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<ul class="summary-list"><li>Airports are looking to private wireless networks to improve operations, execs said at MWC Las Vegas.</li><li>Passengers could see benefits like smoother baggage claim and check-ins, the panelists said.</li></ul>Private wireless networks are key to ushering in a better airport experience for both the travel hubs' operations and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/busiest-airport-world-atlanta-dubai-tokyo-heathrow-dallas-list-ranking-2023-12">the billions of passengers who pass through them</a>.That's according to airport executives who spoke on a panel about connected aviation Tuesday at the trade show <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mwc-las-vegas-2024-5g-ai-mobile-communications-conference-2024-10">Mobile World Congress Las Vegas</a>.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/las-vegas-private-5g-network-2023-9">Private networks</a> generally offer greater security and reliability, lower latency, and higher bandwidth compared with public networks. For these reasons, they can help airports with operations and communications, plane and baggage tracking, and security.California's Ontario International Airport, for example, is using a private wireless network to run its perimeter-intrusion detection system, Charles Miwa, the airport's chief information officer, said."As I think about a future with a lot of growth, private wireless is foundational. It's going to enable us to accommodate these ad hoc moves," he said, emphasizing the need for flexibility given how often many airports do some form of construction to update their infrastructure."We're trying to run more efficient airports, more customer-friendly airports," said Michael Youngs, the vice president of information technology at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, which last year announced a $10 million deal with AT&amp;T for a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/what-frequency-is-5g">private 5G network</a>."We're not going to do it with people. We're not going to do it with brick and mortar. We're going to do it with technology, with IoT, but we need that base foundational level of connectivity, private wireless, that's going to enable it," he added, referring to the Internet of Things.Private wireless networks can also help enterprises with cost and mobility by reducing the expense of installing cables and by providing connectivity to areas that might be harder to reach with wires."We traditionally at the airport, especially, do not put anything very secure across wireless. We just don't do it," said Kyle Mobley, the director of information technology at the Port of Oakland, which operates the San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport. "And it's not because we have any proof it's going to be less secure in the way we do it. It's the what you don't know."Mobley added: "Having this infrastructure wirelessly is huge." Mobley spoke of using private wireless for passenger traffic sensors, for example."It's tough to keep sending people out in the field to investigate things at 2 o'clock in the morning," he said. "And we cover such a wide area that getting these sensors — lidar, cameras, whatever it ends up being — in every corner of our property is huge to give that person working that desk the ability to know what's going on. Do I have a squirrel running up the fence, or is it somebody? The squirrel will sometimes send 10 cars out there, and that's not very efficient."Roughly 58% of airports worldwide that participated in the survey are investing in major development programs for a 5G communications network, and another 29% have research-and-development programs for the tech by 2026, said the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.sita.aero/globalassets/docs/surveys--reports/2023-air-transport-it-insights-v6.1.pdf">2023 Air Transport IT Insights</a> report from SITA, an IT and telecommunications service provider for the aviation industry, and Airports Council International.As for passengers, they might see benefits like quicker <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/heres-what-to-do-when-an-airline-loses-your-luggage-2022-7">baggage claim</a> or smoother check-ins."I'm not really looking to be in the private-wireless business — I feel like I have to be in the private-wireless business," Youngs said. "I need to harness data to take our airport forward. That's really the end game."

Airports are investing in private wireless networks to improve operations and travelers' experience

Technology has certainly made lives easier, and while this fact holds true for almost all facets of life, travel and especially air travel is a sector that has benefitted a lot from the use of technology, helping both users and providers. 
 
A survey in fact says more and more air passengers in India are now choosing technology over human interaction, so that they have more choice and control in how they manage their trip. 
 
The survey, conducted by SITA, the communications and IT solution provider, also revealed that such online bookings, using a mobile or with an agent, resulted in 93% passengers having a positive experience. 
 
Here are the reports’ findings in a nutshell: 
 
· 92% Passengers said that they would like to book their flight using self-service technology instead of relying on agents. 
 
· 57% of the passengers use self-service technology, like mobiles, to check-in; out of these, 92% find it easier as compared to manual check-ins. 
 
· More than half of the passengers also said that using technology for payment feels more secure. 
 
· 54% of the passengers who have had a negative experience will try a different self-service technology the next time. 
 · While on the airport, 40% of the passengers pass their time by <keyword id="3415544" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="online-airport-shopping">online airport shopping</keyword>. 
 
· Passengers also said that they want more mobile services and baggage notifications to be treated as top priorities, the latter being recommended by 76% passengers. 
 
· 65% Passengers said that they access entertainment services from their own devices, and 46% said that they watch movies on their devices while travelling. 
 
· 56% Passengers who use self-service baggage bag-drop plan said that they would like to use it again. 
 
· Also, 88% of the passengers said that a waiting time of 10 minutes or less while collecting their baggage would make them happier. 
 
<a href="http://media.cntraveler.com/photos/53d9c3426dec627b149cff5b/master/pass/mobile-boarding-pass-check-in-airport-phone.jpg">Image source</a>

