CEO of Pulkovo spoke about the use of AI in airport management

Artificial Intelligence (AI) helps Pulkovo Airport manage passenger traffic, services, and commercial areas. Leonid Sergeev, CEO of Northern Capital Air Gate LLC, told Izvestia about this on June 3 at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

From June 1, passengers can register for flights to Moscow using biometrics, which speeds up check-in, passport control and boarding procedures by 20-30%.

"Pulkovo is the first digital airport in the country, and, to be honest, in Europe too," Sergeev said, explaining that Pulkovo initiated the airport's involvement in the modern system.

It clarifies that when registering using biometrics, the system puts a "tag" on a person, which does not disclose personal data, but allows you to track the time of passing through various stages — inspection, registration, passport control. This helps the services to coordinate their work more precisely and open the necessary directions on time.

Artificial intelligence is also involved in the commercial activities of the airport. The systems analyze passengers' preferences, purchasing power, sales, and remaining goods. According to Sergeev, for tenants, the growth potential from the use of AI can be 15-30%.

The airport plans to integrate passenger flow, apron, biometrics, drones and robotic equipment into a single control system. Sergeev compared the work of the apron, where employees, technicians, tankers and catering staff work simultaneously, with the Formula 1 team, where every operation is performed quickly and accurately.

"The whole thing around the plane is reminiscent of Formula 1. He arrived, was quickly served and flew away. It has the most difficult mathematics," Sergeyev said.

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