april2021 - 12

INDUSTRY EXPERT
COLUMN

Baggage Reconciliation Technology's
Role in Supporting Airport Recovery
Effective baggage tracking goes a long way toward meeting passenger
expectations and appealing to new airlines.

t's been more than one year since the
COVID-19 pandemic changed the entire
world. The air transport industry was
among the most affected by the crisis, as
airports and airlines across the globe halted
operations for the sake of safety. Regional airports were arguably hit the hardest by this
shift; as cash-strapped airlines scrambled to
reduce costs, many had to cut out routes to
smaller cities entirely.
Smaller airports lost revenue due to fewer
airlines flying in and out of their locations.
Luis Felipe de Oliveira, director general of ACI
World, hit the nail on the head when he said,
" the global transportation crisis has exacerbated the shortfall for smaller airports. " As
travel slowly begins to return in 2021, these
smaller airports and cities will be tasked with
the unique challenge of getting airlines to
return to their facilities.
In the same way regional airports were hit
the hardest in the pandemic, it appears they
may be a driving force behind this industry
recovery. Domestic tourism is expected to
return to pre-crisis levels one to two years
earlier than international travel. The U.S.
All photos courtesy of SITA

By Peter Drummond

12 GROUND SUPPORT WORLDWIDE

APRIL 2021

domestic market is one of the most resilient,
and its ecosystem of small-hub, regional airports will enable that growth.
The question remains: how will small airports aid in this critical recovery? One way is
by addressing core challenges with technological solutions that make it easier and more
cost effective for airlines to fly in and out of
those markets.

Key Challenges Facing
Regional Airports

Regional airports have different pain points
than their larger U.S. counterparts. In the context of pandemic recovery, many are evaluating new ways to retain and attract airlines and
adapt to meet new passenger expectations yet
are constrained by dwindling budgets.
Further, passengers expect the same kind of
travel experience in a small airport that they
would have in a large airport. Everything from
passenger flows and efficiency, to convenience
and personalization are expected in small and
large airports alike. This brings certain challenges to light: how can a small airport meet
these demands in a cost-effective way, while
also thinking broadly about airline attraction?

Efficient Baggage Tracking
for Every Airport

Effective baggage reconciliation technology
goes a long way toward meeting passenger
expectations and appealing to new airlines,
regardless of airport size. Today's passengers
want information on baggage status and delivery, both reliably and in real-time. Technology
that can provide the ability to track baggage,
just as a consumer would track an Amazon
package, makes traveling a more reassuring
experience.
From an airline perspective, airports with
automated baggage reconciliation systems in
place can help reduce the cost of mishandled

april2021

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