Abu Dhabi has played host to the International Air Transport Association workshop aiming to play its part in improving all aspects of air travel for passengers with some blue-sky thinking.

The two-day workshop, held at the Rotana Hotel on the emirate’s Yas Island, was organised by IATA and welcomed airline professionals from across the Middle East and North Africa region in a bid to discuss and create innovative solutions to make the industry easier to do business with for both customers and partners, to improve the customer experience as well as to reduce industry costs.

The event, partially sponsored by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, tackled all aspects of air travel in the industry with delegates looking to offer new and exciting ideas to boost customer satisfaction and at the same time dealing with any regional constraints.

Sultan Al Mutawa Al Dhaheri, acting executive director of tourism sector, TCA Abu Dhabi, attended the workshop on its opening day, giving a speech to the assembled delegates to welcome them to the capital of the UAE.

The attendees were also given a presentation of the destination by TCA. 

“With incoming tourism number soaring, and only set to climb higher, it is critical for us as a tourism board to continue to help innovate and improve our provisions for passengers travelling here,” said Al Dhaheri.

“As a tourism board, it is our responsibility to inspire and create a lasting, positive impression on all of our visitors and as we understand that the passenger experience starts the moment they check-in for their flight, we welcome the opportunity to meet IATA members and other industry professionals to engage in some blue-sky thinking to achieve this.”

The workshop covered such topics as innovative airport self-service processes, how improving security checkpoint access and egress can maximise passenger flow as well as streamlining immigration processes using better data transmission and automated border control systems.

The event was also an opportunity to meet industry suppliers and discover the latest technologies that are available, as well as building stronger relationships with regional colleagues.