Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) is to adopt a new artificial intelligence based procedure for counting its passengers during the flight boarding process in the course of 2024. Once the new AI-based procedure is adopted, there should be no further need to conduct manual passenger counts on board. The tender process to find a corresponding IT partner for the new procedure was won by Berlin-based start-up Vion AI.
“In adopting this AI-based solution for counting our passengers during boarding, we’re taking another major step forward into the digital future,” says Oliver Buchhofer, SWISS’s Head of Operations.
“There are a lot of advantages to this new procedure,” Buchhofer continues.
“The use of artificial intelligence will help make the boarding process faster and more efficient. This in turn will reduce waiting times and give our guests a pleasanter travel experience.
“The new digital count will ease the workload on our cabin crews, too. And it will eliminate the kind of irregularities to which traditional manual passenger counts are susceptible, which will further enhance our security and safety margins.”
SWISS attaches the highest importance to data security and data protection. All the recordings made of its passenger boardings will be processed in full compliance with the strict European (GDPR) and Swiss (FADP) data protection provisions, and will then be deleted.
The data obtained will be used solely for passenger count purposes, and will not be used for any personal identification. In addition, only visual images will be recorded, and only in the aircraft door area. ■
