Travel Industry News 20th March 2023

Amsterdam Schiphol to explore use of AI to speed up baggage screening

Amsterdam Schiphol is partnering with technology firm Pangiam, to explore how artificial intelligence could be used to speed up the process of baggage security checks.  Schiphol is the first major European airport to support Project DARTMOUTH, a collaboration between Pangiam and Google, with AI and algorithm technology being used to analyse images of hand baggage and identify prohibited items and other security risks.

The partnership will see the technology initially being tested “on a small scale” to allow for further development. It can be applied to existing equipment such as the airport’s CT scanners, and if successful and it meets European regulations, it could be implemented at scale.


Thrust Carbon Unveils Event Emissions-Measurement Tool

Sustainability tech firm Thrust Carbon has launched an emissions-measuring application for larger-scale meeting programs, the company announced Wednesday.  The product, dubbed Thrust Events, allows travel and meetings management companies a way to “accurately measure the emissions generated by their events and take steps to reduce their carbon footprint, while also giving end users their travel and events footprint in one place,” Thrust Events was designed specifically for event management suppliers with 200 to 50,000 events annually, according to the company. The tool, available now, allows event managers a way to input attendee, venue and transportation data, which is then calculated to produce a “white-label client-friendly emissions report,”.


 

Manchester Airports Group’s passenger numbers reach 90 per cent of pre-pandemic levels

Manchester Airports Group (MAG) is nearing pre-pandemic levels, with passenger numbers recovering to 90 per cent of 2019 levels.  MAG, which owns and operates Manchester, East Midlands and London Stansted airports served 3.5 million passengers in February.


Travel news as a glance:

 

Emirates to operate 119 weekly flights to the UK this summer.

Air France to offer new business class seat on Johannesburg route from March 27

Air Canada to launch seasonal Montréal-Amsterdam flights.

Qantas launches revamped Frequent Flyer Marketplace.

JetBlue, Shell in Deal for SAF at LAX

United Resumes San Francisco-Hong Kong Service

EasyJet to launch flights to Istanbul