One of the technologies we are seeing being trialled and deployed in airports is robotic assistants. The humanoid robots are positioned around the airport terminal assisting passengers with queries and information. By making use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning, the robots can process large amounts of data, with real-time updates to enable them to provide the latest information to passengers. This technology is starting to be used in some select airports but for different functions. Munich Airport in Germany is using robotic assistants primarily for information.

Companies that are able to adapt to a world where innovation is increasingly driven by machine learning, or artificial intelligence more broadly, are the ones that will come out the other end of the tunnel and thrive, according to Oliver Rees, GM of Torque Data at Virgin Australia. Rees, whose data analytics consultancy firm Torque Data was acquired by Virgin Australia in 2015, told ZDNet that one of its tasks has been "reengineering [Virgin's] analytical capability", ensuring the airline is well-prepared to embrace the opportunities that are offered by machine learning. While not new to machine learning, Virgin Australia has been seeking better methods of developing, applying, and assessing machine learning algorithms, recently turning to Massachusetts-based company DataRobot, which operates on the belief that automated machine learning will not only increase productivity for data scientists, but also open up the world of data science. Rees told ZDNet that Torque, as the data analytics arm of Virgin, has been investigating ways to improve customer experience for members of Virgin's Velocity Frequent Flyer loyalty program. "We want people within our program to be able to redeem points for great experiences, and to do that, we want to be able to better predict when is the best time for particular people to redeem points and what should they be redeeming them against," Rees said.