Few industries exemplify the magnitude of human innovation quite like aviation.
Beyond bridging gaps between borders, aviation has expanded trade, bolstered tourism and connected cultures around the world. With technological advancements moving faster than ever, air travel is rapidly becoming faster, safer and more accessible.
Under the direction of the new minister, Eli Zakour, the Transport and Civil Aviation Ministry seeks to do just that with a mandate of improving flight, cargo and immigration services through the integration of modern technology.
Through these enhancements, Zakour and his ministry aim to increase the efficiency of operations, enhance customer experience and position TT as a prime destination for air-carriers.
Business Day columnist and former director general of the TT Civil Aviation Authority Ramesh Lutchmedial expressed his confidence in the minister doing just that.
"I think he (Zakour) is aptly qualified to continue to maintain TT’s place as a world-class centre of aviation…currently the civil aviation industry in TT is evolving to meet the new technologies and both the regulator and operators have always maintained the highest level of safety."
With a strong foundation, Lutchmedial said he hopes the industry could now move towards more digitised solutions such as e-passports and advanced baggage scanners. He pointed to recent developments at the Princess Juliana International Airport in St Maarten as a model example of how technological advancements can enhance a small island state's airport.
Portugal-based travel technology company, Vision-Box, has equipped the St Maarten airport with three major self-service options which allow passengers to traverse the airport without the need to present or complete paper documents and forms.
[caption id="attachment_1155197" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Vision-Box's automated systems at the Princess Juliana International Airport, St Maarten. -[/caption]
Using an end-to-end integrated biometric system, Vision Box says its Seamless Kiosk, Seamless Gate and Seamless Desk devices have reduced passengers’ average immigration clearance time from around 15 minutes to just ten seconds.
With Seamless Gate, passengers no longer need to present travel documents during boarding, at security checkpoints or even to access airport loungers.
With the face biometric ID system, travellers simply have to walk through the scanners.
Seamless Kiosk integrates the system's biometric and biographic data to authenticate and accept thousands of different travel documents using frontal face and fingerprint capture. Designed with accessibility in mind and compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and European Accessibility Act, Seamless Kiosk also provides an adjustable interface for people with disabilities.
With practicality in mind, Seamless Desk features simplified installation, allowing the device to be placed on existing booths regardless of dimensions.
"Even the x-ray machine for your baggage, you don’t have to take out your lapt
