Self-service options 'becoming more popular'

Self-service facilities that make travellers' airport experiences more straightforward are becoming increasingly popular, according to research.

Technology company Sita surveyed 100 airlines and found that over half now enable their customers to check in online and 89 per cent expect to offer the facility in the next two years.

Over a fifth of the passengers using the carriers in the poll made use of internet check-in options and this ratio is predicted to rise to over a third by the end of 2008.

Paul Coby, chairman of Sita, said: "Airlines are increasingly using web check-in because they want to make travel easier for their passengers. What could be simpler than going online and checking yourself in?

"Furthermore, it's relatively easy to deploy and saves cost, so it's a win-win for both passengers and airlines."

Among the air operators surveyed, all low-cost carriers reported 100 per cent implementation of web check-in, as did the top 25 passenger-carrying airlines.

Another facility that is proving popular is the self-service kiosk, which allows travellers to avoid queues at airports. Some 37 per cent of travellers are expected to makes use of these this year, rising to 49 per cent in 2008.

Posted by Graham Greenaway on the 18/10/2007 16:49:18
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