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As next generation solutions enhance security operations, a new future for airports is taking off, but what will this mean for passengers?  Greg David (), columnist for Crain’s New York () Business explored how Thales technologies are helping to shape the airports of the future in a Twitter chat with Alan Pellegrini, Thales North America CEO (). See the conversation below to learn how technology is empowering a more proactive security culture and creating a more efficient traveler experience at airports around the world.

Check out our to see the full conversation from the chat.

Greg kicks off the chat.

Thanks to everyone tuning in to today’s chat. I’ll be asking about the state of the city’s airports and their role in improving them with an emphasis on JFK International airport.

— GregDavid on NewYork (@GregDavidonNY)

Follow to see the conversation & especially to submit your own questions using the hashtag to have them answered live. You can also comment to share your thoughts. Look for responses signed ``--AP’’ to see answers from Alan Pellegrini, North American CEO.

— GregDavid on NewYork (@GregDavidonNY)

Question & answer 1:

What is your current role at JFK Airport and how does Thales fit into the plans for airport modernization?

— GregDavid on NewYork (@GregDavidonNY)

A1: (1/5) Thales is a global high-tech company operating in the aerospace, defense and security, transportation and digital identity markets. – AP

— Thales USA (@ThalesUSA)

A1: (2/5) Our broad global reach, technology diversity and digital transformation approach lets us see airports a little differently – they are only one part of a broader travel experience which begins at booking and ends at your destination. – AP

— Thales USA (@ThalesUSA)

A1: (3/5) This total travel experience is about individualization and personalization, giving customers choices, and offering technologies that enhance their entertainment or work experience. – AP

— Thales USA (@ThalesUSA)

A1: (4/5) That is what the customer expects in the car going to the airport, once inside the terminal, at the gate, and on the plane. – AP

— Thales USA (@ThalesUSA)

A1: (5/5) We have a role to play in each step of this journey, and in airports specifically we are working to provide a comprehensive curb-to-gate experience. – AP

— Thales USA (@ThalesUSA)

Question & answer 2:

What is your current role at JFK Airport and how does Thales fit into the plans for the airport modernization?

— GregDavid on NewYork (@GregDavidonNY)

A2: (1/4) At , we are the partner of choice for and we are working with them to enhance their security operations. – AP

— Thales USA (@ThalesUSA)

A2: (2/4) For New York to create the modern airport experience they desire, they need to focus just as much on the back-end technologies as the brick and mortar to enhance the passenger experience. And not just at . – AP

— Thales USA (@ThalesUSA)

A2: (3/4) Any airport wanting a modern airport experience need to be thinking about things like airport flow management, passenger experience applications and interfaces, logistics services, curb-to-gate connectivity and of course, security operations. – AP

— Thales USA (@ThalesUSA)

A2: (4/4) This is all one experience, connected by a series of digitally transformative technologies. – AP

— Thales USA (@ThalesUSA)

Question & answer 3:

How can an airport like JFK continue to increase capacity if new runways are not going to be built?

— GregDavid on NewYork (@GregDavidonNY)

A3: (1/3) The primary pathway to increasing capacity without new runways is through airspace modernization. – AP

— Thales USA (@ThalesUSA)

A3: (2/3) Around the globe there are major efforts underway to modernize airspace to gain efficiencies, reduce travel times and be more environmentally friendly. – AP

— Thales USA (@ThalesUSA)

A3: (3/3) The primary efforts are the ’ NextGen program in the U.S. and EASA’s SESAR program in Europe. – AP

— Thales USA (@ThalesUSA)

Question & answer 4:

PA Executive Director Rick Cotton noted at a recent Crain's breakfast that JFK airport scores low on customer satisfaction surveys. How does Thales fit in to improving those dismal scores.

— GregDavid on NewYork (@GregDavidonNY)

A4: (1/3) For any airport to be world-class, including JFK, they need to have the technological eyes and ears which are connected to every airport system inside and out. – AP

— Thales USA (@ThalesUSA)

A4: (2/3) For example, crowd density and chokepoints, baggage claim, gate boarding’s and disembarking’s, weather, taxi wait times, and even local airspace security. – AP

— Thales USA (@ThalesUSA)

A4: (3/3) Each has an impact on the total travel experience so being interconnected allows airports to anticipate issues before they happen and quickly resolve issues when they do. – AP

— Thales USA (@ThalesUSA)

Question & answer 5:

So when will passengers see the difference?

