Arab Travel Market.. Aviation sector experts highlight the key role of innovation to accommodate the increasing number of international travelers

Dubai, May 8 / WAM / A number of aviation experts discussed at the Arabian Travel Market 2024 how the market will change and determined their expectations for the future of air travel, especially with the number of passengers in the Middle East expected to reach 429 million passengers this current year, which represents an increase of 5.4%. % over 2019 numbers.

The session, “Looking to the Horizon for Innovation: How Technology is Transforming the Aviation Sector,” brought together travel and aviation experts as well as representatives of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Research conducted by the International Air Transport Association shows that international passenger traffic increased by 20% in March 2024 compared to the same month last year.

Kashif Khaled, Regional Director for Africa and the Middle East of the International Air Transport Association, said that innovation has become a necessary factor to enable the industry to absorb this significant growth in air traffic, stressing the need to continue building a larger passenger-level infrastructure, and to look at how to manage passengers and cargo differently from Through digital solutions and innovation.

He pointed out that one of the solutions is One ID, which is based on the digitization of passenger tokens, as the way in which the traditional airport infrastructure is used will change dramatically.

IATA One ID is a digital identity initiative aimed at simplifying and enhancing passenger travel. This pioneering system integrates a variety of travel documents, such as passports, tickets and boarding passes into a single digital code, eliminating the need for multiple physical documents, as the initiative works to Enhancing security, simplifying check-in processes and facilitating travel through airports.

Kevin Hightower, vice president of product at Cirium, said data sharing is key to increasing efficiency in aviation and helping the industry accommodate growing demand, and technologies such as generative artificial intelligence enable decisions to be made in seconds.

Aviation

Aviation Xlab aims to transform the future of air travel through cutting-edge technologies and collaborative partnerships.

For her part, Amna Al-Rida, Director of Aviation X Lab, said that the role of technology in passenger flights and the focus on airlines that will operate in a sustainable manner.

The Arabian Travel Market 2024 exhibition continues until tomorrow, Thursday, May 9, at the Dubai World Trade Center.