The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) has tasked airport technology company SITA with increasing the speed of its passenger processing systems at Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
As the main international gateway to the Philippines, the airport welcomes more than 37 million passengers a year and serves as a hub for the country’s major carriers. Under the agreement, SITA will install its latest systems at Terminals 1 and 2 for faster check-in and bag-drop processes, and enabling bag tracking.
SITA AirportConnect Open will be introduced at the airport. It is designed to effectively handle these processes, and can also include self-service kiosks and self-boarding gates. The local departure control system (LDCS) will also be implemented, which provides vital backup if any of the airport’s services are disrupted. The plan is in line with IATA’s Fast Travel program, aimed to boost the travel experience, and increase passenger flow and security measures, but lower the airport’s operating costs.
Ed Monreal, general manager at Manila Ninoy Aquino International, said, “SITA’s next-generation technology allows the airlines to offer fast and efficient service in Terminals 1 and 2, and its baggage reconciliation system will also ensure bags are electronically tracked until aircraft loading, reducing passenger inconvenience of mishandled bags.”
Ilya Gutlin, president of SITA APAC, added, “This is an exciting time for the air transport industry in the Philippines. Passenger traffic is growing and there is a clear commitment from the authorities to transform the passenger experience at Ninoy Aquino International Airport. SITA’s world-class technology will replace legacy systems at NAIA and underpin that transformation. It will provide the opportunity for a better passenger experience at every step of the journey while enabling efficient airport operations.”