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News Archive |
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Sunday, 11 July 2010
The Salt Lake (City) Tribune: Delta Airlines unveiled a renovated check-in lobby at Salt Lake City International Airport that's expected to speed passengers and their luggage to gates. The airline added four check-in positions, bringing the total number to 30. Above the check-in positions are audiovisual electronic screens that direct passengers to available ticket agents. Nine baggage-drop areas also were added for customers checking in online or at kiosks.
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Saturday, 24 April 2010
ANNAPOLIS, Md. · British-owned airports operator Manchester Airports Group has ordered an additional 22 SelfServ common use self-service (CUSS) kiosks from ARINC Inc. The airport group operates 70 SelfServ passenger kiosks, which were installed last year.
According to a news release, ARINC is expected to install the new units by June 2007.
Thirteen airlines share the SelfServ kiosks, which are located at the group's flagship Manchester Airport and two other U.K. airports. Sharing CUSS kiosks saves costs for airlines and gives reduced check-in times for passengers. The kiosks scan passports and print boarding passes for any participating airline.
The Manchester Airports Group, comprised of Manchester, East Midlands, Bournemouth and Humberside airports, is the second-largest airport operator in the United Kingdom. Manchester Airport is the country's third-largest airport, handling 22 million passengers a year.
Monday, 18 January 2010
LAS VEGAS · 3M will use the Check-in at 07 show in Las Vegas to showcase its next-generation full-page document scanners for kiosks.
According to a news release, the new 3M Kiosk Full Page Readers and 3M Kiosk ePassport Readers are designed for integration into the latest generation of common use self-service (CUSS) kiosks.
Used to facilitate the check-in process for airlines, hotels and car rental agencies, as well as to automate identity processing for frequent travelers and automated border control points, the new readers will offer the combined technical capabilities of 3M and Rochford Thompson in a reduced footprint. This size reduction is especially important for the latest designs of counter-top kiosks, the companies say.
Sunday, 17 January 2010
The (Malaysia) Star Online: Malaysia Airlines is deploying self-service check-in kiosks in an effort to comply with the International Air Transport Association's mandate for all air travel to be ticketless by the end of 2007.
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Monday, 23 November 2009
According to a report from Business Travel News, the United States Department of Homeland Security has proposed to make its test Global Entry kiosk program permanent in 2010. The program was launched in June 2008 and has expanded to 20 U.S. airports, including international hubs in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and New York.
Travelers can pay a $100 enrollment fee to participate in the Global Entry program, which uses touchscreen kiosks and biometric identification technology to expedite the customs and security process for international travelers.
The DHS' proposal to make the program permanent is now under a public comment period until Jan. 19, the report says.
Tuesday, 27 October 2009
Acire Inc., a provider of community-based information systems, has announced the completion of a public communications kiosk network designed and integrated for Long Beach Transit in Long Beach, Calif.
According to a news release from Acire, the information system includes a centralized, Web-based content delivery system that delivers transit schedules, real-time bus arrival details, dynamic trip planning with personal travel itineraries, rider alerts and other transit system information.
Carrie Sabel, manager of information systems for Long Beach Transit, says customers have reacted well to the new kiosk system thus far:
"We wanted to provide our customers with reliable system information 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so we implemented the system at a touchscreen kiosk. Our customers now have an information resource at their fingertips. So far, we've received very positive feedback from system users."
Thursday, 22 October 2009
Ticketmaster has announced a multiyear extension of its partnership with Honolulu's Neal S. Blaisdell complex that will involve the installation of several touchscreen ticketing kiosks. The Neal S. Blaisdell complex includes venues such as Blaisdell Arena, Blaisdell Concert Hall and the Waikiki Shell.
Ticketmaster says its touchscreen kiosks enable users to securely purchase event tickets 24 hours a day and pick up tickets already purchased online or by telephone. The company says the kiosks have an average transaction time of less than three minutes.
Shirley Alexander, general manager of Ticketmaster Hawaii, says the partnership established the company's dedication to tourism in the Hawaiian Islands:
We are pleased to extend our longstanding partnership with the city and county of Honolulu's premier venues in order to promote live entertainment in Honolulu, as well as tourism on the islands in general. While expanding this alliance, we intend to broaden Ticketmaster's reach even further by building upon our partnerships with the Hawaii Visitors Bureau and others so that, in the long run, we will all benefit from this relationship.
