International Airlines Group and Miami International Airport announced as first pioneering members of groundbreaking FTE Smart Ramp collaborative innovation program
Future Travel Experience (FTE) and nlmtd (Unlimited) are delighted to announce that International Airlines Group and Miami International Airport – both Corporate Partners of the FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub – are inaugural members of the pioneering new FTE Smart Ramp program.
Smart Ramp is the latest initiative as part of the groundbreaking FTE Accelerating Collaboration & Engagement (ACE) platform launched in partnership with innovation consultancy nlmtd. ACE is dedicated to driving real collaborative action among stakeholders, facilitating fast progress and dynamic change in key areas of the aviation industry which are rife for transformation.
The focus on Smart Ramp operations has the ultimate goal that aircraft turnaround can be achieved autonomously and more efficiently. A phased approach will assess which solutions truly work by each member testing new technologies, while incorporating requirements from the other participants. The program will support startups and introduce new suppliers not yet active in aviation, forging paths together on how to overcome hurdles while also exploring the potential for shared investments in the future.
Results of the innovations will be shared with respective experts, industry bodies and regulators, meaning the outcomes can be used to create recommended practices and standards in the industry.
“FTE is passionate that effective collaboration is the key to our industry making great strides forward and I am very proud that International Airlines Group and Miami International Airport believe in this too and are the first organisations to sign up to the Smart Ramp program,” says Daniel Coleman, Founder & CEO, Future Travel Experience. “They are true first-movers, with pioneering mindsets that are perfectly aligned with the principles of our Accelerating Collaboration & Engagement Platform (ACE), which is creating a level of collaboration between stakeholders that has arguably never been seen before. We will get there much faster if we tackle transformation collectively and FTE is committed to bringing the industry together to move forward.”
International Airlines Group (IAG), whose member airlines include British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling and LEVEL, is on an impressive transformation journey – not only of its own operations, but also how our industry operates. It is collaborating with partners on a wide range of trials and membership of the Smart Ramp program is a natural extension of these efforts.
“We are delighted to be the inaugural airline partner of the FTE Smart Ramp program,” says Gurm Nijjer, Group Procurement Director – Airports, IAG. “IAG strives to push the boundaries with emerging technologies and new approaches. Collaboration is at the heart of our innovation efforts and we very much look forward to engaging with like-minded innovation leaders participating in the program in order to execute innovation initiatives and help shape the autonomous ‘Smart Ramp’ of the future.”
Miami International Airport (MIA) similarly has a strong culture of innovation. As part of its Future Ready Capital Improvement Program, MIA is currently advancing its Modernization in (M.I.A.) Plan – an extensive effort to enhance operational efficiency and customer experience. Membership in the Smart Ramp program will support and complement these initiatives.
“MIA is thrilled to be the inaugural airport partner of the FTE Smart Ramp program,” says Maurice Jenkins, Chief Innovation Officer, MIA. “We believe in the power of collaborative innovation and value the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with, learn from, and share experiences and results with like-minded airports, airlines and other key innovators. The emphasis on hands-on execution and rapid implementation of new technologies perfectly aligns with our own innovation strategy at MIA.”
Manuel van Lijf, Director Aviation Innovation, nlmtd, adds: “Our first ACE effort – BOOST – focused on baggage innovation, as a spin-off of the FTE Baggage Innovation Working Group, and is successfully up and running with Schiphol, Incheon Airport and Avinor already working closely to test new technology for one another to find new ways forward. We are delighted that this second ACE effort is now launched too, which we believe will drive transformation that just wouldn’t be possible otherwise. It’s very exciting to announce IAG and Miami International Airport as our launch partners, and we look forward to announcing a host of other members in the months to come.”
For more information on the FTE Accelerating Collaboration & Engagement (ACE) platform, the Smart Ramp program, and how to get involved, please visit: https://www.futuretravelexperience.com/fte-communities/
Media contact: Marta Dimitrova, Head of Marketing & Communications, Future Travel Experience: marta@futuretravelexperience.com
