Aviation insiders were thrilled to see U.S. commercial air travel blast past historic travel levels in 2023 and revealed to techies at the SXSW Conference forthcoming transformations that will take the flight experience to new heights thanks to artificial technology.

Air travel dipped to historic lows during the pandemic but the aviation industry doubled down during the slowdown in hopes of using new technology coming available to transform the industry.

With demand for domestic and international flights soaring, industry officials explained what they envision the “new Golden Age of air travel with AI-enabled technologies” will look like several years from now and even tomorrow at certain places around the world.

Airport expansions, such as La Guardia International Airport’s Terminal B transformation, have turned these sites into destinations, not just for people boarding flights.

Matt Gilkeson, the Transportation Security Administration’s chief technology officer and chief data officer, described the changes as “really incredible.”

“The destination is the airport,” said Gilkeson during a discussion on the future of air travel at the SXSW Conference in Austin on Wednesday. “Technology and smart design is going to be key to that because you’re going to mitigate investment with us introducing seamless journeys.”

Ian Law, chief digital transformation officer at Los Angeles World Airports, added that everyone involved is evolving to meet the moment, where artificial intelligence is incorporated through the travel process.

The panelists explained how AI can be incorporated in determining places outside the airport where passengers typically visit and creating new security screening destinations based on that information.

Flight histories analyzed by AI can predict which bags are most likely to miss their connection. AI can screen passengers’ photo ID, or digital driver’s license, more thoroughly and certainly faster than human beings.

“Airports are going to have to start thinking about how we redesign some of our space,” said Law.

Airports have compiled a “huge volume” of data” and the challenge is in consuming and making sense of it and then using it to improve the guest experience.

“AI is starting to get us to the place to actually start making sense of environments,” Law said.

Robotics for bag-tracking

Last July, Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport announced plans to buy 19 baggage robots following a successful pilot program earlier in the year.

“It’s important that we improve the working conditions of baggage handlers. These robots do just that,” said Ruud Sondag, CEO of Royal Schiphol Group. “They are the best available anywhere in the world and the tests we have done have shown that they really make things easier for the staff in the baggage basement.”.

Celley Buchanan, vice president of airport operations and customer service for Alaska Airlines, said the company has begun looking at the types of robotics it can use to process and track checked bags.

But it is also looking into using AI to improve passengers’ experience when they check bags.

“AI isn’t meant to replace that human interaction. Instead, it’s meant to enhance it and really give tools to our folks so that they can better anticipate needs, solve for problems before they even become problems, and some of the things that they can do now is to focus on connecting flights,” said Buchanan during the “The more times you move a bag, the more at risk that it is.”

Bernadette Berger, who oversees innovation for Alaska Airlines, said the company is working on computer vision programs to predict how much space in overhead bins will be needed for carry-on bags.

Being able to predict how full storage bins will be can give passengers “peace of mind” to know they can spend time relaxing in a lounge right up until they need to board, knowing they will not be tense about not getting overhead space near their assigned seat.

TSA checkpoints

Last week, the TSA debuted self-screening security lanes at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas.

Gilkeson promised more major innovations in the near future by the government agency.

At present, TSA uses algorithms in its computer systems to break down images of people and items that come through checkpoints. The next step is being able to analyze that data in real time and have machines running operations with employees to stand by and monitor. 

TSA wants to decentralize security, allowing passengers to get screened off-site and then proceed directly to the plane.

“We’re looking at self-driving cars and how do we take a self-driving capability and put it into a screening platform so that you can be [picked up] from your car and you don’t have to go through the noise and congestion of the airport and go straight to the aircraft?” said Gilkeson.

Wayfinding

Wayfinding refers to the ways that people orient themselves in a physical space, using signs, colors, buildings, language, and other descriptors.

Right now, a passenger who transfers flights in a new place would feel out of place, particularly given a potential language barrier.

Law said wayfinding technology is one of LAX’s top goals, particularly because so many passengers are international travelers. 

“The big game-changer for us would be the video data and what we can get out in the future. And I think that it will open so many doors … to help people find a way around the airport,” said Law.

Tokyo airports have begun incorporating wayfinding technology, Law said.

Passengers today cannot take a picture of their surroundings somewhere in the airport and use technology to determine where they are and how to make their way to the next gate or baggage claim though GPS does exist.

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Augmented reality, or using phones and wearable technology to give passengers computer-generated perceptual information, has “great potential,” Law said. Already at LAX, Law has seen passengers wearing Apple Vision Pro. 

“We at LAX have been trying very hard to get solutions,” said Law. “Being able to help people navigate in their way. And I think that comes from their own smartphones to  goggles and glasses as time goes on.”