Seamless technology systems set to recast airport experience

Bangalore: From before arriving at an airport to boarding a plane and reaching a destination, an array of electronic devices and systems are transforming the way people experience flying.
Some of these services such as remote check-in and faster turnaround of aircraft are already up and running, and many more, led by information technology (IT)-led integrated systems, are set to arrive soon.
The day is not far off when tagging luggage at home, faster and more efficient security checks, personalized updates, and even a custom-made shopping experience would be just par for the course.
As many as 12% of all air passengers will by 2013 check-in through cellphones, up from 2% now, predicted the Airline IT Trends Survey 2010. About 70% of airlines already sell or plan to sell tickets through mobile phones by 2013, it found.
The survey was conducted by Airline Business magazine and SITA, an air transport communications and IT firm.
The air transport industry will have to “rely on advance technology and communications solutions to handle the steady rise in passenger traffic and to resolve many of the challenges it faces today, such as congestion at check-in and security, lack of predictability, flights delays and mishandled baggage”, Ron Reed, director of airport services at SITA, wrote in the report.
02/02/11 Sridhar K. Chari/Live Mint

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Categories: Airports Feb 2011