Melbourne Airport trials self-boarding gates

Melbourne Airport is aiming to speed up its passenger flows with the trial of a new self-service boarding system.

In partnership with technology provider SITA, the airport now allows passengers departing from Terminal 2 to scan their boarding pass prior to boarding the aircraft, rather than have it checked manually.

Melbourne Airport will now measure speed and accuracy of this system, and its popularity with passengers, ahead of a potential wider roll-out. But the airport said that initial results are positive.

“SITA is committed to our technology partnership with Melbourne Airport which allows us to explore the potential benefits of services and plan the ideal solution implementation with the airport team. Moving forward, we are exploring how technology and innovative services can further improve the passenger experience and operations at Melbourne Airport,” said Ilya Gutlin, SITA’s president for Asia Pacific.

Melbourne Airport already uses SITA’s common-use platform, which includes self-service check-in kiosks and automated baggage drop stations. The self-boarding gates are the next step the automation process, and form part of IATA’s Fast Travel programme, which aims to save the industry up to US$2 billion per year.

“As Melbourne Airport focuses on optimising the efficient use of assets, technology and innovation play an increasing role in providing better customer service,” Melbourne Airport’s Michael Jarvis. “Working closely with expert vendors and service providers, like SITA, facilitates the testing of world-class solutions at Melbourne Airport and allows our passengers to be among the first to experience leading-edge technology that will improve their experience.”