India’s air traveller trusts technology over humans, says this survey

New Delhi, The Indian Railways plans to reintroduce the Ramayana Circuit tours in March this year during Navratras with five air conditioned (AC) coaches, which will cover places associated with Lord Ram as mentioned in the epic Ramayana, after its successful run last year. The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) said that the Ramayana Express will run this year during the Navratras from March 28. The IRCTC in a statement said that the special train will have 10 coaches which include five sleeper class non-AC coaches and five AC 3 tier coaches. Last year, the national transporter had run Ramayana Express with only sleeper class coaches which was a huge success and the response of the general public was so tremendous that all the available seats were booked in merely seven days' time. "Considering the previous response IRCTC Ltd has decided to launch this unique product in which some AC 3 tier coaches have also been added in addition to Sleeper class coaches," the IRCTC said. According to the IRCTC, the special train will start its journey from Delhi on March 28 and passengers can board this train from Safdarjung, <keyword id="44991" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ghaziabad">Ghaziabad</keyword>, Moradabad, Bareily and Lucknow stations. The train covers important destinations connected with the life of Lord Ram in India and Sri Lanka. While the Indian leg will be covered by train, the Sri Lankan tour will be undertaken by flight from Chennai. The IRCTC said that in the 16 night-17 day tour, tourists will be visiting the places associated with Lord Ram also known as 'Ramayana Circuit of India'. "Major places covered in this journey are Ram Janmabhoomi and Hanuman Garhi at Ayodhya, Bharat <keyword id="47393" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mandir">Mandir</keyword> at Nandigram, Sita Mata Mandir at Sitamarhi (Bihar), and Janakpur (Nepal), <keyword id="491219" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tulsi-Manas">Tulsi Manas</keyword> Mandir and Sankat Mochan Mandir at Varanasi, <keyword id="7442403" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="sita-samahit-sthal">Sita Samahit Sthal</keyword> at Sitamarhi (UP), Triveni Sangam , Hanuman Mandir and Bharadwaj Ashram at Prayag, Shringi Rishi Mandir at <keyword id="122671" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Shringverpur">Shringverpur</keyword> , Ramghat and Sati Anusuiya Mandir at Chitrakoot, Panchvati at Nasik, Anjanadri Hill and Hanuman Janm Sthal at Hampi &amp; Jyotirlinga Shiva Mandir at Rameshwaram," it said. In Sri Lanka, they will visit Sita Mata Mandir, Ashok Vatika, Vibhishana Temple and Shiva Temple at Munneshwaram-Munnavari among other sites. According to IRCTC, the Indian leg of the journey in the sleeper class will cost Rs 16,065 per person whereas for the AC class Rs 26,775 per person will be charged. And those going to Sri Lanka will have to pay Rs 37,800 per person with only 40 limited seats. The passengers willing to travel to Sri Lanka will be required to de-board the Ramayana Express on 15th day at Chennai on April 11 and from there they will be taken by flight to Colombo. According to IRCTC, there are 360 berths in sleeper class and 330 berths in AC 3 tier class. Considering Navratra period, all the food to be served to the travellers will be cooked without onions and garlic.

These trains will take you to all the places that Lord Ram visited

Global aviation IT firm The Societe Internationale de Telecommunications Aeronautiques (SITA) has completed the technical requisites for <keyword id="2573" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Air-India">Air India</keyword>’s system integration with that of <keyword id="137192" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Star-Alliance">Star Alliance</keyword>, including those concerning ticketing, e-commerce, departure control and revenue integrity. 
 
SITA also provided its Horizon Passenger Services System (PSS) suite of solutions for Air India to seamlessly integrate with the global airlines' grouping. 
 
The PSS suite consists of technological solutions for various purposes like integrating reservations, frequent flyer programmes etc. 
 
SITA CEO Francesco Violante said Air India's entry into the alliance was "achieved in record time" and Air India would "now be able to offer passengers a seamless travel experience across the Star Alliance network around the world."

SITA Completes Technical Requirements For
AI’s Integration With Star Alliance

A latest global survey revealed that a major chunk of air travellers across the globe are <keyword id="6479670" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="tech-savvy">tech-savvy</keyword>. In order to make their <keyword id="6374782" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="journey">journey</keyword> interesting, the passengers are gradually getting hooked to using devices like smartwatches and glasses.
 

	The survey, which sampled 6,277 passengers travelling through the 30 best airports worldwide, was carried out jointly by the Geneva-based aviation communication and IT firm Societe Internationale de Telecommunications Aeronautiques (SITA) and aviation journal Air Transport World. The survey showed that nearly 77% of the passengers surveyed would be comfortable using wearable technology to help them in their air travel.
 

	The annual global survey highlighted the growing importance of tech-savvy passenger. Almost every passenger, or 97% of them, carried a smartphone, tablet or laptop when they flew and one in five travelled with all the three.
 

	The passengers also wanted to be able to use technology at every point of the journey, while 76% of them use airline apps, 43% say this has made a definite improvement to their travel and planning the travel. Over half of those surveyed also sought more investment in technology to help them in better comparability of airline fares (54%), better real-time flight information (52%) and in-flight wireless services (52%).
 

	The survey showed that about 53% wanted personalised alerts about any delays sent directly to their phones and 57% sought airport maps and directions. 
 "Tech-savvy passengers expect more personalised apps and services consistently delivered on the web, to their phone or tablet. New technologies like smart watches and glasses have now become commonplace and "they present a great opportunity for airlines and airports to engage directly with their passengers to provide efficient services throughout the journey," SITA CEO <keyword id="140128" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Francesco-Violante">Francesco Violante</keyword> said. 
	(Image: Thinkstock)

Majority Of Air Travellers Are Tech-savvy, Reveals A Global Survey

As the connected world of travel becomes a reality 91% of <keyword id="44023" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="airlines">airlines</keyword> plan to invest in <keyword id="137092" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="cyber-security">cyber security</keyword> programs over the next three years, according to the <a href="https://www.sita.aero/resources/type/surveys-reports/airline-it-trends-survey-2016" target="_blank">SITA Airline IT Trends 2016 Survey</a>.

	The level of commitment to cyber security reflects the consensus that a lot is being done in this area but there is always more to do.
 <keyword id="6427654" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sita">SITA</keyword>, the travel technology provider to the air transport industry, carried out its survey among the world’s top 200 airlines, and discovered that cyber security at airlines is progressing. Three years ago less than half of airlines (47%) said they were making advanced preparations to manage cyber risks – today this has doubled to 91%.
 The focus on cyber security also reflects the move to the ‘Internet of Things’ (<keyword id="1967280" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="IoT">IoT</keyword>) in which a vast number of physical objects will become connected to the internet. This enables tracking, data collection, analysis and control, which necessitates more security. An overwhelming majority of airlines (68%) are investing in IoT programs in the next three years, up from 57% this time last year.

	A key area of IoT investment is in connected aircraft which 46% of airlines believe will give a better passenger experience. Today 37% of airlines operate connected aircraft and this will jump to two thirds by 2019. Currently ‘internet via passenger devices’ is the service offered by most (33%). Over the next three years big increases in services are expected with more than half of airlines planning to provide destination services and duty-free shopping apps, while 70% plan to provide multi-media file streaming on passenger devices.