— GregDavid on NewYork (@GregDavidonNY)

A5: (1/4) This all depends on how quickly investments are realized. , Rick Cotton and the , airlines and airport managers clearly recognize we are living in a very different world today. – AP

— Thales USA (@ThalesUSA)

A5: (2/4) And to remain economically competitive with other major global cities they need to invest in their airports. – AP

— Thales USA (@ThalesUSA)

A5: (3/4) When you realize the challenge of passenger volumes, the incredible diversity of the passenger community, the logistics of being in the footprint of one of the largest cities in the world… (cont.) – AP

— Thales USA (@ThalesUSA)

A5: (4/4) … and where the largest terrorist attack on U.S. soil took place, I give these leaders a lot of credit for their modernization vision and investment commitments. – AP

— Thales USA (@ThalesUSA)

Question & answer 6:

Facial recognition technology is very controversial. Is Thales using it in its products and if so how?

— GregDavid on NewYork (@GregDavidonNY)

A6: (1/4) Yes, Thales is a leader in facial recognition technologies as we recently acquired a company called . – AP

— Thales USA (@ThalesUSA)

A6: (2/4) Our primary goal with this technology is to create a more seamless and convenient travel process by using it for aircraft boarding to confirm passengers without a paper or electronic ticket. – AP

— Thales USA (@ThalesUSA)

A6: (3/4) And in this case we see it as a matter of customer choice where customers op-in/op-out during check in. Biometrics and the ability to use artificial intelligence to enhance airport security is happening (cont.) – AP

— Thales USA (@ThalesUSA)

A6: (4/4) … and will continue to happen for improved convenience and security – one example of this is the CBP’s exit program. – AP

— Thales USA (@ThalesUSA)

Question & answer 7:

What is facial recognition technology gets banned? Does that compromise airport passenger security?

— GregDavid on NewYork (@GregDavidonNY)

A7: (1/3) Like any system that gathers data there is always some period of acceptance and adoption. – AP

— Thales USA (@ThalesUSA)

A7: (2/3) As the discussion advances it will have to be about striking the right balance between security, enhancing the customer experience, and being respectful of personal privacy. – AP

— Thales USA (@ThalesUSA)

A7: (3/3) If we do not adopt these types of technologies we will still be subjected to antiquated security practices which are in practice more invasive and have raised privacy issues in the past. – AP

— Thales USA (@ThalesUSA)

Question & answer 8:

We've seen drones become an issue at other airports. What can be done about physical security outside of an airport?

— GregDavid on NewYork (@GregDavidonNY)

A8: (1/7) Options are available to help protect critical infrastructure zones from unauthorized drone operations, including critical airspace around airports. – AP

— Thales USA (@ThalesUSA)

A8: (2/7) However, many considerations must be taken into account to effectively implement counter UAS systems that adequately, acceptably and without creating unintended consequences, help address the threat of unauthorized drone usage. – AP

— Thales USA (@ThalesUSA)

A8: (3/7) Today, many countries have laws and regulations in place that prevent certain drone countermeasure techniques – including jamming – from being deployed as they create secondary issues or are inappropriate for civilian environments. – AP

— Thales USA (@ThalesUSA)

A8: (4/7) Thales currently has a system in-place for Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport which uses holographic radar to provide 3D identification and tracking of drones up to 5 kilometers away (cont.) – AP

— Thales USA (@ThalesUSA)

A8: (5/7) … radio frequency detection to monitor their communications, and long-range infrared cameras to properly identify them so threats can be rapidly identified, analyzed, and neutralized. – AP

— Thales USA (@ThalesUSA)

A8: (6/7) Deployments of these types of solutions are a good first step for addressing unauthorized drone incursions because they help authorities limit the impact of unauthorized drone usage in critical infrastructure zones (cont.) – AP

— Thales USA (@ThalesUSA)

A8: (7/7) … for airports this can mean potentially reducing the closure of airspace from hours to minutes. – AP

— Thales USA (@ThalesUSA)

Question & answer 9:

Which airports around the world offer a better customer experience than JFK? What makes the biggest difference?

— GregDavid on NewYork (@GregDavidonNY)

A9: (1/3) If New York is looking for a technology benchmark, I’d recommend looking where we already operate to help created world-class terminals – Dubai, Singapore, Paris, Oman, Madrid and others. – AP

— Thales USA (@ThalesUSA)

A9: (2/3) The difference at these airports is they have been forward thinking about technologies and not just about physical assets or security, but about the passenger experience and total airport management. – AP

— Thales USA (@ThalesUSA)

A9: (3/3) The hard work is being done by Thales, and airports who want a modern experience simply need to realize the value proposition and take action. – AP

— Thales USA (@ThalesUSA)