In 2021, Airports Council International (ACI) World and Amadeus introduced new Technology Innovation Awards to celebrate the role innovations in technology play for the Airport Community.

During the ongoing Airports Council International (ACI) Africa / World Annual General Assembly, Conference and Exhibition (WAGA 2022) that is taking place in Marrakesh, Morocco, from 22 – 28 October, the winners of the Second Edition of Technology Innovation Awards were announced.

The event WAGA 2022, under the theme “Sky’s the limit: Discovering opportunities within change” is the most important global gathering of airport leaders bringing together more than 500 airport CEOs, senior executives, government representatives, and industry partners from all over the world. This year’s edition is hosted by Morrocco’s Office National Des Aeroports (ONDA).

Airport Technology Innovation Awards:

ACI World and Amadeus aspire to celebrate the winning innovative technology solutions developed and implemented by airports across the globe to enhance airport experience, advance sustainability efforts, increase operational efficiency or foster continuous improvement. Below are the winners in each category:

1. Passengers enroll in the biometric program through the AENA app at home or a check-in kiosk at the airport. The passengers use biometrics for the Self Bag Drop, to access the security control, and to board the plane. This project is the most complete, covering the passenger journey from home to the boarding gate.
2. Incheon Airport developed a big data platform and launched the Airport Data Sandbox service to facilitate data collection and provide an analytics service to stakeholders in a user-friendly environment. The analytics provide actionable information to stakeholders for areas such as real-time passenger flow, terminal congestion, delay forecast upon adverse weather, traffic forecast, transportation forecast, and Home-to-Airport service.
3. Suhail Kamil Kadri led Hamad International Airport to become the first airport to successfully trial a single biometric passenger journey, making travelling through airport processes seamless, touchless, and digital.

Commenting on the Announcement, ACI World Director General Luis Felipe de Oliveira said, “Partnering with travel technology company Amadeus, we aim to continue to encourage and applaud these stellar examples of technology leadership. We received many great submissions from airports all over the world,”

“Technology is a key ingredient to building a stronger, sustainable, and more resilient aviation industry. It will also be crucial to continue our overall mission to put the customer at the centre of everything we do. Whether directly touching on the airport experience or improving operations, it ultimately benefits the traveller and the communities we serve. And we wouldn’t exist without both.

“We congratulate these winners for pushing our industry to new heights. They are true examples to their peers.”

Also Read: ACI World Welcomes Long-Term Climate Goal for Aviation Industry by World Governments

Elena Avila, EVP Airport IT and Airline Operations at Amadeus said: “Amadeus congratulates this year’s winning airports for their commitment to innovation. The rapid restart of global aviation has underlined the importance of applying new technology that automates and enhances both passenger experience and operational performance. However, we at Amadeus believe the industry is already reaching the limits of what can be achieved by working in silos. We believe that a new generation of open technology offers airports, airlines, ground handlers and other stakeholders the chance to collaborate more effectively.

“It’s only by working in unison that our industry can unlock a step-change in performance that makes air travel more sustainable, more efficient and more enjoyable. We look forward to supporting the industry as it embarks on this transformation.”