	“Airlines are investing in areas which will promote a connected world of travel for the benefit of passengers and the workforce. We see new priorities attracting more investment, with cyber security and electronic flight bag solutions coming to the fore in this year’s research. The initiatives to realize the ‘Internet of Things’ include smart bag tagging to enable continuous tracking, which is planned by 61% of airlines by 2019. Nearly half (47%) of airlines are also planning IT programs for single token travel for passenger identification,” said Nigel Pickford, Director Market Insight, SITA.

	Providing passenger services via smartphones continues to be a key area of investment for airlines; 79% are planning major investment over the next three years while a further 17% are planning a pilot program or R&amp;D in this area. Services to passengers on tablets will also see significant investment with 71% of airlines planning major programs for these devices (up from 63% in 2015). Airlines are using social media activity and physical location to tailor personalized offers to passengers; in fact three quarters plan to do this by 2019. 
	 
	<a href="http://netdna.webdesignerdepot.com/uploads/2009/03/airline-logos.jpg">Image source</a>

91% airlines investing in cyber security

While industrial growth triggered by the first leg of economic liberalisation in early nineties led to a sea change in India’s social fabric over the last couple of decades, <keyword id="31907" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Aviation">aviation</keyword> stands apart as a sector that is capable of fuelling drastic changes in terms of <keyword id="47276" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Economic-growth">economic growth</keyword>. 
 In fact, for more than 40 years since independence, Indian aviation was a public sector monopoly, with <keyword id="2573" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Air-India">Air India</keyword> and <keyword id="1446" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="indian-airlines">Indian Airlines</keyword> as the two only operators serving the domestic and international market respectively. Liberalisation changed this for better as air taxi operators were allowed to serve the domestic market. While many private airlines entered and exited, a few players including Jet Airways survived the initial turbulence. 
 
The government’s decision to deregulate international air traffic in 2004 allowed private Indian carriers to extend their services to international routes. Leveraging positive policy ambience, airlines such as IndiGo and SpiceJet carved a niche for themselves by adopting a low-cost business model. 
 A few factors such as foreign direct investment (<keyword id="44528" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="FDI">FDI</keyword>) in domestic airlines, low-cost carriers (LCC), information technology (IT) interventions and a rising need for regional connectivity have pushed the growth in the domestic aviation space. 
 
These have catapulted the size of Indian aviation to $16 billion, making it one among the top 10 aviation markets in the world and leading to bullish outlook among industry watchers. “The new entrants have now better business models to keep the business sustainable,” says Charles Dhanaraj, professor of Strategy and Global Leadership at IMD, Lausanne, Switzerland. 
 In terms of additional passengers per year, India is expected to be among the top five air domestic travel markets globally by 2034, according to the <keyword id="6407098" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="International-Air-Transport-Association">International Air Transport Association</keyword> (IATA). 
 Aircraft movements, passengers and freight at Indian airports are expected to grow at 4.2 %, 5.3% and 5%, respectively, for the next five years, according to estimates by <keyword id="54875" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Airports-Authority-of-India">Airports Authority of India</keyword> (AAI). “A major underexploited opportunity is the domestic freight transport. 
 
There is increasing potential for moving high value goods domestically through air freight where there will be more movement in the coming years,” says Charles. 
 
Investment galore Significant growth in FDI inflows and a slew of government initiatives provided fodder for the sector’s transformation. FDI inflows in air transport during April 2000 to November 2014 stood at $543 million, as per data released by Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP). Recent investments from private players include IndiGo’s order for 250 A320neo airplanes from Airbus for $25.5 billion; AirAsia’s plans to add 10 more aircraft to its fleet by end of 2015, taking its total fleet to 15 aircraft; <keyword id="137192" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Star-Alliance">Star Alliance</keyword> plans to turn New Delhi’s T3 and Mumbai’s T2 Terminals into hubs; and the pact signed by Vistara, the airline by the Tata Group-Singapore Airlines (SIA) alliance, with SITA for aircraft communications, airline operations and network connectivity. According to Charles, the entry of Vistara and the growing interest of the foreign investors to be part of the growth of Indian aviation will propel the system. 
 
Government initiatives 
The government, which has been bullish about pushing the sector’s growth, has projected that around 500 airports would be required by 2020. It has already approved the construction of five budget airports to improve regional connectivity and work on them will start from FY15 and launched tourist visa on arrival (TVoA) enabled by electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to 43 countries besides plans to privatise national airline Air India. Also, the Ministry of Civil Aviation also plans to list Airports Authority of India and Pawan Hans on the stock exchanges. 
 
The private sector is sought to be involved in a big way through the PPP model, with significant state support in terms of financing, concessional land allotment and tax holidays. 
 
Air Costa is one of the carriers that aim to leverage the expected growth in air transport between tier 2 and 3 cities. “We aim to tap the burgeoning tier II market by stimulating growth through better air connectivity to the tier I cities. Our choice of Embraer aircraft (E170 with 67 seats and E190 with 112 seats) complements this vision. From operating two Embraer aircraft to 4 destinations with 300 employees, we have grown to 4 aircraft serving 9 destinations with close to 750 employees within a year,” says Air Costa CEO Capt. KN Babu. 
 
Economy, Trade and Tourism 
The aviation sector meets growing transportation needs of consumers—airlines registered in India carry 50 million passengers and 1.1 million tonnes of freight a year to, from and within India; more than 130,000 international flights depart India annually destined for 70 airports in 50 countries; domestically, more than 664,000 flights make 89 million seats available to passengers annually, destined to 73 airports. It also offers better connectivity—for instance, daily, there are 8 flights between Delhi and Dubai and more than 59 flights from Delhi to Bombay. The sector makes significant contribution to Indian <keyword id="35050" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="gdp">GDP</keyword> and provides millions of jobs. 
 
Among customers of airlines serving Indian airports, 76 per cent are local residents who get an economic benefit estimated to be worth INR 832 billion annually. 
 
