News DeskDUBAI, UAE – As the Middle East braces for a surge in passenger numbers, predicted to reach 429 million this year, a 5.4% increase from 2019, aviation experts gathered at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) to discuss the future of air travel. The session, titled ‘Looking Skyward for Innovation: How Technology is Disrupting Aviation’, was moderated by travel expert Mark Frary and featured panelists from Cirium, IATA, AviationXLab, and Riyadh Air.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) revealed that international passenger traffic rose by 20% in March 2024 compared to the same month last year. Kashif Khalid, Regional Director, Africa & Middle East, IATA, emphasized the importance of innovation in accommodating this significant growth. He stated, “Without innovation, the future will be very challenging. We cannot continue building bigger infrastructure with the level of passengers we anticipate, so we have to look at how we manage passengers and cargo differently through digital solutions and innovation.”
One such innovation is IATA’s One ID, a digital identity initiative that streamlines passenger travel by consolidating various travel documents into a single digital token. This groundbreaking system enhances security, simplifies check-in processes, and facilitates seamless travel across airports.
Kevin Hightower, Vice President of Product, Cirium, highlighted the role of data sharing in increasing efficiency in the aviation sector. He said, “That which is measured can be improved. As we share more data across boundaries, we will start to see the benefits today. Where a decision used to take hours, technologies such as Generative AI enable us to make decisions in seconds.”
Saudi’s new national carrier, Riyadh Air, set to launch in 2025, will be the first digitally native airline, according to Abe Dev, Vice President, Digital and Innovation, Riyadh Air. He outlined that Riyadh Air would provide a solid platform for startups to collaborate with the airline, offering further opportunities for innovation.
Aviation X Lab, part of Emirates Group, is an aviation-specific incubator based in the UAE, already making a significant impact in the sector. It brings together industry leaders, startups, and experts to collaborate on solving key challenges and driving innovation in the aviation sector, with a focus on sustainability, safety, passenger experience, and operational efficiency.
Amna Al Redha, Manager, Aviation X Lab, said, “When we look at the travel experience, we look at the passenger journey holistically and try to map out the various touchpoints where technology and innovation can bring advancements.” She added, “We can’t talk about the future without having a sustainability focus – it’s not about being the fastest and biggest anymore; it’s about which aviation companies are going to operate in a sustainable way.”
