A review of 2018, a preview of the future: Blockchain traveling

During 2018, PhocusWire offered you in-depth coverage of
some of the critical topics that affect travel, organized by a different theme
every month.

As we prepare for 2018 at the end and a new year to start, we are
revisiting each of these themes.

We will look back on the key developments of the
last 12 months and look ahead, with an additional perspective from the current
experts we interviewed throughout the year.

Let's start with blockchain, which we deepened in February.

At the moment there are dozens of companies all over the world
develop blockchain-based initiatives for the travel industry. Most of these efforts
align with one of the four categories: distribution, loyalty, identity or
operations.

Next in our year-end coverage will be a closer look at what
some of the travel blockchain startups have achieved in 2018 and theirs
they have planned for the next year.

But there is also substantial research and development blockchain
made by established travel companies, including Travelport, Tui Group and
SITA. In February, the chief engineer of SITA Lab, Kevin O & Sullivan, explained Such as
blockchain can be used to manage flight data.

For our forward look, Sherry Stein, responsible for the SITA Lab program
provides an update on the blockchain for the air transport sector and her
forecasts on what to expect in 2019.

Forecasts on Blockchain – Sherry Stein, SITA Lab

The 2018 SITA Air Transport IT Insights revealed that 59% of
airlines will have blockchain pilots or research programs in place in 2018,
while 34% of airports are planning blockchain research and development programs
by 2021.

It is clearly on the agenda of the air transport industry, but what impact
can we really expect the blockchain to arrive in 2019? Here are my forecasts.

Closer collaboration

However interesting a technology as it is, is
"Blockchain for one" does not make much sense. If there is only one
organization involved, it is generally easier and cheaper to build solutions
with standard database technology.

Blockchain really becomes his and
offers something new when you have more than one organization involved: some
level of distrust between the parties and a mutual desire to get rid of the "
intermediary. & # 39;

The reality is that it will not scratch the surface of the
potential benefits of the blockchain until the air transport industry will not work
together more closely. Easy to say, not so easy to make. The challenge of
creating a multi-organization blockchain network is not trivial. Who sets it
on? How do we interact with it? What governance is needed?

Help to facilitate a more collaborative approach to
innovation, SITA has created the Aviation Blockchain Sandbox, a big industry
research project. SITA Lab is building a cloud-based blockchain network
we will allow industry partners to access it.

We are building some
app distributed with reference and making them available on the network. To do it
easier for everyone to start, we are providing some applications
Programming interfaces and a software development kit to allow different
aeronautical organizations to interact.

I predict that blockchain will encourage air travel
industry to collaborate at unprecedented levels, working hand in hand a
understand more about the potential of the blockchain to support new models of
do business in a decentralized ecosystem.

Flight information

The problem of flight data is a well-known problem in the industry: there is not
the only source of truth and the data that exist are not easily accessible
everywhere.

The reality is that a passenger's phone could say something,
screens in the other terminal and computer of the airline staff completely
something different at all.

As demonstrated by the FlightChain study, flight information
it's a blockchain use case that could transform the current status quo.

For the
test, SITA Lab has collaborated with British Airways, Heathrow, Geneva Airport and
Miami International Airport to demonstrate how flight information can be stored
on the blockchain to provide a unique source of truth and shared control of
data from airlines and airports.

During the process, there was only one version of the
data relating to the status of a flight. Passenger telephones, airport screens,
and the staff's laptops match up beautifully. The main problem with the
the proof was the complexity of installing it and maintaining it.

I predict that we will see more demand for "single source of"
truth "on all channels and the need for user-friendly solutions in 2019.

Such as
the mature blockchain, provides the means to enable us to expand the trials and
involve greater collaboration in a wide range of airports and airlines. This
it could include everything from identity management to baggage information.

Blockchain and the Internet of Things

The combination of blockchain and IoT has enormous potential to change the way we do
work in the air transport sector.

The powerful blend triggers exciting
new applications that will create trust, reduce costs, improve transparency and
provide critical security.

It can also streamline and facilitate the many
processes in the air transport industry ecosystem. It allows Blockchain
organizations to exploit their IoT data and automate business processes
between partners without having to set up expensive and complex IT
infrastructure.

One of these processes is the management of goods. SITA is working with a
strategic partner on a case of use for the cargo solution that tracks ULD containers
and records data on a blockchain.

The solution improves the efficiency of the process e
reduces management costs and load losses, giving visibility to the parties involved
ULD status and location. Smart contracts will be integrated into the solution
enabling payment to be activated once a ULD has been delivered, optimizing the
shipping journey.

I predict that the blockchain will redefine the way in which industry
approach this and other complex areas in 2019. Many of the industries
the processes remain today guided by the paper and are now the main candidates for the move
to digital solutions.

Blockchain can add improved traceability and history
records management; coupling it with the ability of the IoT to capture the environment
conditions, location data and other important resource tracking elements can provide new ones
ways to add value.

Blockchain and biometrics

I predict that we will begin to see the management tests of ID blockchain starting to emerge,
seize the combined power of biometrics and blockchain.

Biometric tests have shown how the sector could
eliminate the need for control of the passport and documents during the entire journey.

The possibility of leaving a passport in your pocket may seem insignificant when
think about every identity check in isolation, but just add them all
it becomes noteworthy. Also remember how quickly our expectations evolve.

We
I used to think that waiting for four to five seconds to load a website was fast, but
now we are impatient if it does not load instantly.

Blockchain, collaborated with
biometrics could have the same effect on passengers' travel. We will get to it
point where instantaneous transactions at all identity control points become the
norm.

Another potential advantage of using blockchain as a basis
of identity management is that airports will be able to allocate more resources
intelligently and manage the flow of passengers on a more nuanced basis.

Every
time that a traveler crosses a border or passes through an identity check at the airport,
is registered on the blockchain and allows them to create a trustworthy state.
As a result, regular travelers would not need to go through the same laborious
check the weekend, the weekend and the resources can be more focused on the unknown
travelers.

IATA's One Identity initiative has long tried to tackle
the challenge of paperless travel and a single-token travel solution. SITA
he was an active participant in supporting these efforts.

Biometric solutions continue to become more common but
there is still no solution that allows a truly paperless journey from end to end
end. When you leave the country, even if you use biometrics in
departure airport, you need to show your passport upon arrival at
Destination Country.

SITA joined the Sovrin network as Founding Steward in July
2018 to accelerate its exploration of how a self-sovereign enabled to blockchain
identity solution that can be used at any airport anywhere in the world.