This is in addition to the long-term benefits to the economy. Through investments and use of advanced technology, the aviation sector generates more gross value added (GVA) per employee than the economy as a whole, raising the overall productivity of the economy. 
Benefits are also accrued to the economy through the growth of ground-based infrastructure including airport facilities and the aerospace manufacturing space. 
 
Air transport lies at the heart of Indian tourism. Through its speed, convenience and affordability, air transport has expanded the possibilities of travel for tourists and business travelers alike, allowing an ever greater number of people to experience diversity of culture. 
 
Tourism, both for business and leisure purposes, makes a large contribution to the Indian economy, with foreign visitors spending over Rs 548 billion in the Indian economy each year. Around 89% of these visitors arrive by air, which means foreign visitors who travel by air spend approximately Rs 488 billion. 
 
Considering air freight makes up 34.6% of the value of global trade, aviation also provide a huge fillip to trade in the country. 
 
Hampering environment 
However, the growth of aviation happens at the cost significant damage to the environment, including contribution to global warming. Aviation contributes to climate change by altering the composition of atmospheric gases. In addition to CO2, emissions from aviation combustion processes comprise NOx, SOx and VOC which pollute the fabric of atmosphere. 
 
According to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), CO2 emissions will grow 2.8% annually between 2000 and 2050 and are projected to make up 16% of total transportation carbon emissions, pointing to the need for a shift towards solar powered aircrafts in the long run. IPCC also calculates the climate impact of aviation to be 1.96 times that of CO2 impact. In addition to its contribution to climate change, aviation hampers ambient air quality, affecting public health. This is besides the negative environmental impact of noise pollution contributed by the growing number of aircraft. 
 
Against the background of Modi government’s Land Acquisition Bill, which aims to ease the process of acquisition of land for industrial purposes, land acquisition for the proposed airports too will prove to be a tough nut to crack both politically and economically. 
 
While the government's decision to allow airlines to import jet fuel will help airlines cut fuel costs by up to 20 per cent, lack of infrastructure at the hands of local airlines to import fuel directly would mean domestic carriers continuing to pay heavy federal and state taxes for buying fuel from domestic oil firms, adding to the debt pile-up of airlines most of which are losing money. 
 
There are also concerns about supporting infrastructure and taxation. “There is a huge need for up gradation of the airports at tier 2 cities where the major growth should happen, “ says Charles. “There is still scope for improvement in the airport infrastructure. Another concern is over-taxation – central and state taxes on fuel and maintenance as well as service taxes on air tickets are likely to hamper growth,” says Ramesh Lingamaneni, chairman of Air Costa. 
 
However, the clear silver lining is the expected growth in the number of aircraft as well as domestic and international passengers from India. This projected growth, along with India’s low air traffic density—72 compared with 282 in China and 2,896 in the US—signals a huge untapped potential, considering rising disposable income levels and the burgeoning young population. 
 
As IATA CEO Tony Tyler put it, the world is focused on Indian aviation – from manufacturers, tourism boards, airlines, global businesses to individual travellers, shippers and businessmen. Consensus among these stakeholders, right policies and focus on quality, cost and passenger interest will transform India to one of the largest aviation markets within a couple of decades. 
 
