The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Kim Da-mi, Jeon So-nee team up for coming-of-age film 'Soulmate'

  • 3

    Park Hyung-sik to play crown prince in tvN series 'Our Blooming Youth'

  • 5

    Discussions on raising age for free subway rides gain momentum

  • 7

    Too many emergency text alerts? Gov't to halt daily COVID-19 notifications

  • 9

    First lady expands presence in domestic politics

  • 11

    'Ant-Man 3' promises bigger, better action with same family dynamic: cast

  • 13

    Seoul to discuss reforming free transportation benefits for seniors

  • 15

    FSC OKs Apple Pay to be available in Korea

  • 17

    US reaffirms nuclear security assurances to South Korea

  • 19

    Able C&C sale attracts dozens of potential buyers

  • 2

    Teens feel peer pressure to buy luxury goods endorsed by K-pop stars

  • 4

    Itaewon tragedy's bereaved families harassed by far-right protesters

  • 6

    SM to introduce multi-production system to increase business capabilities

  • 8

    Plan to construct new memorial center for ex-president faces backlash

  • 10

    Ex-justice minister gets 2-year prison term for academic irregularities surrounding family

  • 12

    Families of Itaewon crowd stampede victims clash with police over installation of memorial altar

  • 14

    Apple Pay can be launched in Korea: financial regulator

  • 16

    Naver to roll out conversational AI service

  • 18

    Yoon's office to press charges over report on fortune teller

  • 20

    Naver 2022 net profit down 96% on one-off factor

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Sun, February 5, 2023 | 17:31
Travel & Food
INTERVIEWContactless technology to reduce passenger stress amid COVID resurgence
Posted : 2022-07-18 08:32
Updated : 2022-07-19 15:36
Lee Hae-rin
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
Stefano Baronci, director general of Airports Council International (ACI) Asia-Pacific, speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at Korea Airports Corp. (KAC) headquarters in western Seoul, July 7. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
Stefano Baronci, director general of Airports Council International (ACI) Asia-Pacific, speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at Korea Airports Corp. (KAC) headquarters in western Seoul, July 7. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

Lingering pandemic accelerates aviation industry's digital transformation: ACI director

By Lee Hae-rin

Traveling overseas can be a stressful experience during the COVID-19 pandemic.

To relieve such jitters, airports need to step up efforts for digital transformation and technological innovation to help passengers travel without worries amid a resurgence of COVID 19 infections led by a new and highly-transmissible variant, according to the Asia-Pacific chief of an international organization of airport authorities.

Stefano Baronci, director general of the Airports Council International (ACI) Asia-Pacific, said the pandemic has "brought technology to the fore and has only accelerated the digital transformation that was already in place before," during an interview, July 7, with The Korea Times at the headquarters of the Korea Airports Corp. (KAC) in Seoul.

He visited Korea to participate in the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) 57th conference of Directors General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for Asia and Pacific regions, jointly organized by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the ICAO, from July 4-8. The Hong Kong-based council represents 131 members operating 617 airports in 49 countries.

This year, the annual event was held in Incheon to discuss aviation policies in the region with civil aviation chiefs from 41 countries, and the topics included the industry's economic recovery, decarbonization, and digitalization.

Baronci said that airports need to look for solutions that can enable them to become more efficient, reduce costs, and deal with the evolving needs of passengers via contactless technology and biometrics authentication, praising the KAC for its leading role in these areas.

The KAC has developed and implemented since 2018 a palm vein biometrics authentication system on all domestic flights at the 14 airports it operates. Passengers who have registered their palm vein patterns can instantly confirm their identity with biometric information, instead of carrying a passport or citizen's registration card.

According to the organization, the system significantly shortens boarding time by automating the visual identity confirmation process previously done by the airport staff. It shortens a maximum of 44 minutes of boarding time on flights between Gimpo and Jeju and the KAC plans to introduce the technology to overseas airports.

Such contactless technology can compensate for the stress that passengers experience from security processes and constantly changing health protocols.