Monday, 12 October 2009
Radio New Zealand reports that a "widespread" computer glitch on Air New Zealand's check-in kiosks and call-in center and online-booking systems affected 10,000 airline passengers Sunday.
According to the report, the systems, which are provided by IBM, were down for more than six hours, causing serious issues for travelers as a school holiday came to an end:
The company's short haul airlines manager Bruce Parton describes the situation as a "full-blown system meltdown," never seen before. He says computer company IBM's performance has fallen well short of expectation. … Mr. Parton says at this stage, Air New Zealand does not know what caused the disruption, and the company will address that with IBM on Monday.
Air New Zealand spent $30 million to deploy the self-check-in kiosks last November, the report says.
Friday, 18 September 2009
VeriFone Holdings Inc. has announced the first Washington, D.C.-area deployment of its VeriFone Transportation Systems passenger information modules, which are self-service payment and digital display stations for use in taxis.
According to a news release from VeriFone, the deployment is with Barwood Taxi of Kensington, which handles approximately 1.2 million rides each year.
Lee Barnes, president and chief executive of Barwood Taxi, says riders have come to expect the time-saving technology:
Offering a self-service payment option is a mark of good customer service today. VeriFone's technology will enhance passengers' experience with Barwood and save time for both customers and drivers.
Barwood will deploy 200 of the terminals and plans to have them in its entire fleet of 435 taxis by the end of the year, the news release says.
Friday, 18 September 2009
The San Francisco International Airport has announced the debut of its "Climate Passport" kiosks, which offer travelers a way to calculate the carbon footprint of the flights and purchase carbon offsets to benefit environmental efforts in San Francisco and California.
According to a news release from the airport, it is working with 3Degrees, a San Francisco-based carbon and renewable energy marketing firm that will manage the sourcing of the purchased carbon offsets and ensure the corresponding reduction of greenhouse gases.
San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom says the initiative, which is the first of its kind in the United States, also will have an economic impact on the city:
We created a program that enables travelers to voluntarily offset the emissions from their trip through supporting local projects that reduce greenhouse gases. The Climate Passport kiosks are good for the climate and good for San Francisco's economy.
In addition to the on-site kiosks, which are located in the airport's international terminal and terminal three, travelers can access the Climate Passport program through the facility's Web site, flysfo.com.
Thursday, 17 September 2009
According to an announcement from NCR Corp., US Airways will be the first airline to deploy NCR's TouchPort 80 outdoor passenger check-in kiosk. NCR says the airline will deploy 54 of the kiosks in 15 U.S. cities and St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
The TouchPort 80 features a rugged design for curbside deployment, with a water-resistant enclosure and an integrated thermoelectric device to regulate the kiosk's temperature.
Theresa Heinz, vice president and general manager of NCR Travel and Gaming, says the curbside kiosks will give US Airways an edge among consumers who have come to expect self-service wherever they go:
By extending the self-service convenience to travelers outside of the airport, US Airways is further differentiating itself among increasingly discerning consumers who expect to serve themselves how, where and when they choose.
NCR says its self-service check-in kiosks are installed at more than 300 airports globally.
Friday, 11 September 2009
In an announcement that Pilot Travel Centers, the largest United States travel center operator, will deploy NCR Corp.'s new advanced point-of-sale solution in its locations nationwide, NCR also has announced the deployment of its self-service kiosks in every Pilot store:
In addition to the checkout, NCR POS technology is utilized in Pilot's restaurants, and NCR self-service kiosks are available in every Pilot store. One kiosk serves as a Truck Driver Kiosk, enabling truck drivers to obtain receipts for many of their transactions in the Pilot store without having to wait in line at the checkout. A second kiosk in each Pilot store is dedicated to human resources applications.
Pilot Travel Centers operates 306 stores in 29 U.S. states.
Friday, 14 August 2009
Parabit Systems has announced it won a $2 million contract to manufacture, install and maintain 13 digital display kiosks at all AirTain stations throughout John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. According to a news release from Parabit, the kiosks will provide information for travelers about all New York Metro mass-transit systems.
Wednesday, 29 July 2009
According to Minneapolis “Examiner" Mark Friedman, Southwest Airlines has added advanced features to its airport check-in kiosks. Friedman says Southwest travelers now can modify flight itineraries, change flights and add themselves to stand-by lists at the kiosks on the days of their flights.
