their temperature was below the threshold, were directed towards the gates to board the aircraft. Whereas, those who received a red indication, were asked to step aside and were referred to the airline staff to resolve the situation.
Passengers found the process quick and easy, with many confiding they qualified this way of temperature checks is safer than the one with the handheld device, in which the staff needs to be at arm length distance to conduct the check. Getting a non-disputable temperature result from a kiosk also augmented passenger compliance and minimized negative situations and conflicts between passengers and airline staff.
Please click here to watch the operation process.
VIRGIN ATLANTIC LHR
Virgin Atlantic has introduced some extra measures to ensure passengers' wellbeing and greater peace of mind. For the health and safety of their clients, they limited the number of customers in their check-in zones with the addition of queue markers. They also introduced sanitizing stations and made face masks mandatory for all their staff.
On top of this, they initiated health screening and temperature checks to be conducted by their teams. To make the temperature checks more efficient and safer, Virgin Atlantic trialed the ICTS Sentinel kiosks at London Heathrow Airport. The kiosks were placed before the boarding gates and are operated by the airline's staff, are already in use for two weeks. Ground staff scanned the passengers’ boarding passes to engage the temperature reader on the kiosk, then according to the response guided the travelers in the suitable direction. The use of the kiosk expedited the boarding process, with passengers only stopping for 4-5 seconds to have their temperature taken. The green and red indications on the screen are helpful in cases where a language barrier exists, as staff do not have to take the time to try and explain the results to the passengers. The mobility of the kiosk also enabled Virgin Atlantic to cover multiple boarding gates with no extra effort.
We are proud that Uganda Airlines has officially joined the TravelDoc family. The flag carrier of Uganda, whose principal hub is in EBB airport, operates flights to several destinations across Africa. TravelDoc is the most advanced automated document check software that dramatically improves operations, helping to cut costs and improve customer service for all passengers using the Uganda Airlines website.
JETSMART JOINS THE TRAVELDOC FAMILY
We are pleased that JetSmart has officially joined the TravelDoc family. The Chilean carrier, whose main hub is in Santiago airport, operates flights to several destinations across South America. TravelDoc is the most advanced ADC software that dramatically improves the document check process, helping to cut costs and enhance the customer experience for all passengers using JetSmart’s website
EVA AIR EXTENDS PARTNERSHIP WITH TRAVELDOC
EVA Air is the first airline to use the fully integrated document check. During five outstanding years of usage, EVA Air has contributed immensely to the improvement of TravelDoc, and turning it into the most advanced ADC in the market. The TravelDoc team is grateful for EVA Air, the Star Alliance member (who has a huge experience in document check procedures), to show confidence in our services. We are proud that our carrier clients continue to find TravelDoc beneficial, cost-effective, and better suited to meet the growing challenges of automation in passenger processes. TravelDoc is also the preferred automated document check of Taiwan, among all three leading carriers; including China Airlines and Starlux Airlines (all hosted on Amadeus) being part of the TravelDoc family.
CHINA AIRLINES RENEWS PARTNERSHIP WITH TRAVELDOC
We are delighted to announce the renewal of our TravelDoc contract with China Airlines. TravelDoc reduces the number of passengers flying without the correct documentation and minimizing penalties and repatriation costs for airlines. We look forward to enhancing our relationship further this coming year as we support China Airlines during the COVID-19 pandemic.
TRAVELDOC IS NOW AVAILABLE IN FRENCH AND DUTCH FOR KLM AND AIR FRANCE CUSTOMERS
The partnership between ICTS Europe Systems and Air France – KLM is a long-standing one. Renowned in the aviation industry for its digital innovation, the Air France – KLM Group continually improves its services and offer innovative solutions.
With TravelDoc, the airlines are offering their passengers a seamless experience, from counter services by agents all the way to the boarding process. Passengers traveling with these airlines can check for travel requirements before they even arrive at the airport. This feature, that has a huge impact on customer service these days, is now also available in Dutch and French.
TRAVELDOC X-CHECK – A DEDICATED COVID-19 UPDATED PAGE
The COVID-19 pandemic has no doubt impacted all aspects of our lives, but it seems like the aviation industry is one of the sectors that has been hit the most. The changing regulations and restrictions have reduced international travels to a bare minimum. TravelDoc X-Check has been designed to provide a constant update on these regulations. A simple and clear information page provides passengers and those who plan to travel with the best source of information on what is required ahead of their trip. For airlines and airports, TravelDoc even automates the process, enabling passengers to have all the time they need during airport check-in.
TRAVELDOC LIBRARY AND TRAVELDOC X-CHECK BUNDLE USER LICENSE
For private users, ground handling agents, travel agencies, and anyone that needs constant updates on the constantly changing information for travels, the TravelDoc Library and TravelDoc X-Check bundle license is an attractive solution.
GHI PARTNERS WITH ICTS TO DELIVER COVID-SAFE TEMPERATURE SCANNING KIOSKS FOR THE ANNUAL GHI CONFERENCE
GHI has teamed up with ICTS Europe Systems to pioneer touchless boarding kiosks, offering instant digital temperature checks, as they step up the campaign to bring the aviation community together again in a COVID-safe environment, at the 22nd Annual in Copenhagen this November.
The Sentinel kiosk technology has been successfully trialed at London Heathrow Airport this summer. Units will be positioned at the entry of the conference space, where the kiosks will perform a highly accurate temperature reading for the delegates before entering the GHI facilities. Attendees will be asked to identify themselves by scanning their delegate badge, after which, the Sentinel kiosk will use its infrared thermal camera to perform a rapid, touchless, and accurate temperature check. A successful test will trigger a green screen and a welcome message to proceed to the conference area.
Max Gosney, GHI Chairman, said: “We’re delighted to be working with the team at ICTS to deploy this novel and user-friendly solution to the challenges facing us all around, ensuring the safety of our customers during the COVID-19 crisis. It’s great to be working with a product solution that is deployed within the aviation sector we serve.”
GROUND HANDLING INTERNATIONAL
We are excited to announce that we will be exhibiting at the 22nd Annual GHI conference at the Bella Center in Copenhagen from 30th November to 2nd December 2020. Visit our stand E40 to learn about our new touchless solutions that can aid a smooth recovery operation while minimizing risks. We look forward to seeing you there!
