Qatar’s Hamad International and Dubai International airports plan major investments in information technology (IT) to enhance capacity, shorten queues and waiting times, improve security and personalise passenger journey experience.

Areas of investments include electronic gates (e-gates), security, data centre as well as internet-of-things (IoT) infrastructure.

According to Suhail Kamil Kadri, vice president for IT at Hamad International airport, several tenders are expected to be released this year.

They include:

• 10 e-gates
• Biometric system integration into boarding system
• Upgrade of core airport operation systems (AODB/FIDS/RMS)
• CCTV systems
• Access control system

The airport already has 12,000 CCTV cameras in place but an upgrade is required for continuous compliance with the state’s security requirements, Kadri says.

Hamad International is also working on several systems aimed to improve customer experience at the airport including a single token from the first customer touch point at the airport, at check-in, all the way to the boarding gates. The airport has also begun trialling augmented and virtual reality systems including a companion watch application.

Kadir says they plan to standardise and deploy an IoT infrastructure, including a system to track and trace mobile assets including equipment and people at the airport.

Dubai International, through its DXB Plus programme, has started put in place numerous initiatives to enhance capacity and improve operations until 2025, the original target date for the completion of phase 1 of the $33bn expansion of Al-Maktoum International.

Peter R. Moore, director of development, Design at Dubai Airports, said they intend to replace the hold baggage screening (HBS) system in 2018 and are looking at “future-proofing” the aircraft stands.

“We are investing heavily in IT to relieve pressure and improve services,” Moore tells forum at the Airport Show organised by CAPA – Centre for Aviation. Areas of investments include systems at security checkpoints, immigration, engineering as well as baggage-handling system, Moore says.

Projects being launched at Dubai International include new wayfinding approaches, offering of front line hospitality services, check-in upgrades with self-service and bag drop, off airport check-in as well as the expansion of the airport’s smart immigration gates.

Improving the connection time at Dubai International is also a key priority given its status as the world’s busiest airport in terms of international passengers. The objective is to decrease the minimum connect time from the current 75 minutes to 60 minutes, Moore says.

Both Hamad International and Dubai International signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for various technology collaborations with China’s Huawei Technologies at the ongoing airport show in Dubai.