Bangalore International Airport, Microsoft launch hackathon to develop super app for passengers

Bengaluru: To foster technology-led innovation and seamless passenger experiences, Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), operator of Kempegowda International Airport, has partnered with Microsoft India for the 'BIAL Genie Hackathon' to develop an app using Microsoft Azure. The hackathon invites professional developers, data scientists, data engineers and hackathon enthusiasts to participate in this challenge and design innovative solutions that will improve the end-to-end passenger experience at BLR Airport.

The hackathon commenced on October 27 will end on January 21, 2022. It will allow developers to leverage a wide array of Microsoft Azure services to improve a passenger's experience across different stages of their journey – starting from planning the journey and boarding the flight to arriving at their destination.

Following the hackathon, developers will showcase their solutions and shortlisted participants will submit their prototypes with all supporting documents which will be evaluated by the jury. Shortlisted teams will be provided Azure credits, technical resources, and mentoring sessions by Microsoft subject matter experts (SMEs). The winning teams will be announced on January 24, 2022, with the winner and runner up being awarded cash rewards of INR 1.5 lakh and INR 1 lakh respectively.

This initiative is in line with BIAL's consistent efforts to develop a superior customer service that enables passengers to have a simple, seamless, and engaging travel journey while flying through BLR Airport. BIAL has been the recipient of multiple awards including Airports Council International (ACI) Airport Service Quality and the prestigious ACI Director General's Roll of Excellence for 2020.

Commenting on the partnership with Microsoft, George Fanthome, Chief Information Officer, BIAL, said, "At BIAL, we are embedding innovative technologies across BLR Airport to continuously introduce solutions through a digital transformation of our airport operations. We are excited to partner with Microsoft to conduct the BIAL Genie Hackathon which will help us in developing new solutions that deliver seamless passenger experiences."

Shivir Chordia, Azure Business Group Lead, Microsoft India, said, ''Empowering more people to unleash their potential remains a priority at Microsoft. We are delighted to partner with BIAL for the Genie Hackathon – an opportunity for programmers and developers to use Azure's cloud computing technology and design a unique and comfortable passenger experience that will transform the travel experience for next generation travellers."