AirAsia's GTR Unveils Malaysia’s First Digital Airport Control Centre

SEPANG (Selangor, Malaysia) Nov 12 (Bernama) -- AirAsia’s ground handling services company Ground Team Red Sdn Bhd (GTR) has unveiled its digital airport control centre at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, the first of its kind in Malaysia. The fully digitalised control centre will allow GTR to track aircraft handling by converging real time digital information on passenger boarding, baggage reconciliation and ramp loading activities through a digital dashboard, with an aircraft turnaround target of 25 minutes. AirAsia Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tony Fernandes said by digitalising the operations, guest services personnel would be able to use a smartphone to execute the gate boarding process, allowing the staff to board passengers conveniently, while tracking the gate boarding process in real time efficiently and accurately. The same smartphones would also be used at the baggage carousel for baggage reconciliation, while the e-readback ramp loading system would provide an organised view of all baggage and cargo loads for the flight, he said. “This will improve safety by ensuring 100 per cent accurate aircraft weight and balance readings for flight planning purposes and eliminate paper-based loading instructions which are difficult to manage at night and in bad weather conditions,” he said at the launch of the control centre by Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook Monday. GTR CEO Kevin Chin, who briefed Loke on the operations, said the company had set aside RM35 million to improve service delivery, encompassing Guest Happiness, cargo, and ramp operations. "This control centre is part of this investment in the reformation and innovation of our ground handling operations," he said. GTR was established in 2017 as a joint venture between AirAsia Bhd and Singapore’s SATS Ltd to provide a comprehensive range of ground handling services. Speaking to reporters after the launch, Loke said the innovation by GTR would greatly contribute to an effective workflow which in turn would benefit travellers by providing them with a seamless travel experience. “I have always emphasised the need to improve operational efficiencies and elevating service level at the airport,” he added. -- BERNAMA