"Airports like Incheon and those of KAC were already starting and piloting these models before COVID-19. But there was an acceleration and it's something that other airports are considering to stay competitive," he said.

Stefano Baronci, director general of Airports Council International (ACI) Asia-Pacific, speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at Korea Airports Corp. (KAC) headquarters in western Seoul, July 7. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
Stefano Baronci, director-general of ACI Asia-Pacific / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

The Asia-Pacific region's aviation industry has lost billions of passengers and $40 billion in revenue between 2021 and 2022.

"It will likely be a difficult and long recovery," Baronci said, quoting the latest forecast issued by ACI World showing that the Asia Pacific is expected to show the slowest recovery, reaching only 62 percent of pre-pandemic passenger volumes in 2022, while others have already recovered to 80 to 90 percent.

Baronci explained that the region's slow recovery is due to the slow reopening of borders and conservative health protocols by China and Japan, whose borders have not yet fully reopened and have a high impact on the region's passenger dynamic.

However, the Asia Pacific's potential for growth remains high considering its large demographic and relatively low air travel propensity or the number of per-capita air trips. China, Vietnam and India comprise around 40 percent of the global population, while the average propensity to fly in the Asia Pacific is less than 0.5 ― significantly lower than the European figure at 1.8 travels and over 2 for the U.S.

Thus, the countries in the Asia Pacific are relatively disconnected by flights and more aviation infrastructure, technology and overall advancement in service quality is needed to accommodate the market's growth.

Also, the aviation council chief underlined the importance of strengthening international airport codes by sharing airport operation expertise and technology through consultancy contracts.

"The trend is the strengthening of international airport groups … and I see this trend to continue and improve because the effect and value created (from sharing expertise) are objectively very high," Baronci said, encouraging Korea's work as a leading airport operator in the region to enhance market standards.

The KAC has been exporting its 40 years of airport construction, management and monetization expertise to 15 countries in Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America.


Emaillhr@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
Top 10 Stories
1Discussions on raising age for free subway rides gain momentum Discussions on raising age for free subway rides gain momentum
2US reaffirms nuclear security assurances to South KoreaUS reaffirms nuclear security assurances to South Korea
3Will KT, POSCO replace CEOs as Shinhan, Woori did? Will KT, POSCO replace CEOs as Shinhan, Woori did?
4William Franklin Sands' diplomatic and undiplomatic views of late Joseon William Franklin Sands' diplomatic and undiplomatic views of late Joseon
52-year work experience prerequisite unnecessary for foreign shipyard welders 2-year work experience prerequisite unnecessary for foreign shipyard welders
6President Yoon at odds with politician who helped him win election President Yoon at odds with politician who helped him win election
7LG publishes Korea's first group-level net zero report LG publishes Korea's first group-level net zero report
8Conflict reignites over relocation of POSCO Holdings to Pohang Conflict reignites over relocation of POSCO Holdings to Pohang
9Hyundai Motor's technology helps team become WTCR double champion Hyundai Motor's technology helps team become WTCR double champion
109 fishermen, including 2 Vietnamese, missing in boat incident 9 fishermen, including 2 Vietnamese, missing in boat incident
Top 5 Entertainment News
1Kim Da-mi, Jeon So-nee team up for coming-of-age film 'Soulmate'Kim Da-mi, Jeon So-nee team up for coming-of-age film 'Soulmate'
2Park Hyung-sik to play crown prince in tvN series 'Our Blooming Youth'Park Hyung-sik to play crown prince in tvN series 'Our Blooming Youth'
3'Ant-Man 3' promises bigger, better action with same family dynamic: cast 'Ant-Man 3' promises bigger, better action with same family dynamic: cast
4[INTERVIEW] Disney+ 'Big Bet' director on portraying greed and desire INTERVIEWDisney+ 'Big Bet' director on portraying greed and desire
5TXT, Le Sserafim top Oricon album and singles chart TXT, Le Sserafim top Oricon album and singles chart
DARKROOM
  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

  • World Cup 2022 France vs Morocco

    World Cup 2022 France vs Morocco

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group