Ten of the countless highlights from the most ambitious and successful FTE Asia yet, in partnership with Hong Kong International Airport, IATA, ACI Asia Pacific, Dragonair, Cathay Pacific and PATA. A record conference and exhibition saw the attendance of more than 250 international delegates, 30 renowned speakers and 20 cutting-edge exhibitors from 25 countries around the world.
For more highlights from FTE Asia, please see a selection of tweets from our event hashtag #FTEAsia at the bottom of the page.
Look out for the fascinating full show report in next week’s FTE Newsletter.
Over 120 people attended the IATA Workshop, where Lufthansa’s Thomas Jeske and Barry Woolnough of British Airways united to address the necessity for Common Use passenger processes and standardised solutions in the streamlined passenger experience. Paul Behan and Stephan Copart from IATA added that in the future self-service technologies could make taking a flight as simple as boarding a train.A traditional Chinese lion dancer experienced IER’s boarding technology at the FTE Asia Exhibition Opening, where delegates, speakers and exhibitors gathered to share the industry’s latest concepts and initiatives among a diverse multitude of innovative air travel solutions.Opening Keynote speakers Ng Chi Kee, Executive Director, Airport Operations at Hong Kong International Airport and Dragonair CEO Patrick Yeung described to a scintillated audience the reasons why Hong Kong’s hub airport and one of its leading home carriers are renowned for an exceptional passenger experience.SITA’s President Asia Pacific Ilya Gutlin described how the passenger is taking control of their own journey at the Second Working Session, where China Eastern’s Kevin Cai explained how mobile integration is revolutionising airport operations for its workforce and its travellers. They were joined by Copenhagen Airport’s Steve Tarbuck and his discoveries about what passengers really want from their airport – revealing that 12% of passengers seek agent attention more than a quarter seek independence and choice. Meanwhile Emi Spanakis, Director Customer Experience of oneworld, gave an alliance’s perspective on the challenges airports face in developing a streamlined and simplification of the airport experience.The open forum format of the conference sessions provided an interactive platform in which audience members could discuss their every concept and curiosity with the speakers on stage. Every presentation was translated for the many Chinese and English-speaking delegates, and intensive Q & A sessions were conducted in both English and Mandarin. Air China’s Manager of Simplifying the business in Ground Handling, Meng Yang, and Jian Shen, Shenzen Airport’s General Manager of Terminal Management, both delivered electrifying talks in their first language.In introducing the Third Working Session Mike di George, ARINC’s Managing Director, explained that in just a few years the Asia Pacific region will grow to deliver 37% of the world’s passengers. Meng Yang from Air China, Manager of Incheon International Airport Corporation Sun Mi-Kyoung and Vienna International Airport Masterplan Coordinator Peter Mayerhofer enlightened the audience on the roles that automation and self-service will play in transporting them smoothly and efficiently.The largest passenger experience exhibition in Asia with a fantastic array of equipment and solutions on display, providing as many inspirational ideas as the speakers did.In the fourth working session Greg Fordham, Managing Director, Airbiz, Tarik Kiki, Ground Project Manager Jetstar, and Yuh Khee Long, Changi Airport Group’s Vice President Technology, opened eyes to the power of mobile, WiFi and services tailored to different passenger segment needs in developing the ultimate experience for the future’s me-centric passenger.Adrian Harley General Manager Airport, Cathay Pacific Airways, opened a captivating Fifth Working Session with his address on the challenges infrastructure poses on adopting automated technology while still delivering ‘Service Straight From The Heart’. Andrew Wang of Japan Airlines and Stefan Rust, CEO of Exicon, followed with a jaw-dropping insight into the future of mobile technology in the passenger experience that demonstrated how travel apps and integrated NFC are changing the world of air travel as we know it.To close the conference Nobutaka Knoyagi from ANA All Nippon Airways, Bart Houlleberghs of Type22 and KLM’s Victor Vaessen, highlighted the self-service, RFID, and home-printed tag solutions that are taking baggage drop, handling and processing to the next level.
For more hightlights see our #FTEAsia tweets below
A gathering of air transport’s digital and innovation leaders, creative designers and progressive minds who will inspire one another and reimagine travel together.
