Innovators at the ready: Passenger Technology Solutions launches new hackathon

Passenger Technology Solutions 2019 will feature the Pax Tech Hack – a challenge to help the aviation and rail industries enhance the passenger journey

As airlines, airports and rail businesses increasingly turn towards innovative new technologies to enhance the passenger experience, Passenger Technology Solutions (PTS) has today unveiled plans for its first ever hackathon. Live at the 2019 event in Hamburg, the Pax Tech Hack will see teams of international developers, designers and marketers battle it out to create revolutionary new solutions that will improve the end-to-end passenger journey.

Pax Tech Hack

Against the backdrop of Passenger Experience Week – a series of events for the aviation, rail and cruise sectors running from 1-4 April – the organisers will highlight several challenges that are currently facing the travel industry. Participating teams will be given just 48 hours to develop a functional concept, with a strong practical application, that will utilise new technologies to tackle issues and help shape the future of the global passenger experience industry.

With the first two days of the hackathon devoted to non-stop development, the teams will then be given an opportunity to present their working concepts to judges on the show floor. With an audience of passenger experience professionals from 250 airline and rail operators watching on, the winning team in each challenge will receive €5,000.

Passenger Technology Solutions – leading the innovation conversation

The race to develop and improve passenger experience has never been so fast-paced, with new technologies in the form of artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain and virtual reality (VR) transforming the way people travel. And as airlines prepare to increase investment in IT by 3.67%[1] as a percentage of their revenue, this is a prime time for PTS to launch its inaugural hackathon.

A key part of Passenger Experience Week 2019, PTS is collocated with three other events – Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX), World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTCE) and the Passenger Experience Conference (PEC). Together they bring together more than 18,900 attendees, including representatives from British Airways, American Airlines, Eurostar, Deutsche Bahn, Heathrow Airport and Via Rail Canada, making it the premier location for the aviation and rail industries to meet new suppliers and discuss the future of passenger experience.

PTS, now entering its second year, enables visitors to identify new technologies that will shape the future of the passenger journey and deliver a truly connected travel experience. The launch of the Pax Tech Hack will present developers with a unique opportunity to showcase their skills and creativity to key players in the aviation and rail industries, as well as enabling attendees to find even more innovation and insights during their trip to the show.

Passenger Technology Solutions (PTS) will move from the A Halls to the B4 Upper Hall of the Hamburg Messe when it returns to Passenger Experience Week from 2-4 April 2019.

The move positions the show closer to the popular Inflight Entertainment and Connectivity (IFEC) Zone in the co-located Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) and demonstrates the growing importance of big data analytics, machine learning, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Virtual Reality (VR) solutions in personalising the passenger experience and delivering innovative inflight entertainment services.

Archana Sharma, Exhibition Director, said:

“Pax Tech Hack is an exciting opportunity for dynamic developers to put their skills to the test and prove their creativity to key industry experts from around the world – it really is a fantastic stage for those looking to really impress the passenger experience market and of course to win a cash prize! We hope this competition will bring a whole new level of interest to what is already set to be the most jam-packed Passenger Technology Solutions show yet.”

Sponsorship opportunities

Sponsorship of the Pax Tech Hack challenges is open to any organisation in the passenger experience sector, including airlines, airports, rail, bus and coach operators. Sponsors will not only get an opportunity to shape the challenges, they can also take part in the judging process. For more information on becoming a sponsor, please contact Rameem Mohammed (rameem.mohammed@reedexpo.co.uk).

Registration for the Pax Tech Hack competition is open from 26 November 2018 until 1 April 2019. The hackathon will take place from 5.00pm, 2 April 2019 until 4.30pm, 4 April 2019. For full terms and conditions of the hackathon, visit paxtechhack.bemyapp.com.

For more information and to register your interest to attend, visit www.passengertechnologysolutions.com or join the conversation online:

Follow PTS on Twitter: https://twitter.com/PaxTechSolution #PTS2019 #PaxTechHack

Follow PTS on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paxtechsolutions/

Join us on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/passengertechnologysolutions

[1] SITA