Friedman reports the airline also has made premium services and upgrades available on the kiosks:
"Additionally, full-fare passengers who have unrestricted reservations can now upgrade to Business Select, Southwest’s premium booking category, which includes priority boarding, bonus Rapid Rewards frequent traveler credits, access to the “Fly By” priority security screening lane, where available, and a complimentary in-flight beverage of their choice."
Thursday, 16 July 2009
The Bangkok Post: In a partnership with CAT telecom, Thailand’s Suvarnabhumi Airport will install more than 120 high-speed Internet kiosks featuring 10 Mbps service for no charge to travelers. The project is part of the airport’s effort to rank among the world's top 10 airports by the end of the year, said Sereerat Prasutanont, the president of Airports of Thailand PLC. The kiosks will be available for both international and domestic travelers. Four terminals already have already been installed.
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Tuesday, 14 July 2009
SHENZHEN, China — Universal Travel Group, a travel services provider in the People's Republic of China, today announced it has increased the number of its TRIPEASY kiosks to more than 200 and significantly expanded its coverage in the Guangdong province in the second quarter of 2009 through strategic partnerships with multiple property-management companies. Universal Travel Group specializes in online and customer representative services to the travel service industry, offering packaged tours, air ticketing and hotel reservation services.
According to a news release, the TRIPEASY kiosk’s initial development and expansion phase, begun earlier this year, was well received by the public. Universal plans to rapidly distribute the TRIPEASY kiosks in Xi'an, Chongqing and Hong Kong throughout 2009.
"TRIPEASY kiosks will be an important market trend indicator and revenue source for Universal Travel Group in the future," said Jiangping Jiang, chairwoman and CEO of Universal Travel Group. "We will leverage our brand equity and awareness in Shenzhen to further expand our market share into other major cities with additional kiosk distribution."
Tuesday, 07 July 2009
The New York Times: Thousands of United Airlines travelers were delayed unexpectedly Thursday as the result of a computer problem that hit the airline’s self-check-in kiosks at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago. Flights were canceled throughout the morning, and those that took off were delayed an average of 45 minutes. Although not a peak travel time like Christmas or Thanksgiving, the Fourth of July is one of the busiest periods for airlines. Because O’Hare is a major hub, the problems spread to other airports across the country.
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Tuesday, 07 July 2009
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Upstart airline and airport specialist media firm InterAir Media has announced a year-long contract with Hotels.com for its airport media placement in Las Vegas' McCarron Airport, which is now on display. The approximately $750,000 media buy includes branded ticketing kiosks, advertising on the back of the boarding passes delivered by the kiosks, and wall wraps. The campaign will last 12 months.
InterAir estimates the number of consumer impressions will include 7.6 million tickets, two million views of branded kiosks, and 47 million will view the four wall wraps for a total of 56.6 million views in a single airport.
"We are very pleased to be able to show a major advertiser like Hotels.com that their exposure to the right audience is virtually guaranteed by advertising in this manner at an airport," said Drew Stoddard, founder and president of InterAir Media. "This firmly places Hotels.com's brand in the hands — and minds — of flyers."
Wednesday, 24 June 2009
AVweb: Verified Identity Pass, the company that operates the Clear security-screening kiosks at about 20 major U.S. airports, announced it is shutting down Monday, forcing its customers to shuffle shoeless with the masses through the regular security lines. In a statement, the company said it couldn't reach a deal with its senior creditor to keep going. About 250,000 customers had paid up to $199 a year to zip through using the lines for the segregated kiosks, which used retinal scans and fingerprints to verify the identity of travelers whose security background information was on a database. The company says the private information will be deleted securely but, unfortunately, so will the fees that have been paid.
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Thursday, 18 June 2009
CHICAGO — Flyte Systems, a provider of airport travel information displays and digital signage content for the hospitality industry, convention centers and related businesses, has announced it will launch its newest FlyteTouch PLUS system with local traffic, weather and other essential travel information enhancements for hotel guests. Currently, FlyteTouch provides real-time, airport flight information on an easy-to-use touchscreen panel.
