Industry News
Glass sculpture installed above TSA screening at George Bush Intercontinental
Houston Airports has announced the completion of Coastal Prairie Fiori, a site-specific, large-scale glass installation by world-renowned American artist Dale Chihuly.
Now prominently displayed inside the new International Central Processor (ICP) at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), this commissioned artwork is the latest addition to Houston Airport’s Public Art Program. It is Chihuly’s largest airport commission to date, measuring approximately 80ft in length, 20ft in width and 20ft in depth.
UltraPass and Philippines DOT to trial passenger verification system
UltraPass and the Philippine Department of Transportation (DOTr) have formed a partnership to pilot a digital identity verification system across Philippine airports.
The implementation will begin with pilot programs at strategic airports, providing passenger processing through biometric verification, starting with citizens of the Philippines and later expanding to include foreign travelers.
UltraPass’s technology integrates with national digital identity systems while maintaining data sovereignty. The company’s partnership with government agencies aims to create a simplified and decentralized identity verification process.
Schiphol opens redeveloped Lounge 1
The lounge, which caters to intra-Europe travellers, now offers 20,000m2 of passenger area.
Efficient use of space
The airport has added an additional 5,000m2 of space, which was created by transforming a parking lot and parts of four existing buildings into a new passenger area. Connecting the parts created a spacious plaza with lots of natural light. For the interior, more sustainable materials such as bamboo wall panels were chosen and grass cut at Schiphol was incorporated into the seating.
Continue reading Schiphol opens redeveloped Lounge 1 at Passenger Terminal Today.
UK invites applicants for security screening alarm resolution project
The UK’s innovation accelerator for cities, transport and place leadership, the Connected Places Catapult, has opened applications for project HADeS (High Assurance Detection Systems), which aims to enhance the checkpoint security screening capability at UK airports.
The project is delivered by Catapult on behalf of the UK’s Department for Transport (DfT) and focuses on alarm resolution and any operating concept that can enhance the performance of checkpoint systems to screen aviation passengers and their cabin baggage.
London Gatwick partners with Great Western Railway to improve rail connectivity
London Gatwick and Great Western Railway (GWR) have partnered to help enhance the North Downs Line, which connects London Gatwick to Surrey and the Thames Valley.
The partnership aims to continue to lobby for station and service enhancements on the vital line and was announced at London Gatwick’s annual Transport Forum, which brought together partners from across the UK transportation sector, local government and communities.
Developing the North Downs Line
The North Downs Line connects London Gatwick to Reading, the wider Surrey area and the Thames Valley.
DHS releases recommendations for the use of AI in critical infrastructure
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released a set of recommendations for the safe and secure development and deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) in critical infrastructure.
The Roles and Responsibilities Framework for Artificial Intelligence in Critical Infrastructure was developed by and for critical infrastructure owners and operators, AI developers and cloud providers as well as the civil society and public sector entities that protect and advocate for consumers.
Critical infrastructure sectors, including aviation and transportation, are increasingly deploying AI to improve services, build resilience and counter threats.
Passenger Terminal Conference releases 2025 agenda
The agenda for Passenger Terminal Conference 2025, taking place on April 8, 9 and 10 in Madrid, Spain, is now live and available to view here.
A staple for aviation industry leaders and influencers, Passenger Terminal Conference hosts 1,750+ attendees from around the world, including board members, CEOs, managers and their teams. This year’s conference will engage and inspire through the extensive knowledge and experience of over 400 industry experts.
The conference tracks for 2025’s show include:
- Accessibility and Assisted Travel
- Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), Vertiports and Infrastructure
- Airport Cities, Regions and Transport Connections
- Airport Design, Planning and Development
- Airport Design, Planning and Development – Middle East and Asia Pacific
- Aviation Security, Technology, Process and People
- Commercial Development, Retail, F&B, Concessions and Experience
- Customer Service, Passenger and Workforce Experience
- Digital Identification (and Wallets) in Travel
- Environment and Sustainability
- Facilities Management and Safety
- Future Airports
- Increasing Airport Capacity and Flexibility
- Management and operations – increasing capacity and efficiency, airside
- Technovation
These topics are subject to change and addition.
Continue reading Passenger Terminal Conference releases 2025 agenda at Passenger Terminal Today.
Taipei Taoyuan International to install SITA check-in kiosks
Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) in Taiwan has contracted SITA to install its check-in kiosk solutions, enabling passengers to fly through the airport and on to their destination faster than ever before.
Streamlined check-in
Specifically, TPE has chosen SITA to provide its Local Departure Control System (LDCS), Common Use Terminal Equipment (CUTE) and Common Use Self-Service (CUSS) systems, including a full hardware refresh of 80 check-in kiosks to support all international flights in Terminals 1 and 2.