The International Air Transport Association (IATA) welcomed and recognized the participation of Qatar Airways and the newly opened Hamad International Airport (HIA) in two key industry programs that enhance security and improve passenger convenience.
Smart Security: Hamad International Airport, Qatar Airways, Airports Council International (ACI), and IATA signed an agreement for a pilot program for Smart Security. Smart Security is a joint project between IATA and ACI to strengthen security, improve the passenger experience, and increase operational efficiency at airport checkpoints. Smart Security achieves this by strengthening security by focusing resources based on risk, using advanced screening technologies and process innovations. The pilot at Hamad International Airport is the third globally, after agreements with Amsterdam-Schiphol and London-Heathrow.
Fast Travel: Doha’s Hamad International Airport includes five of the six Fast Travel options for self-service. These are Check-in, Bags-Ready-To-Go (known locally as the Qatar Airways My Q-Tag service), Flight Rebooking, Self-Boarding, and Baggage Recovery. Plans are also in place for the implementation of Document Check, the last of the Fast Travel options. In recognition of its achievement in giving passengers greater choice, convenience, and control over their journey, Qatar Airways was given the Fast Travel Green Award.
“Qatar Airways and Hamad International Airport are committed to giving passengers the best experience possible,” said Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker. “To do that we are working in close partnership to give our passengers the self-service options that they increasingly expect. And we are pleased to be among the world’s pioneering airports for Smart Security. Our new state-of-the-art gateway, Hamad International Airport, and Qatar Airways want Hamad International Airport to become the hub of choice for passengers.
Smart Security and Fast Travel will be two of the key elements in that success.” “We are delighted that Qatar Airways and Hamad International Airport are partners in the Smart Security and Fast Travel initiatives. They join a growing group of visionary airlines and airports that are committed to the collaborative optimization of procedures and technology,” said Tony Tyler, IATA’s Director General and CEO.
“The community of airports around the world is working assiduously to increase the promotion of excellence in all aspects of their activities and passenger care is at the forefront of our efforts. Collaboration between industry stakeholders extends our reach and makes progress possible. Smart Security, driven by ACI and IATA, is one of the solutions that will increase passenger satisfaction by reducing the hassle factor associated with current processes.
We congratulate Hamad International Airport for spearheading the transformation of the security checkpoint and we look forward to seeing the benefits that Smart Security will bring to our passengers,” said Angela Gittens, ACI’s Director General.
Meanwhile, the IATA confirmed that the Aircraft Tracking Task Force (ATTF) expects to be in a position to deliver draft options for enhanced global aircraft tracking to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in September, leading to presentation to the industry before year-end.
Following the disappearance of MH370, IATA announced plans to establish an industry task force to develop recommendations to improve global flight tracking. The commitment made at the time of the task force announcement was to have them available by the end of 2014. IATA invited ICAO and key stakeholders throughout the aviation industry to participate in the ATTF. The first meeting of the group was held on 13 May 2014.
Separately, but in conjunction with IATA, ICAO held a Special Multi-disciplinary Meeting on Global Flight Tracking on 12-13 May. An outcome of the ICAO meeting was a consensus among Member States and the international air transport industry sector on the near-term priority to track airline flights. ICAO will also begin considering performance-based international standards, on a priority basis, to ensure broader adoption of airline flight tracking across the aviation system.
ICAO and IATA are working together to conduct a survey of vendors to identify options. Over the next few months, the ATTF will develop a set of performance-based recommendations to better ensure global aircraft tracking meaning that there will likely be a number of options that airlines can consider. These recommendations will be developed through an assessment of available products and services used for tracking commercial aircraft against specific criteria, including factors such as performance parameters, coverage, security, and cost. Additionally, the ATTF will define a minimum set of performance requirements that any system should achieve.
The ATTF includes representatives from IATA, ICAO, Airlines for America, Association of Asia Pacific Airlines, Civil Air Navigation Services Organization, Flight Safety Foundation, International Coordinating Council of Aerospace Industries Associations, International Federation of Air Line Pilots Associations, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Airbus SAS, Bombardier Aerospace, and Embraer Commercial Aviation.
“Aviation stakeholders are united in their desire to ensure that we never face another situation where an aircraft simply disappears,” said Kevin Hiatt, IATA Senior Vice President, Safety and Flight Operations. “While States work through ICAO to develop and implement performance-based global standards as a mid- to-long-term solution, the industry is committed to moving forward with recommendations that airlines can implement now.”
Source : Qatar News Agency