According to a news release, FlyteTouch PLUS delivers total end-to-end travel information that gives guests greater confidence in their travel plans and enables hotels and other travel companies to stand out from competitors. The system is available with either a desktop or large touchscreen display. The new FlyteTouch PLUS system provides instant touchscreen flight information for one or more airports and offers multiple travel information modules including:
• Boarding pass printing
• Real-time local Doppler weather radar display
• Local traffic condition updates
• Regional train or bus schedules
• Evacuation procedures
• First-responder directives
"Flyte Systems developed the new FlyteTouch PLUS travel information system based on its work with hundreds of hotels and other businesses to deliver the total travel system guests are asking for," said Brian Reynolds, president of Flyte Systems. "Our real-time airport flight information displays and kiosks provide a valuable service to travelers, and now we are enhancing our services to deliver local information on ground transportation, weather and regional safety-related issues."
Tuesday, 16 June 2009
FRESNO, Calif. — Fresno Yosemite International Airport today announced the installation of a MYPVDATA kiosk. Using the kiosk, airport staff and travelers, as well as those in the local community, can access a real-time view of how the 2.4 megawatt-capacity solar array at the airport is performing.
According to a news release, the kiosk is connected directly to the MYPVDATA solar monitoring, management and performance system to deliver real-time performance data of the solar system. The new kiosk will help increase public awareness and education about Fresno Yosemite Airport's commitment to improving its environmental footprint through the use of solar energy.
The airport's solar system was established using a solar power purchase agreement, or PPA, with system developer and operator Solar Power Partners Inc. The system is installed on a 20-acre site and was constructed with APS single-axis trackers that enable the modules to follow the movement of the sun. The solar-generated electricity is conveyed by underground conductors to the airport's main power supply and integrated into the airport's electrical center.
In addition to its physical location at the airport, the kiosk’s user interface also can be accessed online at http://webkiosk.mypvdata.net/c/fresno_airport/index.php. The kiosk’s users will find photographs and specifications of the system, as well as real-time reports on daily, weekly, monthly and lifetime energy production, CO2-emissions reductions and the equivalent savings, in terms of trees planted or miles driven by American cars. In the last 30 days, the MYPVDATA kiosk reports that the Fresno Yosemite Airport solar panels have generated 524,948 kWh of solar energy, which is the equivalent of planting 2072 trees or driving 303,837 fewer miles.
MYPVDATA tracks energy production, solar use and savings achieved with pinpoint accuracy. As soon as a problem is detected, whether it is caused by environmental, component or lifecycle factors, SPP's operators are notified and can dispatch a maintenance crew to quickly remedy the problem, thus limiting downtime and maintaining a steady stream of energy production. The new kiosk solution located at the airport provides an easy-to-understand view of the system for the public.
Thursday, 11 June 2009
BEIJING — NCR Corp. today announced a deal with China Southern Airlines to deploy 30 NCR TouchPort kiosks at the airline’s big-city hubs of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Changchun and Zhengzhou in China. This is the first deployment of airline kiosks in China for NCR, a leading global provider of self-service solutions.
According to a news release, NCR TouchPort kiosks utilize Common Use Self Service, or CUSS, technology, which allows different airline applications to run concurrently on a single self-service device. These are the first CUSS-compliant kiosks deployed by China Southern. NCR also will provide maintenance services for China Southern to provide optimum performance and availability for passengers.
“The deployment of self-check-in kiosks from NCR is an essential prerequisite for our partnerships with other airlines and offers the potential to provide travelers with additional services from a single location in the future, such as car rental and hotel check-in transactions,” said Huang Wenqiang, vice president of the IT department for China Southern.
Once installed, the NCR TouchPort kiosk will offer passengers the opportunity to check in, view seat assignments, make seat changes, review itineraries and print boarding passes. Additionally, for passengers who have already completed check-in via the Internet, the kiosk may be used to access the reservation and make changes if desired. The NCR TouchPort kiosk also is equipped with an integrated barcode imager to facilitate customer identification and an integrated passport reader to cater to international travelers.
China has become the world’s second largest airline market, behind the United States. With the surge in the number of travelers, airports and airlines are looking to deliver greater efficiency and convenience through self-service. A 2009 consumer self-service survey conducted by Buzzback Market Research for NCR reveals a clear connection between self-service and passenger preference worldwide, particularly in China, with 92 percent of Chinese respondents indicating they are more likely to choose a travel company that allows them to interact easily via kiosk, online and mobile self-service channels.