Image: thinkstock

Why India is likely to emerge one of the largest aviation markets

New York City's biggest airport is getting a major facelift.John F. Kennedy International Airport broke ground on <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-see-inside-jfk-airports-new-world-class-international-terminal-2022-2">a new Terminal One</a> in September 2022. The 2.4 million-square-foot facility will live where terminals 1, 2, and 3 once stood, with the first facilities expected to open in 2026.A <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jfk-airport-nyc-solar-microgrid-energy-roof-terminal-2023-1">private consortium is investing $9.5 billion</a> to modernize the new terminal, focusing on safety, efficiency, and the customer experience. This is part of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's $19 billion <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/newark-airports-new-27-billion-terminal-a-photos-2023-1">total investment in upgrades at the city's largest airport</a>.And there's no better time than now, as the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-airlines-are-struggling-despite-record-travel-demand-profits-revenue-2024-6">industry sees record-breaking travel</a>, with JFK considered among the most prominent international gateways in North America.JFK hosts more than 70 airlines and handled about 62 million passengers in 2023. The new terminal is expected to expand passenger capacity, with carriers like Phillippines Airlines, Air France, and Italian low-cost airline Neos all pledging to fly in.<div type="image" title="Rending of the departures hall of NTO." height="1129" width="1505" msid="114638209" hostid="261" sizebytes="184222"></div>Developers hope the future state-of-the-art terminal will become a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/laguardia-and-newark-have-5-star-terminals-after-dramatic-turnaround-2024-4">Skytrax five-star airport terminal</a> — a feat no US airport had achieved until New York's LaGuardia Airport finally ditched its infamous "LaGarbage" nickname with a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/see-inside-the-new-terminals-b-c-laguardia-airport-delta-2022-7">new and improved Terminal B in 2023.</a>But to reach that status, JFK will have to overcome many long-standing problems, such as overcrowding and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/airports-worst-delays-summer-2022-flightaware-memorial-weekend-travel-newark-2023-5">traffic congestion</a>. In September, researchers from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insuremytrip.com/travel-advice/travel-planning/us-airport-statistics-flight-cancellation-data/">InsureMyTrip</a> analyzed data from the Department of Transportation and found that JFK was among the worst airports for flight cancellations in 2024.Business Insider, alongside other media, toured SITA's pre-production testing center in Long Island to get a behind-the-scenes look at the technology coming to the new terminal to address the pain points of international travelers.This includes <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/no-id-or-boarding-pass-for-security-at-more-airports-with-tsa-precheck-2024-2">facial recognition</a> boarding, AI-powered gate systems, and air traffic technology to reduce the chance of near misses. If the technology works as promised, I'd look forward to flying through.<h2 id="826eed5d-c320-486a-aa1a-c61326c7f2dc">Customers can use their face to travel</h2>Facial recognition has been installed at some airports across the country for international flights, including JFK's revamped Terminal 8. In March, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/british-airways-boeing-777-new-york-london-economy-review-2024-3">BI used biometrics to board a London-bound British Airways</a> flight.The new terminal wants to make facial recognition mainstream across the 23-gate facility.The "e-gate" technology appeared easy enough to use for even less tech-savvy travelers. Flyers simply sign up for the service at check-in with their passport. Data is only stored for 24 hours, so travelers will have to do this step every time they fly.<div type="image" title="A JFK NTO developer demonstrating the e-gate technology." height="4030" width="5374" msid="114638211" hostid="261" sizebytes="276196"></div>"E-gates mean no boarding pass and no ID required to board an aircraft," a SITA developer said during the tour.The developer said the technology is about 99% accurate and can distinguish between identical twins. The company acknowledged not every traveler would be comfortable with their face being used as an ID and said there would be manual lines available for boarding, too.Meanwhile, the enhanced TSA will feature new biometric and touchless <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.airport-technology.com/projects/new-terminal-one-nto-jfk-airport-new-york-usa/">technologies</a> to optimize wait times. Other <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.tsa.gov/news/press/releases/2024/04/09/tsa-jfk-international-airport-now-using-credential-authentication">terminals</a> at JFK have already introduced similar face-reliant security features.<h2 id="46726c0b-0979-4ff3-ab00-68a31998d96e">Concessions will be top-notch</h2>While JFK will likely not offer a free movie theater or butterfly garden like <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-to-do-singapore-changi-airport-10-coolest-things-2023-2">Singapore's famous Changi Airport</a>, the new terminal will boast high ceilings, natural light, and plenty of retail spaces, lounges, and restaurants.<div type="image" title="NTO retail spaces rendering." height="2250" width="3000" msid="114638217" hostid="261" sizebytes="861538"></div>Still, if the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/see-inside-jfk-airport-new-terminal-8-american-british-airways-2022-12">revamped Terminal 8</a> is any indicator, customers can expect "world-class" offerings, including luxury and local brands that represent NYC's boroughs, and swanky new airline lounges that could meet the desired five-star status.For example, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/flew-korean-air-boeing-747-business-felt-like-private-jet-2023-9">Korean Air</a> — a Skytrax five-star airline itself — plans to open one of its largest lounges yet with a kitchen and bar and a panoramic view of the airfield.<h2 id="2ecb21a6-6b36-47f1-a6b8-173de983eab5">The new JFK aims for safer operations with fewer disruptions</h2>Developers demonstrated technologies aimed at ensuring high levels of safety and traffic management — especially as <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/near-miss-incidents-wakeup-call-to-the-aviation-industry-2023-2">near-misses continue to shake flyers.</a>One is a state-of-the-art ramp tower from technology provider ADB Safegate. This is where agents work to efficiently move aircraft around taxi and parking areas. It's separate from the federally run air traffic control tower that guides aircraft to and from runways.The technology includes a "virtual control tower" with screens that display live camera feeds across the ramp. This will assist in low-visibility conditions and improve awareness."There are cameras that allow a controller interested in a specific aircraft or a certain area of the airport, they can zoom in and zoom out to look at the area of interest," ADB Safegate project manager Taha Zahir told media during the tour.<div type="image" title="Screens showing LaGuardia airport as an example of the virtual control tower planned for NTO." height="4116" width="5233" msid="114638214" hostid="261" sizebytes="842938"></div>Another ADB Safegate technology will be a parking aid that allows an aircraft to dock at a gate in virtually any weather condition. Zahir said this would be particularly useful during lightning storms when wing walkers are evacuated from the tarmac and forced to leave fully loaded planes sitting idle just meters from the gate.Zahir said the docking system, which can handle everything up to the mammoth Airbus A380, is already proving its efficiency at existing JFK terminals and at several other airports like LaGuardia and Los Angeles.<div type="image" title="The dock aid demonstrating a regional jet parking at a gate." height="1739" width="2319" msid="114638221" hostid="261" sizebytes="293546"></div>Complementing the gate and ramp tower tech is ADB Safegate's AI-powered apron manager that can predict aircraft on-time performance and improve aircraft turn times — meaning passengers can get on their way faster than before."We have identified 25-30 activities that every flight must go through from arrival to departure," Zahir said, noting things like fueling and baggage loading. "We know exactly what is going on with the aircraft."

I saw how New York's biggest airport wants to build a 5-star terminal. I'd actually look forward to flying through.

