At Aviation Festival Americas, Maurice Jenkins, CIO, Miami International Airport (MIA) joined to share insights on MIA’s current digital initiatives and the emerging technologies that are set to shape the airport experience of the future.
Looking first at the intersection between digital innovation and sustainability objectives, Maurice explained his approach to creating synergy that benefits sustainability targets, passenger experience, and cost.
“So I look at what we have from a digital transformation perspective or an innovation perspective and think where does sustainability sit? And we want to be able to build a proper framework with that, because by marrying the two, you get to enhance a lot of the airport. […] So I don’t want to have to sacrifice innovation for sustainability, but if I can actually marry the two and create more efficiencies within my airport.”
Giving examples of establishing this synergy, Jenkins discussed using sensors for predictive maintenance to collect data and proactively address maintenance issues while reducing downtime and improving the passenger experience. Turning to specific projects targeted at elevating the passenger experience, Jenkins also touched on virtual queueing to give passengers control over their experience, creating an omnichannel chatbot, AI modelling for leveraging biometrics, and more.
When identifying the technologies that will shape the airport experience of the future, Jenkins noted robotics, autonomous vehicles, and biometrics. Watch the full interview below to hear more insights from MIA’s forward-thinking CIO.
Questions asked:
- How do you align your digital initiatives with your sustainability goals – is it a case of compromising or are they complementary?
- What specific projects or initiatives is MIA undertaking to elevate the passenger experience? (Now or in the future)
- Which emerging technologies or trends do you foresee shaping the future of travel for years to come?
For more from onsite at Aviation Festival Americas see:
- Efficiency and innovation at South America’s largest hub with João Pita
- UrbanLink Founder: Strategy and technologies for reaching net zero
- Southwest Airlines’ COO: Challenges, innovation, and strategy
