Despite the tighter security and higher cost of travel, the congestion at airports around the world is still an issue. Two extremely busy airports in Indonesia are testing new check-in services that are addressing the congestion issue, hoping to improve the traveler experience with the use of
wireless connectivity.
During non-peak hours, the busiest airports can look like ghost towns. But during peak congestion, the terminals are packed like sold out rock shows. Most airlines are limited in how much counter space they have, and budgets aren’t allowing for expansions, so the flyers are relegated to packing themselves in long lines as they wait to check in.
Airports bear a striking similarity to
network traffic during peak hours. And unlike telecommunications networks that can rely on small cells to handle the overflow, airports don’t have the flexibility. It’s a problem. A solution called Mobicheck, which uses wireless connectivity to check passengers in quickly and easily, is being explored as a solution to the congestion problem.
With the wireless connectivity technology in the Mobicheck system, the agents can roam around the packed terminals and service customers wherever they want. This type of flexibility has been found to help reduce the frustrations that flyers face when they fly at peak times. The queues are shorter and their terminal experience is a much more positive one.
The check-in desk on wheels solves the space issue, too. It can be pulled out of a storage closet when needed and stored away when the peak hours fade away. And the service isn’t based on one airline or the other.
The wireless connectivity technology can be used by any airline signed up with the common-use check-in system, which is a solution designed to be used for the entire airport. The service has been found to reduce the number of flight delays as customers are filtering through the check-in system faster.
SITA, a multinational information technology company that provides IT and telecommunication services to the airline industry, worked with the airports in Indonesia to help establish the wireless connectivity service used in the mobile check-in solution. The relationship between them spans around 15 years.
But SITA has a reputation that extends around the world as a leading communications specialist. The managed business solutions often require wireless connectivity, and SITA is uniquely positioned to establish that connectivity. SITA’s solutions are actually considered the backbone of the global air transport industry. The company’s services extend to more than 500 industries related to air transport in more than 200 countries. SITA has been around for more than 60 years and has revenues estimated at $1.5 billion.
Even as communication innovations continue to emerge that allow for travel reductions, face-to-face meetings still play a vital role in the corporate relationship structure, especially in multimillion dollar deals. A global economy demands global travel. As these numbers continue to increase, so too
does the demand for wireless connectivity to streamline congestion.
Edited by Jamie Epstein