Devotees of Lord Ram can now travel across the Ramayana circuit that includes <keyword id="6354931" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="ayodhya" source="Orion">Ayodhya</keyword>, Janakpur (Nepal), <keyword id="6412273" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="sitamarhi" source="Orion">Sitamarhi</keyword>, <keyword id="6357203" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="varanasi" source="Orion">Varanasi</keyword>, Nashik and <keyword id="95951" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="rameshwaram" source="Orion">Rameshwaram</keyword> on the '<keyword id="810094" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="bharat-gaurav" source="Orion">Bharat Gaurav</keyword>' tourist train, being run by Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (<keyword id="65866" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="irctc" source="Orion">IRCTC</keyword>). According to an official release, the journey would take 18 days on an 8,000 km long circuit which will kick-start from Delhi. What makes the package even more lucrative is the fact that there is an <keyword id="6357050" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="emi" source="Orion">EMI</keyword> option to pay the fare. The ticket price per person would start from Rs 62,370 per passenger which will have an inclusive tour package, including 3 AC tier charge, night stay at hotels, meals, sight-seeing in buses, travel insurance and services of guide. For the EMI option, the IRCTC has tied up with Paytm and Razorpay payment gateways. An IRCTC spokesperson said: "The maiden Bharat Gaurav train service would commence on June 21. There would be 11 AC three tier coaches with capacity of 600 passengers. The train's first stop would be Ayodhya, where tourists will visit Ram Janmabhoomi temple, <keyword id="6370821" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="hanuman" source="Orion">Hanuman</keyword> temple, Bharat Mandir at Nandigram. After Ayodhya, the next destination would be Buxar where the tourists will be shown the hermitage of Maharishi Vishwamitra and the Ram Rekha Ghat where the guests can take a holy dip in the Ganga." The train will then travel to Janakpur (Nepal) via Jaynagar. After an overnight stay at hotels in Janakpur, they would be taken to Ram-Janaki Temple in Janakpur. Further, they would be taken to Sitamarhi, Sita's birth place, and then depart for Varanasi. In Varanasi, tourists will be given a tour around the temples at Varanasi Sita Samahit Sthal, Prayagraj, Shringverpur and Chitrakoot will be covered by road. Night stay at hotels will be provided at Varanasi, Prayagraj and Chitrakoot as well. Train journey on the next leg would be to Nasik to visit Trayambakeshwar temple and Panchvati. Next destination after Nasik would be the ancient city of Kishkindha, Hampi with overnight stay at hotels. Here the guests will visit the temple believed to be the birth place of Hanuman atop the Anjaneyadri Hills and other heritage and religious sites. Rameshwaram would be the next destination of the train tour, wherein Ramanathaswamy temple and Dhanushkodi will be covered along with overnight stay at hotels. Further, passengers would be taken to Kanchipuram where Shiv Kanchi, Vishnu Kanchi and Kamakhshi temples are on the day's excursion. From here, the last destination that the train would cover is Bhadrachalam in Telengana which is also widely referred to as the Ayodhya of the south. After this, the train will return to Delhi on the 18th day of its journey covering roughly a distance of around 8,000 km. The train would have two additional coaches for luggage and a pantry car for the freshly-cooked vegetarian meals. The train would have an infotainment system, CCTV cameras and security guards in each coach for tourists. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/tomatoes-brinjal-and-green-vegetable-prices-soar-and-will-keep-going-up-due-to-rains/articleshow/91802500.cms">Tomatoes, brinjal and green vegetable prices soar and will keep going up due to rains</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.in/science/environment/news/an-israeli-company-has-partnered-with-an-indian-company-to-locally-produce-a-machine-that-generates-drinking-water-from-air/articleshow/91791365.cms">To help fight water scarcity, a machine that produces drinking water from air has been launched in India</a>

Now take the Ayodhya to Rameshwaram tour with an EMI paying option by IRCTC

One of the biggest concerns for any airline passenger is arriving at their destination but their baggage does not. The good news is that increased digitization, automation and other smart baggage systems have over the past few years contributed to a significant drop in the number of mishandled bags globally. 
 
According to the 2016 SITA Baggage Report, baggage mishandling rates have plunged 65.3% between 2007 and 2015, saving the air transport industry around US$22.4 billion and increasing passenger confidence in airlines’ ability to delivery baggage on time. 
 
Given technology’s role in these achievements, it’s no wonder that investment in further baggage systems automation and processes remains high on the agenda for most airlines and airports. 
 
The challenge is to further reduce mishandled baggage rates over the next few years while passenger numbers globally are expected to double from today’s 3.3-billion passengers by the mid-2030s. 
 
Bag tracking 
 
The industry’s continued sharp focus on smarter baggage is imperative to further reducing baggage mishandling rates. A key industry priority is to keep track of passengers’ bags through all major stages of the journey – helping improve the travel experience, save money and keep passengers in the know. 
 Bag tracking is also a crucial focus area given the demands of <keyword id="64233" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="IATA">IATA</keyword>’s Resolution 753, which requires airlines keep tabs on every item of baggage from start to finish and to maintain an accurate inventory of baggage by monitoring the acquisition and delivery of baggage. The resolution will come into effect in June 2018. 
 
Parcel-like 
 
SITA’s new BagJourney will help airlines and airports track bags every step of the way as well as provide the possibility of sharing those updates with their passengers. 
 
In fact, it’s an innovative solution that enables passengers to track their bag like they would a parcel and is able to follow each bag from check-in to final delivery through multiple airports and airlines. 
 
SITA 2016 Passenger IT Trends Survey shows that 79% of passengers said they would definitely use a mobile bag notification service while two-thirds said they would use mobile to report missing baggage at the airport. 
 
With 95% of passengers carrying a smart mobile device when traveling, there’s now the huge potential for airlines and airports to provide them with real-time information about the status of their bags. It means that passengers’ are no longer waiting for this information to be provided by the airline and have more control over their baggage. 
 
Freed data 
 
BagJourney mines the 2.5 billion baggage information messages (BIMs) which SITA manages on behalf of the airlines and airports in its BagMessage message distribution service to provide a real-time status on each and every bag. More than 220 airports and 500 airlines around the world use BagMessage to exchange information on the location of passengers’ baggage. 
 
 
It’s also uniquely integrated with WorldTracer – the only truly global tracing and matching service of delayed bags. This allows a bag’s journey to continue to be tracked even if it’s mishandled. 
 
 
API power 
 
The new BagJourney service is delivered to the community through an application programming interface (API) via www.developer.aero. 
 
This allows airlines and airports to integrate it into to their existing systems quickly and easily, including services such as mobile updates which they might offer to passengers. 
 
Smarter baggage will continue to improve the travel experience and save money, with real-time bag tracking keeping passengers informed. 
 
(This article is contributed by Maneesh Jaikrishna, VP, India &amp; Sub-continent, SITA)