Monday, 08 June 2009
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — SITA, a specialist in air transport communication and I.T. solutions, today launched a small footprint, full-function check-in kiosk, as well as a self-service bag-tracing kiosk, at the International Air Transport Association’s Annual General Meeting in Kuala Lumpur. Both kiosks are made to be environmentally friendly.
The S3 kiosk
According to a news release, SITA’s AirportConnect S3 kiosk is a 140-pound, full-function check-in kiosk that has the smallest carbon footprint in the industry and a printer that can issue up to 5,300 boarding passes from a single roll. It also can print bag tags for self-tagging to speed up the bag-drop process. The company says two S3 kiosks take up the same space as one conventional model.
The AirportConnect S3 also is fitted with passport and document scanners to speed up collection of advanced passenger information and Electronic Travel Authorization Service data for visa validation.
The WorldTracer kiosk
SITA also is enabling a new kiosk with a Web link to its WorldTracer software, already used by more than 440 airlines and ground handlers. Last year, the WorldTracer database showed a mishandling rate of 14.28 bags per thousand passengers worldwide, compared to 18.86 per thousand in 2007.
The WorldTracer kiosk will allow passengers to check on the status of their delayed bags over the Web and to file “missing bag” reports without having to queue and talk to an agent. The kiosk will be launched commercially later this year.
“Passengers rank check-in baggage arriving on-time as second in importance for a pleasant journey after the flight arriving on time,” said Catherine Mayer, vice president of airport solutions for SITA. “Unfortunately, millions of checked bags are delayed each year, but this new WorldTracer kiosk will provide affected passengers with more convenience and peace of mind.
To use the kiosk, a passenger scans her bag tag and enters contact details. The machine then generates a claim, and the passenger can continue her journey without having to stand in line at a service desk. The unique claim ID number allows the passenger to stay informed of the status of her baggage, either through a dedicated Web site or a call center.
“Our WorldTracer application will be able to provide them with instant feedback on the status of their bags, 99.9 percent of which are successfully traced and reunited with their owners within 48 hours or less,” Mayer said.
Kiosks for check-in and issuing bag tags are fast becoming the most popular channel for passengers in North America and Europe, while worldwide, kiosk use is running at 30 percent for all passengers, including those in the Asia-Pacific region.
Thursday, 04 June 2009
Taiwan News: Thanks to a loophole in a self-service check-in system, a passenger at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport was able to breach security and enter off-limits areas of the terminal for more than 40 hours earlier this week, the Aviation Police Office said Thursday.
From the passenger’s account of her actions, aviation police authorities learned of a loophole in the air carrier's self-service check-in system. According to an officer, the automated system mistakenly issued the passenger a boarding pass in the name of another traveler with the same surname and a reservation for the same flight.
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Wednesday, 03 June 2009
SURESNES CEDEX, France — IER, a France-based designer and manufacturer of self-service ticketing and boarding-control solutions for major transportation networks, has been selected by Swedish airport operator LFV Group to deploy IER’s new-generation self-check-in kiosks at Stockholm-Arlanda Airport.
According to a news release, the complete self-check-in solution, including 45 IER 918 kiosks, will be deployed at the airport over the next three years.
The IER 918 is the latest generation of common-use self-service kiosks and is designed to meet the new challenges of passenger travel and to take advantage of emerging trends, such as e-ticketing, 2D bar-coded boarding passes and the ability to read e-passports and to check-in airline passengers with or without bags.
The solution also will include the IER CUSS platform and monitoring system and an Internet check-in platform. The IER monitoring system will allow LFV to supervise its kiosk operations by providing a real-time overview of the entire installation.
A first rollout of 10 kiosks is planned by mid-August. They will be equipped with a full-page passport reader, 2D barcode and card readers, a boarding pass printer and a fingerprint scanner and will offer self-check-in to passengers traveling with Delta, Finnair, HögaKustenFlyg, Norwegian and several charter companies.
Monday, 18 May 2009
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Two airports have announced the installation of interactive kiosks:
• The Greater Binghamton Airport in Binghamton, N.Y. has installed a touchscreen information kiosk, located outside the airport’s Visitor Information Center. The kiosk cost $20,000 to deploy and was funded by the Broome County hotel-motel tax.
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• Officials at Houston's Bush Intercontinental Airport have deployed a interactive kiosk for international travelers that a spokesperson said cuts time at the customs check from about five minutes to 40 seconds. Officials with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection are promoting the kiosk in an effort to free up officers’ time to deal with potentially high-risk travelers.
