Istanbul Airport has been handed the ‘Digital Transformation Award’ by ACI at the 16th ACI Europe Awards owing to the digitization of all airport processes during its design stage and the integration of technology in every corner of the airport.
Istanbul Airport was recognized for the innovative technological services it offers to its passengers such as e-passport, smart translation service, mobile application, smart parking, 5G, smart security and robots.
“First of all, I would like to underline that the most important demand of our passengers is to experience digital travel,” said Kadri Samsunlu, chief executive officer, İGA Airport Operation. “In this respect, we have placed digitalization and technology at the center of Istanbul Airport, from the very beginning.”
According to Samsunlu, the airport will continue to increase its digital integration with a digital wallet application, followed by a commercial platform called Ist-buy, which will be a digital marketplace at the airport where all outlets will be able to market their own products.
“The most ambitious technological practice to be implemented at Istanbul Airport within the next six months will be the opportunity of traveling and shopping via biometrics, in other words, the use of facial feature data,” continued Samsunlu.
“With this, tickets, passports and digital biometric data of passengers are matched through the Istanbul Airport mobile application. Additionally, thanks to our artificial intelligence-based smart chat system project, we will provide our passengers with instant notifications at our airport and have the opportunity to provide 24/7 support, in accordance with our ‘Smart Airport’ concept.
“We have been using artificial intelligence at every point of our business processes from the very first day, aiming for a continuous increase in productivity. We have also activated tracking mechanisms at our airport with the help of IoT technology. I wholeheartedly believe that success as an intelligent, sustainable and people-focused airport is subject to passenger satisfaction.
“Keeping such satisfaction sustainable, on the other hand, requires proper and effective exploitation of the opportunities the digital world offers us, by taking it, from time to time, beyond the edges of our imagination. That we have been awarded the ‘Digital Transformation Award’ by ACI stands as a concrete evidence and an exciting indication of us following the right path towards our goals.”
