Lufthansa Group member Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) announced on Tuesday, April 4th, that it plans to run a three-month trial to count passengers using artificial intelligence (AI). The trial aims to reduce the workload of the cabin crew while enhancing security.

No more FAs with 'counter-clickers'?

You may or may not have the procedure before aircraft pushback and takeoff: the final passenger headcount. Doing this ensures the correct number of passengers onboard the aircraft - a figure that should match the number listed on the flight manifest. This helps to weed out any purposeful or accidental stowaways or raise the issue of missing passengers. The headcount is typically conducted by having a flight attendant walk up and down the aisle with a handheld 'counter-clicker' Each time a passenger is spotted, a button is pushed, and the count is registered on the small device.

Swiss A321 cabin
Photo: SWISS

SWISS hopes to alleviate cabin crew of this responsibility using AI. As the airline states, "the digitalization of the passenger count procedure is intended to enhance security and simultaneously ease the workload of the airline’s cabin personnel."

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How (and when) will SWISS do it?

According to the airline, selected SWISS flights from Zurich between April and June will see a camera temporarily installed in the cabin for the boarding process. This camera will record passengers as they embark and determine their total numbers. The recordings and airline notes will train the AI application in boarding.

As we've learned from seeing footage of "self-driving" Tesla cars getting into horrible accidents, AI has a long way to go before it can be trusted with specific duties. Is the process of counting passengers a simple enough task? SWISS notes that the system must pass a few 'tests' to be considered successful. This includes the ability to distinguish whether a passenger is carrying an infant in their arms and "must also function faultlessly even in challenging lighting conditions."

Swiss a320
Photo: SWISS

The airline notes that results will be "constantly analyzed" during this three-month-long trial phase to improve reliability. Additionally, since the next few months will be a trial, the manual, conventional headcount procedure will also be conducted. Following the trial, SWISS will analyze the results and decide if this method should be introduced.

Privacy assured

In its official statement, the airline emphasized that passengers' privacy will be protected, as it "attaches the highest importance to data security and data protection." All the recordings, the airline says, "will be processed in full compliance with the strict European (GDPR) and Swiss (FADP) data protection provisions, and will then be deleted."

Passengers on relevant flights will be informed of the trial before boarding, and the airline states that no one will be identified from the images captured. Audio will not be collected as part of the process.

So how do you think this AI trial will do? Can you think of any boarding conditions or scenarios that might 'trick' or 'confuse' AI? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment below!

  • Swiss Airbus A330-343 HB-JHJ (3)
    SWISS
    IATA/ICAO Code:
    LX/SWR
    Airline Type:
    Full Service Carrier
    Hub(s):
    Zurich Airport
    Year Founded:
    2002
    Alliance:
    Star Alliance
    Airline Group:
    Lufthansa Group
    CEO:
    Dieter Vranckx
    Country:
    Switzerland