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Monday, 18 May 2009
TEDDINGTON, ENGLAND — Alamo Rent A Car, the largest rental car provider to international travelers visiting North America, has announced an exclusive agreement with Virgin Holidays to become its preferred car rental supplier. The agreement will go into effect Jan. 1, 2010.
"We are proud to be part of such an innovative partnership, especially in today's tough economic climate," said Greg Stubblefield, president of Alamo Rent A Car. "Virgin Holidays and Alamo are both leaders in their respective industries and together can offer leisure travelers even more value, service and convenience than ever before."
Alamo's online check-in option, friendly self-service kiosks and leading-edge environmental stewardship were all factors in Virgin Holidays' selection criteria.
“We pride ourselves on exceeding expectations, so Alamo feels like a perfect match for us and enables us to offer our customers a unique, state-of-the-art fly/drive product into North America. We are delighted to appoint Alamo as our exclusive vehicle rental provider,” said Amanda Wills, managing director for Virgin Holidays.
Beginning Jan. 1, all Virgin Holidays customers will be able to bypass the car rental counter and go straight to Alamo's self-service kiosks to retrieve their rental agreements. The kiosk can also be used for any last minute changes or additions to the car rental booking, including vehicle upgrades, child seats and additional drivers. Virgin Holidays customers also will have access to the Alamo Choice product, whereby they can choose any vehicle at the facility within the category booked.
"I believe that Alamo and Virgin Holidays will jointly offer a terrific and memorable customer experience from beginning to end," Stubblefield said. "From Florida to California and from Texas to Canada, we will be working together to set a new standard in the travel industry."
Monday, 04 May 2009
Attendees to this week’s KioskCom Self Service Expo and The Digital Signage Show are gearing up for a much-anticipated keynote presentation from Joshua Weiss, managing director of self-service for Delta Air Lines.
Weiss will share how Delta has promoted the acceptance of self-service technology by developing new products, redesigning applications and making facility changes. Additionally, Weiss will cover how the technology has helped Delta diversify globally in a cost-effective manner and streamline the travel process and user experience for customers.
Show organizers and attendees alike look forward to the presentation as an opportunity to learn from one of the leaders in the massive transportation industry.
“Self-service at Delta Air Lines has evolved into a far-reaching, multichannel, multilingual strategy that aims to put the customer in control of their travel experience,” Lawrence Dvorchik, general manager of KioskCom, said in a press release. “We look forward to the opportunity all of our attendees will have to learn from Joshua and his team’s experiences.”
The tradeshow’s first keynote session, “Full Service Self Service” will take place May 6 at 9 a.m.
Wednesday, 29 April 2009
SURESNES CEDEX, France — IER, supplier of passenger and baggage processing solutions for the air transportation industry, announced it has been selected by Siemens, IT integrator, to equip Malaga Airport's new terminal with check-in and boarding equipment.
Siemens has selected IER for the supply of both types of passenger check-in processes: operator assisted check-in at counters and automated check-in with self-service kiosks, as well as boarding gate control readers.
Nearly 250 IER 506 boarding pass and bag tag printers will equip the new check-in counters and 17 IER 918 CUSS kiosks will be deployed for the self-service automated check-in operations.
Wednesday, 29 April 2009
SURESNES CEDEX, France — IER, supplier of passenger and baggage processing solutions for the air transportation industry, announced it has been selected by Siemens, IT integrator, to equip Malaga Airport's new terminal with check-in and boarding equipment.
Siemens has selected IER for the supply of both types of passenger check-in processes: operator assisted check-in at counters and automated check-in with self-service kiosks, as well as boarding gate control readers.
Nearly 250 IER 506 boarding pass and bag tag printers will equip the new check-in counters and 17 IER 918 CUSS kiosks will be deployed for the self-service automated check-in operations.
Tuesday, 21 April 2009
Travel Agent: Amadeus has announced a test of a new device, Pass and Fly, as part of a pilot project that simplifies passenger recognition, the crediting of airport passenger points and airplane boarding, through the use of a mobile phone that is near-field-communication-enabled. Amadeus says it is the first time in air travel that NFC, a short-range, wireless connectivity technology, has been used to enable mobile boarding passes. Nice Côte d’Azur Airport, Air France, Amadeus and IER, a technology company, have partnered to test the new mobile boarding pass until Oct. 30.
