.svg){kind=logo}
.png)
John F. Kennedy International Airport is undergoing a transformation to accommodate 75 million passengers annually over the next decade. JFK Terminal One, managed by TOGA (a New York-based limited partnership of airlines Air France, Korean Air and Lufthansa), faced operational risks during construction, such as power outages and system failures, threatening critical passenger services like check-ins and boarding.
Challenge
To maintain uninterrupted services during system outages caused by construction, TOGA needed a reliable, independent backup solution for critical operations like check-ins, boarding, and baggage handling.
Solution
Ink DRS kept operations running. No infrastructure required
TOGA deployed Ink’s Disaster Recovery System (Ink DRS), a mobile-based backup system that operates independently of the airport’s primary infrastructure. DRS ensures that critical operations, including flight creation, passenger processing, and data integration with security and baggage systems, continue smoothly during outages.
Key features
Powerful backup system on-the-go
- Cold Backup mode: Automatically activates when primary systems fail, maintaining operations and sending buffered data to the host post-recovery.
- Mobile & cloud-based: Runs on 3G/4G/5G networks, independent of hardwired systems.
- Intuitive interface: Simple to use, allowing agents to quickly adapt in high-pressure environments.
- Scalable and flexible, adapting to high-volume demands with ease.
Implementation
Live tests proved Ink DRS’s reliability
Ink DRS was tested in a live environment and completed the Cold Backup flow, which included:
- Flight creation, seat assignments, and passenger registrations
- Processing special service requests (SSRs), APIS, and PNL data
- Integration with airport security and Baggage Reconciliation Systems (BRS)
- check-in and boarding processes, ensuring uninterrupted service during primary airport system outage.
Results
Faster processing, continuous service
- Check-in times: 30 seconds
- Boarding times: 6 seconds
- Agents trained to use the system in 45 minutes
- Peak processing rate: 50 passengers per hour.
"With the construction of JFK, we are urged to take practical actions to mitigate the risks of outages. Ink DRS is the only system we know that runs on tablets and mobile phones, independent of the airport infrastructure."
— Steve Rowland, Executive Director, JFK Terminal One
Trial results evaluation: 2023
