Huawei Technologies, China Unicom and China Eastern Airlines have launched a 5G-based smart travel service system at Beijing Daxing International Airport.
The partners said that 5G smart travel service system enables an improved airport experience for passengers. 5G-enabled services, such as facial recognition for check-in and security, personalized airport experience through the airline’s smart app and paperless luggage services are part of the first wave of new 5G-enabled smart air travel services aimed at improving passenger experience at airports, the companies said.
“These services, delivered through the use of 5G, [artificial intelligence] and [augmented reality], set the standard for the new generation of smart airports. This makes the airport a new model of utilizing 5G Gigabit networks in the civil aviation industry. The collaboration with the mobile telecom industry will empower the airport to take its brand to a new height,” Huawei said in a statement.
The 5G coverage across the airport terminals is achieved with Huawei’s digital indoor system 5G LampSite, which was deployed for China Unicom Beijing in August 2019.
At Beijing Daxing International Airport, passengers of China Eastern Airlines do not need to show their ID cards or scan QR codes any longer. Passengers can complete all travel transactions from ticket purchase to check-in, luggage consignment, security check, and boarding just by having their faces scanned by the smart travel system. Flight attendants can complete passenger confirmation and guide them to their seats by using the facial recognition system.
“Facial recognition also provides benefits for ground service personnel by allowing them to quickly identify passengers and remind them of boarding information to help catch their flights. With smart display terminals in the check-in, security check, and VIP areas, passengers can obtain information about their flights, boarding gates, and destination weather by having their faces scanned, removing the need for passengers to scan long lists of flights to find theirs. Services that notify the boarding start/end time and predict the time needed to take from the current location to the boarding gate are also available to help passengers.”
The China Eastern Airlines app will be able to push personalized service information to passengers throughout the entire travel process, including reminders of ticket issuing, check-in, boarding, changes to boarding gates, baggage claims, and transfers.
In addition to regular reminders, information on luggage loading, luggage arrivals at the claims areas, and unaccompanied boarding and pickup for children and estimates of time to arrive at the boarding gate are available on the app.
China Eastern Airlines has also launched its 5G luggage tracking services on top of its permanent luggage RFID tagging solution.
“Through working with partners, including China Unicom Beijing and Huawei, to make air travel services more intelligent, convenient and useful for passengers China Eastern Airlines is unlocking the transformative powers of 5G, AI, cloud computing, and other cutting-edge technologies. Following the pilot operation at Beijing Daxing International Airport, it will expand the smart travel service system to airports in Beijing, Shanghai, and other major cities in China,” Huawei said.
