Widespread increases in queuing and processing times are a well-documented frustration for airports, airlines, and passengers. Increasing the flexibility of resources can help alleviate this problem and allow gates, ticket counters, and baggage areas to be shared by multiple carriers, as needed. Several of the Cisco Communications solutions for operational flexibility enable common-use environments that provide efficient utilization of check-in, gate and baggage processing resources. A truly flexible common-use model depends on an intelligent, unified, IP-based network that instantly provides data, voice (telephony, public address), video (surveillance and broadcast), and other services to authorized users throughout the facility. At airport gates, a secure IP network with IP telephony enables flexibility to an extent that was not available in the past. For example, when an airline's gate agent checks in at a gate for a new flight, the gate displays, printers, phones, and other networked devices are automatically provisioned for that flight. This enables airports to create a more flexible environment for gate and check-in spaces for airline tenants and provide the carriers with differentiated communications services, meeting the unique needs of each airline. This architecture also allows the airlines to add their own unique solutions to differentiate themselves further.

A truly flexible common use airport operations model depends on a secure, intelligent, unified, IP-based network that instantly provides data, voice, video, and other services to authorized users throughout the facility.

The foundation of flexible operations is a resilient and reliable common multi-service network core throughout the airport. The multi-service network core that enables an airport to migrate to a converged network for all airport systems and tenants, protect current investments with a standards-based, flexible IP/MPLS architecture, and build new services for airport tenants. This critical component of an airport's overall campus network provides a high-bandwidth, highly reliable foundation for providing connectivity throughout the entire airport facility. Cisco Virtual Private Network (VPN) solution offers secure data, voice, and video communication, with quality of service (QoS) guarantees, which allows airports to deliver secure connectivity for airport tenants, allowing them to access their own systems. For example, this allows airlines to securely access their host systems.

Cisco Catalyst switching solutions enable airports to easily deploy new applications and technologies into their network infrastructure. For example, at an airport gate, this means that all networked devices such as terminal, phones, displays, printers, cameras and other devices can be easily connected to the overall airport network. In the main terminal, it means the airport can deploy common use self-service kiosks, either directly or over a wireless LAN, to better utilize terminal space.

The key enabler of flexible operations is the integration of passenger processing systems with the Cisco IP Communications solutions allowing airports and airlines to benefit from improved passenger processing and utilization of tight terminal spaces. When the airline agent logs on to passenger processing workstation, the integration enables the automatic log on to the counter IP phone as well. The phone then displays customized airline specific features in addition to the standard airport profile. Examples of the customized airline phone features could include:

• Integration to the airline's phone system and directories to allow agents to 4 digit dial from an airport counter to airline back office phone
• Specialized hotkeys for the airline agent to quickly call key airline support numbers
• Calling restriction rules
• Conferencing services
• Multi-lingual capabilities to reflect airline linguistic differences

The solution also takes into account the needs of airlines at gate counters where activating gate counter phones should also activate the bridge phones and ramp phones associated with a specific gate. When no one is logged into the IP phone, it is a standard airport phone which allows emergency and internal calling.

Business Benefits of Flexible Gates/Flexible Check-in
Cisco Intelligent Airport solution enables airports to reduce traveler/cargo congestion by increasing the flexible utilization of airport resources, improving or eliminating business processes, providing new services that improve customer and passenger satisfaction, and integrating disparate safety, security and emergency communications features.

The operational flexibility benefits of shared use facilities include:

• Reducing passenger wait times by removing the limitation of a single, potentially overcrowded location to process passengers.
• Increasing passenger and baggage flow by allowing off-site or on-site check-in at a self-service kiosk.
• Supporting potential revenue for airport operators from new services.
• Maximizing utilization of limited floor and concourse space.

Diagram 1. Airport IP Telephony Architecture

March 2004