Assad, SITA president Middle East, India & Africa, stressed that airports are the center of the industry's communications and are becoming ever more connected, and it is this upgraded connectivity that will chart the future of smart travel. El-Assad was speaking to Saudi Gazette on the sidelines of the 2016 Air Transport IT Summit in Barcelona where SITA revealed that 300 airports in more than 100 countries across the world, are now equipped with SITA AirportHub. AirportHub is a unique shared infrastructure that allows airlines to connect all their applications and IT systems at an airport quickly and easily. It removes the complexity of dealing with local telecom providers and adds flexibility and agility to route management. El-Assad was optimistic, especially about Middle East and India, that smart travel would be the way of the future in the region, especially with the Middle East boasting of some excellent infrastructure. "Even though people are always talking about the lack of infrastructure and modernity, I can say that the Middle East has been always ahead of their Western counterparts and, most of the airports here are considered showcases with the engagement model between the airlines and the airport thought to be quite successful," El-Assad said. El-Assad, focusing on Saudi Arabia, said, "In Saudi Arabia there is more to give, to give a flair and touch of the airport by making the airports even more modern. What is giving more confidence in the future of Saudi Arabia is the statement of the Deputy Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, second deputy premier and minister of defense, projecting the Vision 2030 and calling for the need to diversify." "The first thing that comes to mind then is tourism. And the airports are the windows of the country. If you talk about aviation, than Saudia will flourish. I think it is time where I have full trust in the Kingdom's policy. And I hope SITA will be part of this success story. "Going forward there will be huge plans that will change the shape and look of airports. The infrastructure is there, all it needs is a little change to make it one of the most advanced today. "I think the means are there, the will is there and the vision is there, and now the objective is there where I can see the year 2017 a year of change and a year of strategy with tangible infrastructure change, and I think, and also passenger experience," El Assad added. He emphasized, "SITA and Saudi Arabia today have endured the strongest partnership. Saudia, the national carrier, owns a big share in SITA. The chairman of the board is from Saudia and Saudia became a showcase for how SITA and airlines can work closely. "We have worked with GACA and we have engaged in all the airports in Saudi Arabia, domestic and international, and provided infrastructure, including the Haj terminal. SITA for the first time, is working closely with a country's airlines and civil authority to facilitate travel." El-Assad said the reasons for the region's airports being ahead in smart travel are twofold — technical and cultural. "The truth of the fact is that in the Middle East that the stakeholders work closer together. Take UAE for example airlines, government the civil aviation authority and the handling agents are all one entity so it is easy to talk to each other," El-Assad said. "So that's one model and you can see the same in Qatar where Qatar Airways is working closely with the Doha airport and that allows for taking immediate decisions. It is the same case in other countries like Lebanon where the ME Airlines works with Beirut airport to modernize the airport. They have the right infrastructure," he said. "Also simplifying travel and providing advanced passenger processes, the Mideast is heavily involved. In fact we have the governments of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman and Qatar work with the Interior Ministry and other authorities to facilitate passenger travel so people will waste less time in queues," he added. El-Assad was specific in the need for airports and its stakeholders to rethink the way they function. "Once you have the government working closely with all authorities and understanding the need to function as a hub, a transit area thus creating an understanding of what an airport should be, then there could be easy immigration clearance allowing for more time for the passengers to enjoying the airport shopping experience. "The airports want the passengers spending and there is competition for the wallet of the passengers and where he spends time at the airport, and today these revenues are ahead of the curve and we see successful airports making money out of the travel journey. "It is not any more the ticket, travel means airline ticket but the revenue of air transport now is how much more time you spend in the airport. So that's why saving time in queues and having more time at the duty free, at the restaurant and shops will increase the yields," he added. El-Assad also said the passenger is also becoming more savvy, more smart. They want always to be connected. This is where these airports look out for means to have the entire wireless infrastructure to hopefully reach the point where we will have a smart airport helping the smart passengers. "This means systems integration are happening in the airports. You will have airport operation database that will help the passengers by providing early check ins, to baggage collection, and it is happening. But it all depends on a single standardization at the airport, an understanding between all stakeholders because immigration has a certain objective, airlines has certain objectives, airports have certain objectives and customs have certain objectives. "Once you have the alignment, infrastructure is ready and technology is there. The issue is the will to align between the different stakeholders. This is why we the airport is becoming the touchpoint between government immigration and airport authorities, airlines and passengers, where safety and security balances out ease and comfort," he added.
