NEOM Bay Airport is currently operational at the multi-billion dollar destination with work in progress on an international airport that is set to be operational by 2026.
“All passengers should be viewed as VIPs, not cash cows or self-loading cargo. We must build these legacy-free airports and focus on enabling quicker and faster passenger journeys,” said John Selden, CEO of NEOM Airports.
NEOM International Airport is set out to disrupt the travel industry using technological developments and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to provide a seamless travel experience.
Selde explained that airports should be about freedom of movement and enhanced customer experience and “much less about keeping people captive, in order to overcharge them for bottled water and cold sandwiches.”
NEOM International Airport features
The use of biometrics and facial recognition will help link passengers to their bags to enhance baggage safety and improve security checks.
All NEOM airport travellers will also have access to baggage services such as pick-up from home or hotel and drop-off at destination hotel or residence, “rather than passengers having to awkwardly carry them around,” Selden explained.
Artificial intelligence will be implemented throughout the airport guiding passengers to currency exchanges, gates, coffee shops, taxi lines and more, similar to Google Maps guiding users to destinations of their choice.
Implementation
NEOM has no pre-existing business models or infrastructure which leads to easier implementation of next-gen features, compared to other airports around the world. “Luckily, we have a blank sheet of paper, so if anyone can do it we can,” said Selden.
Selden concluded by saying “every customer should feel like an honoured guest.”
The $500 billion mega-city development has appointed a management partner for its international airport.
AECOM has been awarded a multi-year contract to provide project management consultancy services for NEOM International Airport (NIA), in the northwestern region of Saudi Arabia.
Lara Poloni, AECOMs president, said: “We are very pleased to be part of this innovative project, which is set to transform travel between NEOM and the world.
AECOM will be responsible for managing the project from master planning, design, and construction services to testing, commissioning, and ensuring operational readiness, activation, and transition.
Hamed Zaghw, AECOM’s chief executive of the Middle East and Africa region, said: “We are delighted that AECOM will be adding another chapter to its relationship.
“This contract is a testament to our leadership position in the region and to our continuous commitment to NEOM and the goals of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.”
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