Here’s how you can make baggage smarter, with
real-time bag tracking

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">HoneywellHoneywell is using blockchain technology and machine learning to try to better serve airlines.</div></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>Airlines are spending billions of dollars to upgrade their technology platforms and Honeywell is hoping to capitalize on that transformation. </li><li>The consumer and industrial goods manufacturer is staffing up for newly created roles and offering new products all aimed at harnessing advanced tech like machine learning to reduce costs for airlines. </li><li>The push is creating new revenue streams for Honeywell, according to director John Peterson, and giving the company an advantage over competitors. </li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/prime?module=article&amp;area=summary">Click here for more BI Prime stories.</a></li></ul>Honeywell is aiming to become even more of a one-stop shop for airlines.The company sells a wide range of consumer and industrial products, including security systems, thermostats, and wireless doorbells, among other items. Within the sprawling conglomerate is a longstanding aerospace arm that manufactures everything from plane engines and satellite-based communication systems, to docking platforms for spacecraft.But sensing an opportunity with machine learning, Honeywell is doubling-down on their <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-honeywell-is-designing-cockpits-for-flying-taxis-2019-7">aviation offerings</a> and staffing up for newly created roles all aimed at helping airlines ultimately fly people at a cheaper cost."Aviation in general feels like a last frontier in terms of being able to jump into big data," John Peterson, the director of customer support in the aerospace division, told Business Insider. And it may be the perfect time for the expansion. Demand for airline travel is <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/most-flights-ever-225000-flightradar24-flight-tracking-2019-7">booming</a> and spending on tech upgrades is <a href="https://www.businesstravelnews.com/Research/Artificial-Intelligence/Airlines-Turn-to-AI-as-They-Up-IT-Spending">increasing</a>. The question for the industry now is how to cut down on fuel expenses, maintenance charges, and other operating costs amid the surge in passengers and higher IT spending.The advanced technology can help the industry to try to pad what are typically thin margins. By knowing ahead of time which aircraft will need maintenance, for example, airlines avoid having to take a plane out-of-service. New offerings can use data on past performance issues to inform future service schedules.Interest is robust. A <a href="https://www.sita.aero/resources/type/surveys-reports/air-transport-it-insights-2018">recent study</a> from information technology company SITA found that 84 percent of companies plan to have significant AI research programs in place by 2021. What's happening in aviation is an echo of the digital transformation already underway in finance, healthcare, and other industries as America's legacy companies seek to become tech firms unto themselves.That's a key reason for Honeywell's push: it's the first time that many airlines are moving forward with digitization plans, Peterson says, a phenomenon he is well-placed to weigh in on given his 12 years at Honeywell and former life as a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserves.Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/airline-industry-set-for-profit-decline-in-2019-iata-warns-2019-6">President Trump's trade wars, Boeing's 737 Max scandal, and rising oil prices are causing a $7.5 billion headache for airlines, industry group says</a><h2>The aviation industry is 'no longer just looking at data.' Now, it's using machine learning, blockchain, and other tech to cut costs.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image">HoneywellJohn Peterson is the director of customer support in Honeywell's aerospace division.</div></div></div></h2>For airlines, an unexpected rise in out-of-service aircraft or rising fuel prices can wreck operations. Southwest, for example, was <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/southwest-passengers-furious-after-hundreds-cancellations-2019-2">forced to cancel hundreds of flights</a> earlier this year because of maintenance issues.The goal for Honeywell, Peterson says, is to find ways to slowly cut away at those added costs.One option is with predictive maintenance. The North Carolina-based company helps compile and analyze data - like when the engine button must be pressed multiple times before a plane starts - to help alert airlines when service is needed before a failure takes an aircraft unexpectedly out-of-service.With that knowledge, airlines can plan maintenance schedules around when planes are at travel hubs that have the necessary equipment, ultimately reducing delays and cancellations, according to Peterson."They're no longer just looking at data, trying to guess at what they should do to make [operations] better," he said.Honeywell also recently launched a blockchain-powered online marketplace for used aircraft parts called GoDirect Trade. Plane components must be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration and it can take weeks for customers and sellers to exchange information on the part to finish the sale.Now, using the online ledger tool, prospective purchasers can quickly obtain a full history of the product and purchase it instantly. The platform has done over $3 million in sales since its launch earlier this year, according to the company. Honeywell is aiming for $10 million in sales by the end of the year. It also has over 3,500 users and more than 1,100 registered companies. Honeywell also offers a weather monitoring service called GoDirect Weather that helps assist crew members make route decisions, both on-the-ground and in-flight. The service can be particularly useful, Honeywell says, for those flights through regions with lax radar coverage. The company said it has "several major airlines" using the platform but declined to discuss specific membership, citing competitive reasons.<h2>To meet the demands of the industry, Honeywell is staffing up with data scientists, customer success managers, and other roles.</h2>To offer such a service, Honeywell had to staff up on completely new roles, including data scientists, data security experts, and other positions."We're hiring a lot more and we're hiring a broader skill-set of people," says Peterson. "These are investments that are creating entirely new businesses for Honeywell and we're getting out in front of traditional players as we're doing that."The company declined to say exactly how many positions they have hired or what their hiring goals were.Honeywell currently has nearly 3,000 open positions globally across its divisions, including internships and senior level roles. Among the vacancies the firm is hiring for is an aerospace advanced technology specialist in Phoenix, Arizona, a position focused on supporting the development of new technologies like more sophisticated sensors that can help with predictive maintenance. According to Peterson, a role that didn't exist five years ago is that of the customer success manager, whose charge is to manage the data networks that the advanced AI-based applications will run on. Say an airline is trying to access aircraft performance for a recent flight and the file is corrupt. The customer success manager fix the problem and format the data properly for the client.As companies look to harness artificial intelligence and other advanced technology, it's likely they will mirror Honeywell's efforts and hiring staffers that can help manage the digital transition. Or they already are. <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-larry-page-sergey-brin-eric-schmidt-burning-man-stealing-fire-flow-state-2017-4">Here's why Google's co-founders went to Burning Man to find former CEO Eric Schmidt</a></h3> <div> </div> </div>

The aviation industry is the 'last frontier' for big data. Here's how Honeywell is staffing up and launching new products to tackle that challenge.

