Princess Juliana International Airport (PIJAE), which serves as gateway to Caribbean holiday hotspot, St. Maarten, is pushing ahead with its promise to deliver a passenger experience like no other. The airport has partnered with Materna IPS to deliver a state-of-the-art self-bag drop (SBD) system.
“Materna is proud to work in partnership on such a critical operation with PIJAE and its airline partners,” said Gary McDonald, President of Materna IPS Americas. “It’s been remarkable to witness this transformation making it the most innovative airport in the Caribbean,” he continued.
While SBD is not a new concept in North American airports, implementing them in a shared setting is. This highly adaptive technology allows multiple airlines to share its use, while still providing opportunities for customised functionality in line with each airline’s unique requirements.
The new system is set to dramatically improve the passenger experience, speeding up bag-drop times and improving baggage hygiene. “Any modification that aids in optimising the transit of passengers and bags is certainly a victory for us,” said the airport’s CEO, Brian Mingo. “Furthermore, we take pride in acknowledging that advancements facilitated by Materna IPS have streamlined passenger experiences henceforth ensuring a seamless journey for our travellers.”
The SBD also benefits from integrated Artificial Intelligence (AI), which categorises pieces of baggage based on previously learned shapes. This essential information influences the decision-making process regarding the suitability for checking or conveyance of a specific item. If it is determined that an item cannot be conveyed, passengers will be instructed to use a special luggage tub – something that commonly occurs with backpacks characterised by loose straps recognised by Materna’s advanced software. In addition, the built in security instruction system, alerts airport teams if a passenger attempts to bypass security by sounding an alarm and halting the entire baggage system.
