Future Travel Experience (FTE) firmly believes that the best innovation is always collaborative innovation. Our FTE Communities – the FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub, Baggage Innovation Working Group (BIWG) and World Airport Retailing Working Group – play an important role as catalysts and enablers of industry transformation. In part 1 of our focus on collaborative innovation, we share exclusive insights into a new “coalition of the willing” being launched by Schiphol, in partnership with FTE via the BIWG, to accelerate baggage innovation together, with a focus on robotics and automation. We also explore how Aeroporti di Roma is collaborating with startups to shape the next generation of airports, and dive into an important new strategic collaboration between IndiGo and GMR Hyderabad Airport that will accelerate digital transformation, drive technological innovation, and enhance CX.
Schiphol to launch new “coalition of the willing” in partnership with FTE BIWG to leverage innovation power of multiple airports and accelerate baggage automation and robotization
Royal Schiphol Group – an Airport Lab Network Partner of the FTE Baggage Innovation Working Group (BIWG) and a Corporate Partner of the FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub – is launching a new initiative this year that will see a global coalition of airports accelerate baggage innovation together, with a focus on robotics and automation. The “coalition of the willing” is being built in partnership with Future Travel Experience via the BIWG and all output and learnings will be continuously shared for the benefit of BIWG members. In this interview, Dennis van Kleef, Programme Lead Baggage, Royal Schiphol Group and Wopke Dost, Open Innovation Specialist, nlmtd, share more about the initiative and its objectives.
“We envisioned multiple airports from all over the world to join forces in their innovation efforts regarding baggage automation,” says van Kleef. “In order to eliminate physical strain and transform working conditions for baggage workers, we aim to accelerate innovations in baggage automation and robotization. By executing pilots for different innovations within a collective of airports, we enable risk minimisation, cost efficiency and fast technology implementation for all involved parties.”
To realise this ambition, Schiphol tasked its long-term innovation partner nlmtd with creating a hands-on concept of what the initiative could look like. “In the recent report by TNW (The Next Web) on baggage handling, which we shared with the BIWG members, the lack of collaboration between airports is mentioned as one of the key blockers for innovation within the industry,” Dost explains. “By launching a collaboration focused on innovation doing and hands-on execution, we intend to bridge this gap and leverage the innovation power of multiple airports all at once.”
“FTE events are the physical touchpoints for this collective”
The idea was initiated during the BIWG meeting in Los Angeles in September 2023, which took place alongside the FTE Global event. After a call for collaboration by Schiphol during that BIWG meeting, a so-called “coalition of the willing” was formed. “They all helped shaping this initiative, which enabled the set-up of a concept that is backed by, and relevant for, a wide range of airports,” van Kleef shares. “Since the first idea for the collaboration was born during the BIWG meeting in LA by having the right people together in the same room, we built this initiative in partnership with the Future Travel Experience. The FTE events are the physical touchpoints for this collective and learnings from the innovation pilots will be shared at these FTE events with other parties in the ecosystem again.”
Schiphol is currently getting the right partners together and will officially launch the collaboration together with these core airport partners at the co-located FTE EMEA and FTE Ancillary & Retailing events, taking place in Dublin on 11-13 June 2024.
“We work in a phased way to enable success in the short-term, as well as the long-term,” Dost adds. “The collaboration will launch with 3 to 4 airports at the core of the initiative. As soon as innovation sharing between these core partners is in full motion, we will start to welcome other airports and potentially other parties within the aviation ecosystem as well.”
ADR on a “transformational journey” with startups to collaborate and shape the next generation of airports
Aeroporti di Roma (ADR) – a Corporate Partner of the FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub – has a firm focus on collaborating with pioneering startups. Last year it launched ADR Ventures – an initiative to finance the development of projects in areas with high innovation potential, operating from the Innovation Hub at Rome Fiumicino Airport. Most recently, as Future Travel Experience reported in this interview, ADR has launched the third ‘Call4Startups’ in its ‘Runway to the Future Acceleration Program’, with the aim of revolutionising the travel experience and shaping the next generation of airports.
“In embarking on this transformational journey, startups take the lead,” explains Alice Tosti, Acceleration Program & Open Innovation Specialist, ADR. “Their cutting-edge technologies act as a driver to enhance the top-quality ratings of the infrastructure and revolutionise the aviation industry. In the airport environment – and more specifically in the Innovation Hub inside Rome Fiumicino Airport Terminal 1 – innovation really takes place when startups meet with the members of our Innovation Cabin Crew, a group of ADR colleagues that represent each company structure.”
Indeed, the success of the initiative comes through this collaboration, with the Innovation Cabin Crew’s dedicated business mentoring providing the know-how necessary for the startup to correctly and successfully apply the technology and, thus, develop a valuable innovation project. “Through enhanced customer experience, optimised operational efficiency, optimised business performance, and a commitment to sustainability, the projects kick-start a journey of innovation and excellence,” Tosti shares.
In the first edition of the ‘Call4Startups’, ADR selected 10 startups from 96 applications. Following a rigorous testing phase, it commercially launched the services of five out of the 10 startups, officially integrating them as providers for ADR. There were then 116 applications in the second edition, with 13 international startups currently undergoing the final testing phase.