<div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right"><div class="image on-image"></div></div>For Christopher Ahlberg, predicting the future is as simple as typing a single word into a piece of software. For example, punching the word "protest" into the dashboard of his software product pulled up a real-time map of areas around the world where conversations about future protests were taking place. "Interesting," Ahlberg told me on the phone. "We get a very specific set of places in Nigeria where there are protests."Ahlberg is the CEO of Recorded Future, a company that makes software that he claims can create actionable data points about what is happening - or what is going to happen - in the world by analyzing all of the text on the open web.In this specific example, Ahlberg was able to predict where protests in Nigeria would pop up next by using his software to aggregate open calls for participation that protesters have already published on the web through blogs and other public sources. But it's not always as easy for Recorded Future to see what's going on in the world. Tech savvy hackers, for instance, don't publicly announce their actions in the same way, Ahlberg noted. Even so, his company is likely to be clued in. That's because Recorded Future doesn't just mine open forums for information: it tries to scan every part of the open web. Hackers frequently talk to each other on chat platforms known as IRCs - and Recorded Future is able to pick up those conversations too."8 billion data points, 600,000 sources," Ahlberg rattled off. "English, Arabic, Farsi, Chinese, Russian, Spanish, and French. Thousands of sources each week; from the deepest underbelly all the way up to news," he explained.Recorded Future's software is programmed to constantly monitor these sources and relay data in real time. In short, if it's being written on the open web, Recorded Future will likely see it and index it.<h2 class="p1">Preventing future cyber attacks</h2>Recorded Future has been around since 2008, but it's been getting more attention in recent years. When the company first launched, it considered itself an intelligence platform for anyone trying to get an idea of what's going on in the world. It wanted to be a go-to automated intelligence platform for any operation big or small. Both Google and In-Q-Tel (the CIA's investment arm) <a href="http://www.wired.com/2010/07/exclusive-google-cia/">invested money into the company</a> in 2010. The company has since kept a relatively low profile, building out its service offerings based on its hallmark technology.In the early days, Recorded Future saw the most interest from the financial sector. Quant investors were able to use the platform's intel to make market predictions.But now, Recorded Future has morphed into more of a cybersecurity outfit."We started seeing about two years ago this area of cybersecurity exploding," Ahlberg said. Companies trying to get a handle on what cyber-criminals are aiming to do have been seeking out Recorded Future's technology. It's slowly becoming known as an automated cyber-attack platform.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div></div></div>At first glance, Recorded Future looks almost like a web analytics dashboard.One page shows all the known online attackers, what methods they use for attacking, and which geographical areas they are targeting. Another indexes all of the instances a specific threat has been mentioned. If a customer is trying to track a certain threat, it can set up email alerts so they can remain abreast of the situation. That's primarily why the global air transport technology company SITA uses Recorded Future. SITA provides the backend IT and communications technologies for nearly all aspect of air travel, and its customers consist of airlines, airports, and even governments. Big players in the airline industry are frequently facing cyber threats, so it needed a way to analyze potential attacks. Companies like SITA, whose partnerships are vast and with heavy-hitter aviation names, face cyber-attack issues everyday. For example, every year hackers perform an annual campaign against Israeli targets. Given that SITA's customers fly to the country, and many of its clients are based there, it's necessary to have up-to-date information about what precise hacks are happening.SITA has even used Recorded Future to monitor leaked user names and passwords of its customers.<h2 class="p1">Can it read everything?</h2>But with this technology comes potential for controversy surrounding privacy. This was exhibited earlier this year when a coding website asserted that Recorded Future <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/recorded-future-and-facebook-whats-going-on-2015-4">was even analyzing Facebook private messages</a>. The website, Bosnadev, had posted a link to a private link in a Facebook chat box. It then claimed that the link was opened by Recorded Future, despite it never posting the link to anything but Facebook. To Bosnadev, this meant that Recorded Future had access to private chat messages.It turns out that this thought-to-be private link had actually been posted online via a server log put on website Pastebin. While Recorded Future <a href="https://www.recordedfuture.com/facebook-chat-messages/">adamantly maintains</a> that it does not have access to private Facebook chat messages, the fact that it was able to access such an obscure link so systematically demonstrates the technology's capabilities.Privacy concerns aside, Recorded Future's software creates vast business opportunities for some. Ahlberg emphasized that his company's services shouldn't be pigeonholed to one specific use case - saying nearly any business with a stake in online intelligence could likely find a use for its online engines. For now, though, many cybersecurity firms are using Recorded Future to mine more robust data."Our customers are incredibly innovative," he said. "They have used the product for things that have blown our minds." <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/roar-filmed-with-100-untamed-lions-movie-injured-2015-4">70 people were injured while filming this movie with 100 untamed lions</a></h3> <div> <div> <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="Nzc3hmdDr4a5heo3T-j-WFkV1wYM_fEN" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div> </div> </div> </div>

Inside the company that can predict the future by analyzing every piece of information on the web

<div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right"><div class="image"></div></div>Over 3 billion people flew around the world in 2013.
And the airlines that carried them mishandled 21.8 million bags, according to aviation communications and technology company <a href="http://www.sita.aero/surveys-reports/industry-surveys-reports/baggage-report-2014">SITA</a>. 
U.S.-based airlines try to reunite missing bags with their owners for 90 days. But if they can't, the luggage and all its contents are sent to the sprawling Unclaimed Baggage Center in Scottsboro, Alabama, <a href="http://www.npr.org/2014/08/11/339485870/items-up-for-sale-at-unclaimed-baggage-center-reflect-trends">NPR reports</a>.
Only 0.5% of all bags on U.S. airlines are not reunited with their owners at airport baggage claims, according to the Unclaimed Baggage Center <a href="http://unclaimedbaggage.com/p/about/our_story">website</a>. And less than 2.5% of those initially mishandled bags remain unclaimed after three months of searching for their owners.
The Unclaimed Baggage Center buys this unclaimed luggage, then sorts and prices it for sale at bargain prices in the organization's 40,000 square-foot store. 
The location operates like a massive department store-slash-tourist destination, where a million visitors each year drop by to browse and purchase other people's orphaned stuff.
The store contains separate sections for electronics, formalwear, and jewelry - including wedding rings and Rolex watches worth $60,000. Other potentially desirable items include golf clubs and ski equipment. And then there are those things that only vacation travelers would pack, such as straw hats.
"The Unclaimed Baggage Center is like the best yard sale you've ever been to - on steroids," NPR reporter Emily Ochsenschlager declared.
Not every lost item is sold in the store. Some valuables end up in the center's small museum, while other things are donated or discarded.
Some of the <a href="http://unclaimedbaggage.com/p/about/you_found_what">strangest and most valuable things</a> that have ended up at the facility since it opened in the 1970s include a live rattlesnake, a full suit of replica medieval armor, a 40.95 carat natural emerald, an Air Force missile guidance system, a shrunken head, and a 4,000-year-old Egyptian burial mask.

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