Gemalto and IER have teamed up to create Fly to Gate, an end-to-end self-service airport experience for travellers.
Airport travel is booming; in 2016, there were 3.8 billion passengers and the International Air Transport Association (IATA expects this to double by 2035. This means that the industry and authorities will need to deploy automated solutions to optimize the flow of passengers while guaranteeing stringent security.
In Africa, the industry is also experiencing an unprecedented growth trajectory with the IATA reporting that the top ten fastest-growing markets in percentage terms will be in Africa with markets in Sierra Leone, Guinea, Central African Republic, Benin, Mali, Rwanda, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Madagascar. Each of these markets is expected to grow by more than 8% each year on average over the next 20 years, doubling in size each decade. The IATA further reports that by 2035, Africa will see an extra 192 million passengers a year for a total market of 303 million passengers (IATA)
“The vibrant passenger growth underway in Africa is creating opportunities for airports to offer effective, automated solutions that manage these increased volumes securely and conveniently” explains Nkululeko Nxasana, Africa Sales Director for Government at Gemalto. “Gabon and Ghana are fine examples of some countries that are incorporating these principles into their border management strategies.”
Fly to Gate answers the growing need for a self-service experience that takes travellers smoothly from their home to the departure gate. A typical Fly to Gate departure solution gives the traveller the choice between mobile check-in or self-service kiosks and includes bag drop points, border control, security and boarding gates.
This innovative offer combining IER’s self-service equipment and services with Gemalto’s border management solutions opens a swift and secure biometric pathway through the airport.
Fly to Gate supports multimodal biometric verification including facial recognition, robust document verification and straightforward integration with immigration systems, enabling rigorous standards of security and outstanding operational efficiency for airports and airlines.
The solution offers complete flexibility to meet individual airport operator requirements, and the potential to make virtually all traveller handling processes automatic. By putting the passenger in control of their airport experience, Gemalto and IER’s joined-up approach reduces queueing, as well as the stress and strain associated with air travel. Airports and airlines also benefit from the enhanced customer experience, with travellers enjoying more free time in leisure and retail facilities.
Maxime Boulvain, CEO at IER said, “For airports and airlines alike, the opportunities created by strong growth in passenger numbers go hand in hand with the challenges of more stringent border and security checks. This new partnership between IER and Gemalto squares the circle, utilizing world-class automation techniques to improve customer satisfaction, implement consistent identity and document verification procedures, and maximize commercial revenues.”
Frédéric Trojani, Executive Vice President of Government at Gemalto said: “The appetite for automated, self-service travel experiences is already evident in the success of electronic travel authorization, online check-in and automated border eGates. “For the first time, Fly to Gate offers a chance to reap the full benefits of this trend, working with leading partners whose solutions have been proven in numerous deployments.”