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Tuesday, 14 April 2009
European Investor: As of tomorrow, Scandinavian Airlines customers will be able to travel using only their mobile phones. "Currently, approximately 10 percent of SAS passengers check in via SMS, but our goal for 2011 is that 80 percent of our customers check in off-airport, which means online or via their mobile," said Lars Sandahl Sørensen, a senior vice president for SAS. "It is very important for us that our customers have the smoothest and simplest travel experience possible with us. We are therefore looking forward to rolling out the service later this year, once we have evaluated the trial."
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Wednesday, 08 April 2009
The Malta Independent Online: GasanMamo Insurance has installed the first online travel kiosk in Malta at the check-in lounge in the Malta International Airport. Passengers travelling out of Malta can now take out their travel insurance from a kiosk, which includes a built-in printer. “We always seek new ways to provide our customers with that extra comfort and peace of mind and this new travel insurance service will definitely go down well with whoever arrives at the airport, all packed up and ready to set off for the trip and remembers that he has forgotten to take out travel insurance,” said Julian Mamo, director at GasanMamo Insurance.
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Friday, 20 March 2009
ATLANTA — Delta Air Lines today announced a partnership with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to launch paperless check-in for domestic travel on nonstop Delta, Northwest and Delta Connection flights departing from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Customers will have the option of using their mobile device to check-in and receive an electronic boarding pass via their Web-enabled devices.
"Delta is taking another step to eliminate lines from airports by putting more time-saving technology in the hands of our customers," said Josh Weiss, Delta’s managing director, delta.com and self-service. "With the introduction of paperless check-in at our largest hub, Atlanta-departing customers can now quickly check in and receive a boarding pass 24 hours in advance of their flight literally from anywhere with no paper required."
Customers traveling in the United States and checking in for a nonstop flight from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport may simply download their boarding pass to their mobile devices via delta.com or nwa.com and proceed directly to the airport security screening area. Customers checking bags should drop their bags at the baggage drop counter location prior to proceeding to the security checkpoint.
At the security checkpoint, TSA will scan the electronic boarding pass, check the customer’s ID and process the customer through security. Customers can then proceed to their departure gate, present their electronic boarding pass to the gate agent at boarding time and board with their designated zone.
Other airports currently offering mobile check-in to Delta and Northwest customers include Las Vegas, Memphis and Minneapolis-St. Paul; Detroit and Indianapolis (Northwest only); and New York-LaGuardia (Delta only).
Wednesday, 18 March 2009
SHENZHEN, China -- Universal Travel Group, a China-based travel services provider, has announced plans to add cell phone recharge functionality to its portfolio of TRIPEASY kiosks.
According to a news release, TRIPEASY kiosks, developed by Universal Travel Group, provide information in response to users' travel-related inquiries.
The kiosks will begin offering cell phone recharge beginning April 1. According to ChinaNews.com, there were approximately 540 million cell phone users in China in 2007, a number that is expected to grow to 730 million by 2010. In addition, large tier one cities, such as Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Chongqing, where Universal Travel has a strong presence, have about 50 million cell phone users combined. Moreover, these users require a recharge inquiry every month.
While the company has a current membership base of 2.5 million people, with recharge functionality, it expects traffic at its kiosks to more than double from current levels via return trips to its kiosks by cell phone recharge customers. The increased traffic could generate significant opportunities for the company to promote and sell its traditional air ticketing, hotel booking and packaged tours businesses.
The TRIPEASY kiosks accept bank cards and provide secured payment functions to finalize transactions. Universal Travel will continue its efforts to add functionality to increase its kiosks' traffic flow including utilities payment, lottery purchase and transportation IC card recharge.
The company plans to have several hundred kiosks in place by mid-2009.
"We are pleased to take the next step in rolling out our revolutionary TRIPEASY kiosks by adding increased functionality, which we expect will significantly drive customer traffic," said Jiangping Jiang, chairwoman and chief executive of Universal Travel Group. "We are looking for the kiosks to make a significant contribution to achieving our growth objectives in 2009. Also, as our kiosks attract a more targeted audience interested in travel-related products and services, and users embrace the concept, we expect to gain marketing efficiencies in the process."
