More web check-ins, airport kiosks…………..
A report in The Australian says that Jetstar will introduce internet check-in and airport kiosks from next month, while looking at ways to automate luggage drop-off.
The airline has signed a $3 million agreement with IBM to introduce check-in kiosks at Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Avalon airports and says it could extend the system to other airports.
The first of 32 airport check-in kiosks is to open at Melbourne airport in time for the Melbourne Cup. Web check-in will be introduced at the same time.
Kiosks at the other three airports are expected to be operating before the end of the year.
The strategy puts Jetstar on a par with Qantas and competitor Virgin Blue and will help it handle a 40 per cent growth in capacity as it takes delivery of nine additional Airbus A320s by March 2009.
While the airline says the roll-out will not mean the loss of existing jobs, it will allow it to cope with the big increases in passenger load, while keeping costs low by significantly reducing the number of additional people it needs to hire.
Jetstar spokesman Simon Westaway said Melbourne had been chosen for the roll-out because significant growth at the terminal in recent years had put pressure on check-in facilities.
“Overseas, web check-in at low-cost airlines is between 40 per cent and 70 per cent (of all check-ins),” he said.
“Australians are very tech-savvy and the vast majority have access to high-speed internet either at work or at home.
“We think it will be a very appealing product.”
The airline is also looking at other ways it can use technology to streamline the check-in process, including simplifying the process of dropping off luggage.
Mr Westaway said the airline was looking at how it could make check-in even more seamless and faster for passengers. “We’ve got a big throughput at our airports and we want to make processing times even quicker than what they are now,” he said. “But we want the customer experience to be a positive one.”
Jetstar general manager IT Stephen Tame said IBM would help the airline identify ways of using the technology to help it cope with growth and to differentiate Jetstar from competitors.
He said the airline planned to have the kiosk and web check-in facilities rolled out before the busy Christmas period.
Report by The Mole and The Australian
John Alwyn-Jones
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