AA Organises HKIA's First Technovation Conference and Exhibition "Smart Airport – Object Tracking" to Enhance Operational Efficiency

(HONG KONG, 15 September 2015)  –  To continuously improve operational efficiency and the passenger experience at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AA) organised the first Technovation Conference and Exhibition today, providing a platform to engage the airport community with the latest technologies and potential solutions.

Based around the theme of “Smart Airport – Object Tracking”, the event focused on the latest developments in indoor and outdoor object tracking applications and related technologies, which offer high potential to facilitate operational efficiency at the airport.

The opening ceremony of the conference was officiated by Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung, Secretary for Transport and Housing; and Fred Lam, Chief Executive Officer of the AA.

Professor Cheung said, “The Government supports the AA’s efforts to develop HKIA into a ‘smart airport’ through the application of intelligent data, operation and automated passenger processing technology, so that HKIA can become more efficient, less labour depending, and can provide even better travel experience to passengers. By developing into a smart airport, HKIA itself can also become an incubating platform for the local technology industry to explore new ideas and innovative solutions.”

According to Mr Lam, “HKIA is a leader in global aviation and one of the busiest airports in the world. We are committed to adopting advanced technologies to continuously enhance our levels of operational efficiency and our passenger experience. While the aviation industry has been consistently searching for new technologies to improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness in providing better products and services, Hong Kong is home to a great number of technology companies and research institutes at the forefront of developing these technologies and applications.”

"I hope this event will serve as an ideal matching platform for our business partners to find the right solutions. We will also continue working closely with the airport community and other stakeholders to build a futuristic airport that is a source of pride for the people of Hong Kong," Mr Lam added.

Keynote presentations from airport partners and technology companies were given during the conference, broadening attendees’ perspectives on the latest technology trends and applications. Twenty exhibitors from IT companies, universities and research institutes showcased potential tracking solutions with applications for the aviation industry, including WiFi, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), beacons and video analytics technology. Other technologies, such as indoor path-finding solutions, enable passengers to enjoy a pleasant airport experience by providing the fastest route to their boarding gates, as well as shopping and dining options. Tracking technology can also help to better manage airport resources, such as luggage trolley distribution and manpower deployment. With the help of tracking technology, frontline staff will be notified to replenish trolleys at specific stations as supply levels begin to taper off.

In addition, the AA is committed to adopting cutting-edge technologies to continuously enhance HKIA’s levels of operational efficiency and customer service. With this goal in mind, the AA recently established an Airport Technology Advisory Council - comprised of delegates from the aviation industry, Research and Development experts, and technology professionals. The council members will provide advice on applying leading technologies to ensure HKIA’s long-term, sustainable development and on-going success.