Vladivostok international airport transitions to the "AIST"- Common Use Passenger Processing System
Vladivostok International Airport has transitioned to a Russian-made common-use airport infrastructure platform, "AIST", developed by Skolkovo Foundation resident, Neolabs .
The air gateway of the capital of the Far Eastern Federal District, amid the growing status of the region as a whole and the city of Vladivostok in particular, requires a special approach to the security, quality, and reliability of production processes that ensure the stable operation of this transport hub .
Denis Chmutov, Acting General Director of Vladivostok International Airport JSC: "Vladivostok International Airport, understanding its role in the transport accessibility and development of a strategic region, is systematically implementing a strategy of import substitution to ensure the airport's technological sovereignty from foreign software. One of the most complex and challenging steps in this process was transitioning the airport to a Russian-made common-use airport infrastructure platform — the "AIST" platform, developed by Skolkovo Foundation resident, Neolabs" .
The airport approached this process with great responsibility, fully understanding the importance and complexity of the project: preparations for the transition, testing the platform's operability with various departure control systems, and integrating it into the airport's information system architecture were carried out throughout most of 2022 . These measures made it possible to organize the migration of 60 workstations at check-in counters and boarding gates in a timely and systematic manner, ensuring a smooth transition to the new software and allowing the airport to navigate one of the busiest periods of the year, the New Year holidays, without disruptions or any decline in the quality of passenger services .
The implementation of the platform has qualitatively improved the operation and maintenance of related production systems. By integrating the "AIST" software with the "Special Control" passenger access control system, it was possible to eliminate the need for additional hardware modules at boarding gates (previously required for the passenger access control system to work with foreign CUTE/CUPPS platforms) and to eliminate the use of BSM telegrams for monitoring suspect baggage linked to passengers within the "Special Control" system .
Equally important is the preparation of the IT landscape of the airport's production systems for the subsequent implementation of advanced information technologies, primarily biometrics. The current architecture of the "AIST" and "Special Control" systems deployed at the airport allows for the connection of a biometric data provider for use within these systems without the need for structural software changes . A gradual transition to paperless passenger processing for formal airport checks based on biometric data should not only boost passenger satisfaction and convenience but also enhance security throughout the terminal complex .
Alexander Semchenko, General Director of Neolabs: "CUTE/CUPPS systems are involved in the processes of servicing passengers at check-in counters and boarding gates, meaning they directly impact the continuity and stability of the services the airport provides to airlines, which are critical to the business of both parties. That is precisely why replacing the platform provider is a painful process for an airport, fraught with significant financial and reputational risks. We are grateful to Vladivostok Airport for the high level of trust they placed in us, and for the dedication and support of the airport's departments. Thanks to them, we were able to jointly carry out this difficult migration process without any incidents, failures, and while maintaining a high level of passenger service quality" .