Team Henderson is actively engaged in redefining what’s possible for air travel by providing sustainable and efficient solutions to improve experiences for everyone, including pilots, travelers, and security teams. Jaime Castro, venue sector practice manager, joined aviation, travel, and tech experts at the 2024 Future Travel Experience (FTE) Global Conference in Long Beach, CA. The event brought together experts from airlines, airports, tech companies, and travel startups who all share a similar vision to improve air travel and passenger experience through innovation, technology, and forward-thinking solutions.

Redefining Travel Through Technology  

With an increased interest from airlines and airports to adopt new technologies such as biometric screening and AI-powered personalized services to streamline travel from start to finish, the conference highlighted how the architecture and engineering industry will be essential to bring these ideas to life. A few key advancements mentioned include:  

• Biometrics: Enhance security and identity verification for a smooth travel experience.  

• Self-Service Bag Drop: Allow passengers to check-in and drop off luggage on their own for faster check-in times.  

• Virtual Ques: Give passengers the option to reserve a time slot online to reduce wait times and avoid standing in line. 

• Wayfinding: Improve navigation through the airport with digital kiosks and updated signage.  

• 5G Private Networks: Deliver faster, more reliable connections with better security and higher bandwidth to elevate the passenger experience.  

• Microgrids: Ensure resilient and sustainable electrical systems are installed to keep airports operational, even during outages.  

• AV Wheelchairs: Introduce self-driving wheelchairs to improve mobility for passengers. 

• AI-GenAI: Provide advanced tools for booking, reservation assistance, language translations, in-flight services, and luggage tracking. 

These are a few ideas discussed during the conference that showcased how innovative and sustainable technologies have the potential to transform the future of air travel to make it more efficient, accessible, and passenger friendly. Additionally, guests emphasized the importance of “future proofing” by explaining that airports must prepare for future challenges by adopting strategies to minimize potential disruptions. This strategy would need to also include diversity, innovation, digital transformation, and sustainability measures for a program to be successful.

Sustainability at the Forefront

Sustainability was also a major focus at the conference, with ideas such as Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) leading the conversation. SAFs were showcased as a practical solution to decrease aviation’s carbon footprint through collaboration with airlines, manufactures, and governments to build a sustainable supply chain. Henderson Engineers is already helping support these initiatives by incorporating sustainable design practices and energy efficient systems into its projects. Discussions surrounding AAMs envisioned a future with urban air transportation systems such as vertiports and eVTOL hubs to transform short-distance travel. Additionally, airports are adopting digital transformation to improve operations, reduce congestion, and make the travel experience smoother and efficient for passengers.  

Collaborating for a Better Future

Events such as FTE Global 2024 highlight the importance of collaborating to explore trends and innovations to help shape the future of travel. From enhancing digital technology and sustainability to improving customer experience, the aviation industry is embracing a future defined by efficiency and environmental responsibility. As the conference wrapped up, the focus remained on the need for collaboration across sectors to bring these ideas to life and create a more efficient, sustainable, and enjoyable travel experience for passengers worldwide.  

Henderson Knows Aviation

At Henderson, our team is passionate about building relationships and working together to drive innovation and sustainability forward. We’re about enhancing experiences and potential found inside a space to elevate it. Our team is working hard to contribute to the evolution of aviation by working on advanced air mobility projects, including vertiport building systems, microgrids, and charging solutions. As a company of problem-solvers and innovators we’re also exploring ways to integrate new technologies in our designs to deliver sustainable facilities that meet client needs and are built to last.