San Antonio International Airport (SAT) recently became the first U.S. airport to implement a parking management system powered by artificial intelligence (AI). Developed and operated by the airport’s parking vendor Metropolis, the technology replaces traditional ticketing and payment methods with a fully automated platform designed to expedite the parking process and offer new features to improve the customer experience.
In mid-November, SAT announced the implementation of the new system, which employs camera-based vehicle recognition and automatic payment processing. To use the system, airport patrons first must create an account with Metropolis to facilitate automatic payments.
At the airport parking facility, “passengers will scan a QR code and connect their license plate to their method of payment, and quickly pay for parking via the Metropolis app,” according to a November 18 news release from SAT.
“Now, you just drive in and go,” said Alex Israel, the co-founder and chief executive officer of Metropolis, in an email to Parking Today. “Payments are handled automatically through your phone, eliminating tickets and lines.”
However, the system extends beyond parking, offering airport patrons a variety of options intended to simplify their travel experience, Israel said. Such options include “reservations to checkout-free parking and curbside check-in, delivering the seamless, tech-driven experience travelers have been demanding,” he noted.
One of the key features of the new system is its reservation functionality, which allows customers to book parking in advance. In addition, SAT’s parking facilities now offer on-site luggage check-in — a convenience designed to create a seamless transition between the garage and terminal.
“Passengers who park in on-site garages can check their bags at the tunnel connecting the short-term garage to the terminal, and bypass ticket counters,” Israel said. “They also have the option to print boarding passes there, expediting the process so they can avoid lines.”
“We are reimagining every touchpoint of the passenger journey, integrating AI-enabled computer vision in parking facilities with end-to-end solutions across reservations, check-in, valet, carwash services, ground transportation, and baggage management,” Israel said. “This creates a one-stop mobility platform that puts travelers at the center of the experience.”
“We’re pleased to introduce new services designed to guarantee parking space for passengers arriving at SAT, enhancing their overall travel experience,” said Jesus Saenz, SAT’s director of airports, in the November 18 release. “Our goal is to make every step of the journey as smooth as possible, and this initiative is yet another way we’re elevating support for our passengers.”
Jay Landers is the editor-in-chief of Parking Today magazine. He can be reached at jay@parkingtoday.com.
