Inauguration of Smart Travel System’ at Abu Dhabi Airport Represents a Paradigm Shift

Lt. General H.H. Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, inaugurated today the ‘Smart Travel System’ at Abu Dhabi International Airport, which allows travelers to enjoy a personal travel experience, by which they can quickly finalize their travel procedures from the moment they arrive to the airport and until they board the plane.

The system allows travelers to check-in easily while they are waiting in front of the counter to receive their boarding pass, and then head straight to the e-gate and finalize their travel procedures without the hassle of visiting the passport control and waiting endlessly in front of the counter.

The ‘Smart Travel System’ provides services to process travel procedures and check in luggage , as well as e-gates to validate travelers’ passports data and face recognition feature, and other smart specifications for boarding the plane.

Commenting on this achievement, Sheikh Saif said that the inauguration of the ‘Smart Travel System’ at the Abu Dhabi International Airport is a qualitative leap that improves procedures and boosts their flexibility to facilitate travelers’ movement to reflect the civilized image of the UAE, which has achieved huge strides in airports’ services to provide the well-being of passengers arriving to and departing from its airports.

H.H revealed that the quality of services and airport facilities are up to par with similar entities worldwide. "The government of the UAE is keen to ensure sustainable and upgraded services to increase travelers’ satisfaction and meet their aspirations by providing the best services that would allow them to quickly complete their travel procedures," he said. He also praised the developed level and prestigious status attained by the Abu Dhabi International Airport, and the commitment to pursue further development process to keep abreast of the latest and best services and techniques.

Sheikh Saif and the attendees watched a documentary film about the different stages and benefits of the Smart Travel System, which allow travelers to complete their travel procedures quickly. H.H also listened to a briefing about the new system, which grants travelers the ease of a self-service process.

Ali Majed Al Mansoori, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC), said: "Providing a world-class travel experience for travelers is a top priority for the Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC). The continuing growth in passenger numbers at Abu Dhabi International Airport prompts us to implement the latest technological system, in order to streamline travelers’ movement around the airport". He hailed the cooperation with the Ministry of Interior to launch the "Smart Travel System", which represents a milestone that further strengthens the prestigious leading status of Abu Dhabi Airports, in terms of adopting the latest innovations and providing cutting-edge technological solutions to passengers. "This system will not only provide the most suitable conditions for travelers, but will also improve the efficiency of the security inspections, by providing more accurate and credible information and data," he added.

Brigadier Engineer Hussein Ahmed Al Harithi, Director General of Electronics and Telecommunications Services at the Ministry of Interior, and Chairman of the Higher Committee for E-Ports Project, said: "The ‘Smart Travel System’ is a first-of-its-kind in the UAE; it was launched at the Abu Dhabi International Airport in order to provide convenience for travelers, streamline their travel procedures and save time and effort. This would contribute to the happiness of Abu Dhabi Airports passengers thanks to the comprehensive high-end services provided to passengers, arriving to or departing from this prestigious hub, which cater to their needs and streamline their travel procedures, on par with the best airport services standards in developed countries."

Brigadier Engineer Al Harithi added that this great milestone will further promote the leading position of Abu Dhabi Airports in providing the best services and facilities to help passengers complete their arrival or departure procedures in a comfortable and civilized manner.

According to Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC), the distinguished automated system features a number of facilities dedicated for check-in, check-out and luggage loading. The Airport provides the e-gates system for passport control, equipped with biometric capture devices and face recognition system, in addition to smart boarding gates. The ‘Smart Travel System’ procedures will enhance passengers’ travel experience, by reducing check-in time by 70%. This would provide passengers with a greater opportunity to enjoy a wide range of offers in the retail, entertainment, restaurants, cafes and shops, and allow airports and airlines to accelerate the flow of travelers and increase the capacity of the existing infrastructure.

The ‘Smart Travel System’ at the Abu Dhabi International Airport includes a set of self-service procedures, notably bags drop-in, electronic check-in, e-gate, and self-boarding. Signs have been installed across passenger halls to explain the process, in order to allow passengers to benefit from services provided through the project.

Moreover, the Abu Dhabi Airports Company will be installing and operating 25 electronic check-in platforms, 58 e-gates, and 76 self-boarding gates across the arrivals and departures halls at the Abu Dhabi International Airport terminals. Installation is scheduled to be complete by next June, and will also include 10 platforms for self check-in, and two platforms for self bag drop-in.

Major Mohammed Al Zaabi, Director of the E-Ports Project at the Ministry of Interior, said that all travelers commuting through the country’s airports will be automatically registered into the system and allowed to use the e-gates in their next trips. Special e-gates were allocated for people with special needs across all airport halls. "Children aged five years and above will be able to register and use the e-gate with their families, where security and safety procedures are available. The e-gate features security specifications that prevent any security breaches," he added.

The Ministry of Interior has also provided modern smart gates across the arrivals’ halls to be used by registered passengers upon arriving into the country, and by passengers with a visa issued by the country’s embassies abroad.
Source: WAM