Mumbai: While self-service facilities at airports are picking up globally, in India it still needs a boost feel experts. Facilities like self check-in kiosks, baggage drops where passengers who web-check-in can drop their luggage at a designated point etc are still to take-off in India. Global IT solution provider SITA, which signed a 10-year long contract with Mumbai International Airport Pvt Ltd (MIAL), said that the self-service may increase when the new integrated terminal at Mumbai airport comes up.
Officials said that there are a lot of factors that go against self-service facilities in India even at major airports like Mumbai and Delhi. Firstly, as a culture, Indians like to be serviced by people. To add to that, labour comes very cheap in India compared to western countries. "This is why, airlines and airports don't mind recruiting more staff," said HaniEl-Assaad, president, middle east, India and Africa, SITA. "Also, if more technology comes in, jobs will get reduced. These issues have to be taken care of," he added.
21/02/13 Chinmayi Shalya/Times of India
