BAA: Touchscreen machines increasing in number

Increasing number of passengers are making the airport experience simpler for themselves by making use of touchscreen machines, according to BAA.

A spokesperson for the airports operator said that there are a number of generic machines at hubs around the UK that allow fliers to carry out their own check-in procedures for their flights.

However he also explained that a number of major airlines are installing their own self-service machines as the trend becomes more popular.

"Virgin have their own [machine], British Airways have their own and United Airlines have their own," the spokesperson said.

"The feedback we're getting back from them is that significantly more and more people are using them. British Airways are expecting about 80 per cent of people will be checking in online or using self-service kiosks."

The BAA representative went on to explain that self-service facilities are becoming so important that modern airports are being designed around them.

Terminal Five at Heathrow Airport, which is scheduled to open on March 27th 2008, has been arranged to encourage as many passengers as possible to use touchscreen machines to check in.