Your future airport visit increasingly self-service
Fast-growing airport self-service is what you can expect in the near future, says a new global survey.
In fact, a large majority of the world’s leading airport operators intend to make self- service their primary channel for check-in, says the 6th annual SITA Airport IT Trends survey.
Said Catherine Mayer, SITA Vice President for Airports:
“This year’s survey confirms that self-service is a global trend with almost 80 percent of respondents planning to make it the primary means for check-in by 2010 as is already the case at 40 percent of the world’s top 100 airports.”
Almost two-thirds of all airports already have check-in kiosks which will further increase to 90 percent by 2012.
And a majority of 52 percent also rated the introduction of “electronic documents” as the technology which will have the most significant impact at airports in the near future. That will initially be driven by the adoption of bar-coded boarding passes sent directly to mobile phones – a key enabler for real paperless travel.
The survey also found that IT budgets for airports in 2008 were largely unaffected by the global economic downturn.
The world airport IT industry is estimated to be worth $3 billion and 45 percent of this year’s survey respondents expect an increase in budget in 2010 while only 14 percent expect a lower budget.
Other future numbers from the survey showing accelerated automation:
 Common bag-drop locations – 12 percent today to 48 percent by 2012.
 Automated boarding gates — 8 percent today to 42 percent by 2012.
 Self-service kiosk for passenger transfer services — 11 percent today to 39 percent by 2012.
 Self service kiosk to report lost baggage — 5 percent today to 36 percent by 2012.
The survey was co-sponsored by Airline Business and the Airports Council International.
By David Wilkening
David
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Skyscanner reveals major travel trends 2026 at ITB Asia
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
In Italy, the Meloni government congratulates itself for its tourism achievements