It is a true collaborative approach to innovation – ADR has engaged with over 600 startups in the last two years, achieving an impressive 50% conversion rate from Proof of Concepts (PoCs) to implementation, while undertaking 23 PoCs.
The third edition of ADR’s ‘Call4Startups’ is based on six main challenges: Smart Operations & Processes, Infrastructure Management & Development, Passenger Experience, Net Zero Target & Sustainability, Commercial Opportunities, and Disruptive Solutions.
“Our programme is designed to be international, aiming to set the future standards for the aviation industry with a worldwide reach, so we aim to define innovative solutions which can be implemented in each airport,” says Tosti.
If a startup is selected, ADR plans to collaborate by providing an eight-month journey to develop a PoC, testing the solution within the Innovation Hub at Fiumicino Airport. There will also be the opportunity for contact with national and international partners, as well as the ‘Airports for Innovation’ network – a global alliance of airports sharing the common goal of promoting innovation, startups, and enhancing the passenger experience with sustainability and innovation.
ADR is specifically seeking startups in Seed, Series A, and Series B stages that are prepared to test with its Innovation Cabin Crew members during the programme. International startups interested in applying can do so by following the instructions provided here. The deadline for applications is 22 March 2024.
IndiGo and GMR Hyderabad Airport enter strategic collaboration to accelerate digital transformation, drive technological innovation, and enhance CX
IndiGo Airlines and GMR Hyderabad International Airport (GHIAL) recently announced a strategic collaboration with the aim of transforming the passenger experience. The initiative forms the beginning of a digital consortium whose objective is to reshape the landscape of the Indian aviation industry.
The consortium is focused on deploying cutting-edge technologies to enhance operational efficiency, passenger experiences, and overall industry sustainability, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) – which are two key themes of the FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub in 2024 – as well as Blockchain and Data Mesh.
While GMR and IndiGo are the founding partners of this industry consortium, the initiative aims to collaborate with multiple stakeholders in the aviation ecosystem to drive the key objectives of driving technological innovation, enhancing passenger services, achieving operational excellence, and embracing sustainable practices to minimise environmental impact.
“We are thrilled to launch this unique initiative, jointly with GHIAL,” says Rajesh Kumar Singh, Special Director, IndiGo. “An aviation ecosystem, orchestrated in real-time using digital innovations, with the customer at its heart, has the potential to provide breakthrough experiences unparalleled anywhere else in the world. I am confident in our ability to create this outlier in the world of aviation in close cooperation with our ally GHIAL.”
GMR’s Innovation Hub – GMR Innovex – provides startups with comprehensive support, encompassing mentoring, access to resources, Proof of Concept opportunities, and assistance with patent filings. Collaborators benefit from access to internal resources and subject matter experts in an environment designed to unleash creativity. They also have the opportunity to trial their products and services across diverse sectors. With a primary focus on airports, GMR Group is investing in a spectrum of technologies, including computer vision, data sciences, Blockchain, DroneTech, smart tagging, and AI and Machine Learning among others.
“GMR Group stands as a pioneering force in advancing technological innovations within the aviation landscape,” says SGK Kishore, ED-South & Chief Innovation Officer, GMR Airports. “This consortium serves as a testament to our unwavering commitment to innovation and our leadership in the digital and emerging technology arenas. Currently, GMR Group is steering a range of initiatives geared towards elevating business prospects, including the delivery of superior customer experiences, revenue enhancement, cost reduction opportunities, and the establishment of agile and efficient internal processes. Our dedication to pushing the boundaries of innovation remains steadfast, and we anticipate introducing forward-thinking solutions in the years ahead with the entire aviation ecosystem. This initiative will harness digital technologies to create a future-ready and efficient aviation infrastructure in India.”
IndiGo and GHIAL share a vision to create memorable and convenient experiences for passengers. By leveraging advancements in technology, this innovative ecosystem seeks to address the evolving needs and preferences of travellers, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable journey.
IAG, DFW, Isavia, MCO, and WSI among latest Corporate Partners to join FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub
The FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub is a truly unique community designed specifically for the individuals and organisations who are at the forefront of digital transformation and innovation in the aviation industry. Corporate Partners – including many of the industry’s most forward-thinking airlines, airports and vendors – connect on a regular basis throughout the year and the FTE Hub is where meaningful relationships are forged, and learnings, ideas and case studies are continually shared. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, DataArt, Ditto, International Airlines Group, Isavia, Orlando International Airport and Western Sydney Airport are among the latest Corporate Partners to join.
The three core themes of the FTE Hub for 2024 are Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics and the Internet of Things (IoT) and these topics are at the forefront of our FTE Hub meetings over the next 12 months. In line with the new community-focused approach, the schedule of monthly members’ meetings and activities for 2024 has been expanded to facilitate even more engagement. The next virtual members-only meeting takes place on 19 March 2024, while the next in-person meeting takes place in Frankfurt on 15 April 2024, hosted by Lufthansa.
Find out more about the FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub >>
