The COVID-19 pandemic proved to be extremely devastating for the travel industry. Not only did airlines cancel 100% of their national and international flights, but netizens worldwide also became too wary about exposing themselves to the virus and putting their health and safety at risk. But, as 2022 rolls along, the industry has picked up immense steam – much to everyone’s delight. 

With almost all countries lifting all COVID restrictions, airports are once again buzzing with people, and airlines are experiencing full capacity.

Unfortunately, travel isn’t as pleasant as it should be, as the industry isn’t prepared to deal with this sudden and massive footfall and airports and airlines are struggling with staff shortages. This is causing immense frustration and disappointment for passengers worldwide. 

The Post-COVID Travel Nightmare 

Ask anyone about their recent travel experience, and chances are they have a harrowing tale to tell. As travelers flock back to airports in growing numbers, there are many stories of systems and processes falling short. Having said that, let’s look at the top reasons that have made post-COVID travel a nightmare:

• Amplified footfall: The travel industry has always seen peaks and troughs in footfall, but as the effects of the pandemic begin to wear down, the number of people packing their backs and exploring new places has grown manifold. After a forced 2-year hiatus, people across the world are now looking to catch up on lost time and reboot their travel plans. 
• Inadequate staff: One of the biggest problems the airline industry is facing is staff shortage. There is a far smaller than required number of people available to service key functions, which is invariably leading to several instances of lost bags, long lines, missed flights, and other problems – than ever heard before. 
• Human surveillance: Despite technological advancements, many security systems in airports (and other high-traffic locations) are built around human surveillance. The “if you see something, say something” mantra no longer works, with most people being too rushed to notice anything untoward and the security staff spread too thin to react in time. 
• Legacy systems: Although airports have a robust technology ecosystem, many of these systems are too legacy. It’s not uncommon to find young students or elderly people being randomly stopped, checked, and inspected because a legacy computer wrongly flagged their baggage or spotted suspicious behavior.  

All these challenges have made flight delays commonplace and the process of travel a harrowing experience. For instance, the liquid ban that is meant to stop threats (and has probably never been attempted) unnecessarily delays the security check process via pointless unpacking and repacking. Add to it the unnecessary flagging of passengers that forgot to put a shampoo bottle in a zip lock!

With each passenger now carrying a minimum of 3 gadgets, the unloading of countless electronics onto the tray and removal of shoes/belts/jackets further slackens the line — so does the manual checking of passports at international travel desks. Imagine if all these manual processes were eliminated, passengers could arrive at the airport just half an hour before their flight and still make it on the plane in time.

The Role Smart Technology Plays 

The post-COVID phase has proven to be extremely turbulent for the travel industry. However, there’s a lot technology can offer to convert this nightmare into a dream. Folding smart technology like Computer Vision (CV) and AI into airport strategies can play a huge role in:

Identifying Potential Threats

Right from spotlighting things like unattended bags to detecting liquids and sensing unusual passenger behavior, smart technology can relay critical safety information to security personnel, who can then plan the right course of action. Computer Vision technology can also make baggage screening and facial recognition more effective and help in detecting genuine threats – thus minimizing unnecessary stress and strain for staff. 

Enabling Seamless Facial Recognition

Smart technology like Computer Vision and AI can make passport desks a thing of the past. Having an AI-enabled facial recognition camera at border control can instantly and accurately verify passenger identity – without an agent manually having to compare a 5-year-old picture to present facial characteristics.

Discovering Hotspots

Early morning flights often bring too many passengers traveling for business or leveraging cheap flights into airports – often leading to never-ending lines at check-in counters and security desks. Smart technology can enable authorities to track footfall, discover hotspots, and direct passengers to emptier counters for a pleasant check-in experience.

Driving Preventive Maintenance

A single out-of-order system in the airport can add immense pressure on the already strained airport infrastructure. Smart technology systems enable staff to carry out preventive maintenance activities and take proactive action before systems break down – for a seamless and worry-free travel experience.

Averting Trespassing

Smart technology can also help in maintaining the right level of access control. Since airports need to ensure perimeter safety 24×7, Computer Vision technology can enable facial recognition-based entry and time-keeping, confirming the identity of every individual entering or leaving the airport premises while also monitoring movements and reducing risk.

Summing Up

As airports once again witness passengers in snowballing numbers, AI and Computer Vision technology can help streamline the travel experience. From identifying potential threats to enabling seamless facial recognition, discovering hotspots to carrying out preventive maintenance, averting trespassing to ensuring passenger safety – in an industry that has so many moving parts, smart technology helps in keeping an eye on every person, every baggage, and every exit, so passengers can have a safe, stress-free, and satisfying sojourn.

With CV technology becoming more powerful, it is necessary to integrate it with other systems. Learn how KamerAI can help in making your airport security system more operative and productive with precise image data, alerts, time-sensitive information, and other features your business needs.