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ASIA-PACIFIC AIRPORTS MAGAZINE
IT INNOVATION
Striving for excellence In this exclusive Q&A, Hamad International Airport’s senior vice president for technology and innovation, Suhail Kadri, discusses his gateway’s IT strategy. What is the philosophy/strategy of Hamad International Airport (HIA) when it comes to new technology? Our goal is to be the best airport in the world and this ambition ensures that we have harnessed the power of digital innovation and technology since opening to deliver a unique airport experience for our passengers and the type of operations you would expect from a true airport of the future. HIA has been relentless in terms of trialling and introducing innovative solutions that provide passengers with a holistic, smooth, and effortless airport experience; and helped transform daily operations. Any new technology HIA trials has to first and foremost be a candidate for addressing a specific business opportunity or a challenge that has been identified by our organisation in order to meet our tactical or strategic objectives. It is then trialled methodically to APA Issue 4, 2020
ensure that it delivers the desired business outcome and value. Our approach, and dedication, has allowed us to set numerous benchmarks for the aviation industry. Where are the world’s airports going in terms of new technology? The global trend is that passengers want a more streamlined and automated airport experience. We will undoubtedly see the role of biometrics, cloud and touchless technologies rising in the future and become the basis of new experiences that will also include wearables, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. In Q4 of 2019, IATA presented the results of its Global Passenger Survey, which showed that passengers are looking to technology to improve their travel experience, although many were concerned about the security of their personal data.
