Page 34 - AAA JULY - AUGUST 2014 Online Magazine

FEATURE CHANGI AIRPORT

Four self-service kiosks,
from Swiss company SITA,
were set up alongside
two bag drop counters
at Jetstar Asia’s aisle in
Changi Airport Terminal 1

CAG explains the programs below: boarding pass at the self-boarding gate helping us to focus on costs and pass on
readers, before the system opens the flap the savings to our customers through
Passenger Reconciliation System (PRS) barriers and allows them to pass through. low fares.”
Under PRS, passengers with no check-in Self-boarding gates have helped to reduce Self-tagging of baggage is common in
luggage and no visa requirements can print the boarding time for a full load of A380 most European and American airports;
their boarding pass from home and proceed aircraft as seen from Changi’s rollout with while self-drop off is relatively new.
directly to departure immigration instead of Lufthansa, which is the sole operator of Amsterdam Schiphol is one of the earlier
having to queue up at the check-in counters. the program thus far. pioneers, partnering with Dutch Airline
Airlines on PRS can also further develop Changi Airport Group clarified that KLM as early as 2008. Dutch company,
their software to enable the processing the implementation of full self-service BagDrop BV, powers the Dutch system.
of passengers using their mobile phone systems would not reduce hospitality in Malaysia’s AirAsia is also looking
boarding pass. Airlines currently on PRS Changi Airport. to launch their self-service drop off
include Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, “Implementation of self-service towards the end of this year at the KLIA
Jetstar Asia, and Tigerair. initiatives runs in line with the renowned 2 Terminal.
Changi experience. With self-service However, FAST@Changi does have its
Self Check-in Kiosks facilities, check-in agents will now be own obstacles, “FAST travel is relatively
Self check-in kiosks allow passengers to available to actively assist passengers new in this part of the world, and hence,
check in, print their own boarding pass on their check-in process and to engage less-travelled passengers may be
and their own bag tags (only for Jetstar passengers to offer a more positive apprehensive in embracing this. With
Asia). This will give passengers more experience,” the CAG official said. that in mind, agents are on hand to help
flexibility and convenience over his/her The new self-service bag drop off passengers through the new process,”
check-in process. In the long term, when further complements Jetstar Asia’s the CAG spokesperson said.
passengers are more familiar with self ‘Straight to Gate”, previously only applies “But in line with the wider global
check-in and self tagging processes, to passengers with carry-on baggage. trend towards the adoption of FAST
there will be greater productivity gains “Jetstar Asia will be the first airline in initiatives, we believe that passengers
with more optimal use of resources and Singapore to be working with Changi will gradually gain more familiarity on
enhanced operational efficiency. Airlines Airport on a self check-in kiosks and the system.
currently on board the self check-in kiosks bag-drop service for our savvy customers He also commented that many
are Air France, KLM, United Airlines, Delta who expect innovative solutions from airlines have expressed strong interest
Airlines, and Jetstar Asia. Jetstar to make travel even easier and to move to self -service options and are
more accessible” said CEO, Jetstar Asia, looking to have more such kiosks.
Self Boarding Gates Barathan Pasupathi.
Self-boarding gates improve productivity “The self-service offering will
and efficiency by automating the boarding streamline our operations and increase
process. Passengers have to tap their productivity at the check-in counters,
34 ASIAN AIRLINES & AIRPORTS JULY / AUGUST 2014 WWW.ASIANAIRLINES-AIRPORTS.COM