DUBAI // Airplane passengers in the UAE will soon be able to check in with boarding passes texted to their mobile phones, an industry magazine has reported.
Abu Dhabi and Sharjah international airports are among 1,400 worldwide to adopt the Bar Code Boarding Pass (BCBP) system, expected to be implemented in 2012, according to a study by the IT company SITA carried in Air Transport World magazine.
Boarding passes will be sent directly to a passenger's mobile phone, eliminating the need to print any documents. The passenger would just pass through a scanner that would read their "m-boarding" pass, which can be issued by SMS.
Those travelling with only hand luggage will not have to queue at a counter at all.
The UAE has pioneered mobile technology for so called "m-visas", a paperless entry system for those visiting from countries that are not part of the visa waiver programme.
It has also led the world in the implementation of biometric technology, such as iris scanners, e-gates and e-passports for air travellers.
The introduction of automated self-serve kiosks in 2007 has doubled the number of passengers processed per hour.
Rico Barandun, head of e-services at Swissport, a company that manages automated airport check-ins in Switzerland, said in the report that new technologies such as BCBP would free airports from worrying about checking-in procedures and allow them to focus on maximising entertainment and retail revenue.
The study, which also surveyed more than 2,000 passengers at six of the world's major airports, found that travellers are becoming accustomed to automated border controls, with 58 per cent reporting their experiences as positive, a nine per cent increase over 2007. However, 62 per cent said they wanted even shorter queues at border controls. Almost half - 45 per cent - were positive about the introduction of mobile check-in services.
The report's authors said the results indicated that "an initial scepticism of supplying personal data for biometric checks has been offset by the benefits of a quicker, less stressful airport experience".
Almost a third of the world's airports currently offer a flight status notification system vis SMS message, a figure expected to double by 2012.
The drive for further automation has been endorsed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which represents the industry.
IATA estimates that the switch to BCBP could save the industry up to US$1.5 billion (Dh5.5bn) a year.
tbrooks@thenational.ae
THE SPECS
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Power: 626bhp
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On sale: Q1 2020
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The bio
Who inspires you?
I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist
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Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.
What is favourite book?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times
What is your favourite Arabic film?
Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki
What is favourite English film?
Mamma Mia
Best piece of advice to someone looking for a career at Google?
If you’re interested in a career at Google, deep dive into the different career paths and pinpoint the space you want to join. When you know your space, you’re likely to identify the skills you need to develop.
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COMPANY PROFILE
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Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
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Sector: Water technology
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Investment raised: $4 million
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Future plan: Raise $1.5m and enter Saudi Arabia next year
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The%20specs
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Director Ashutosh Gowariker
Produced Ashutosh Gowariker, Rohit Shelatkar, Reliance Entertainment
Cast Arjun Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Kriti Sanon, Mohnish Behl, Padmini Kolhapure, Zeenat Aman
Rating 3 /5 stars