Wednesday, 11 March 2009
Dayton B2B: Dayton International Airport expects to receive about $13 million in economic stimulus money and the air hub plans on spending some of it on upgrading and expanding its self-service offerings. Among the planned additions: movable self-service kiosks that generate boarding passes about 20 feet from the service counters, so that people using the kiosks will be out of the way of the lines at the counters.
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Friday, 20 February 2009
TROY, Mich. -- Two more airports have deployed kiosk and digital menu board technology from NEXTEP SYSTEMS, according to a news release.
Logan International Airport in Boston and Philadelphia International Airport have added NEXTEP solutions.
"Both Boston and Philadelphia airports have moved toward the 21st century standard of providing busy air travelers with less time constraints and innovative visuals, allowing NEXTEP to enlarge our install base," said Tommy Woycik, president of NEXTEP SYSTEMS. "Not only do the self-order kiosks and digital menu boards increase revenue for the establishments, they offer better customer service."
Jet Rock Bar and Grill, located within Philadelphia International Airport in Terminals B, D and F, has implemented NEXTEP's touchscreen self-order kiosks for faster customer service for travelers. The kiosks eliminate long lines and facilitate the rapid fulfillment of food and beverages orders - a must for the demands on today's traveling public.
Earl of Sandwich, located in Boston Logan International Airport, will install NEXTEP's solution for digital menu boards at their location within Terminal E. Digital menu boards enable Earl of Sandwich to use dynamic messaging with greater impact, advertise daily specials and target their promotions directly to busy travelers.
NEXTEP was able to provide seamless integration with MICROS 9700 POS. Earl of Sandwich and Jet Rock owners are able to make pricing changes and have them immediately reflect on their digital menu boards and self-order kiosks.
NEXTEP solutions have also been deployed in JFK International Airport, Reagan National and Detroit Metro.
Wednesday, 18 February 2009
TradingMarkets.com: In the wake of the merger between Delta Airlines and Northwest Airlines, Delta has begun to rebrand Northwest's check-in kiosks, as well as its counters, gates and signage. This process is expected to take place at more than 200 airports worldwide. The airline expects re-branding in all airports in the U.S. and Canada to be complete by the end of 2009, and in international airports the following year.
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Friday, 13 February 2009
The Times of India: By 2010, all train passengers would have instant access to unreserved tickets from even the most remote corners of the country. What is more, they would be able to buy a ticket, not just from the stations, but several public kiosks as well. At present, the Unreserved Ticketing System developed by the Centre for Railway Information System provides access to 60 percent of the 16 million passengers who travel on such tickets every day. Only one million passengers travel daily in reserved compartments.
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Wednesday, 11 February 2009
Minneapolis Daily: As the bike-share movement gains momentum around the world, bringing the program to Minneapolis has taken longer than expected. Complications in securing the $1.75 million in federal funding necessary to implement the program have pushed the projected start date from May to September of this year. Using Web-based subscriptions and self-service, solar-powered kiosks, the program would start by bringing 1,000 bicycles to 75 stations. Despite the delay, program planners remain hopeful.
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Tuesday, 10 February 2009
The Boston Globe: Virgin America is spending nearly half a million dollars to make its new home at Logan International Airport more comfortable for air travelers. Among the changes: self-service check-in kiosks designed to appear as white acrylic tables that could pass for minimalist living room furniture. The only problem is that the kiosks made at least one passenger feel too comfortable. According to The Boston Globe, that passenger decided to water the fake orchids that had been placed on top of the kiosk with leftover soda. The soda leaked through the fake orchid, into the kiosk and fried the computer processor. Since then, Virgin has redesigned the kiosk tables with smaller computer processors and interior pathways to funnel fluids away from the electronics.
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Friday, 06 February 2009
The Sydney (Australia) Morning Herald: Passengers of Jetstar, an Australian airline, flying over the weekend have been advised to allow more time for check-in as the airline shuts down its online booking system for an upgrade. The airline's entire reservations system, including its Web site and call center, will shut down from 5pm (AEDT) on Friday for the weekend. The system is planned to be back online by 9 a.m. on Monday. Jetstar's check-in kiosks, which operate at many airports around Australia, will also be shut down.
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Friday, 23 January 2009
The Financial (Tibilisi, The Republic of Georgia): Cathay Pacific Airways, a Hong Kong-based airline, has launched Mobile Check-In, a new self-service solution that enables travelers to check in for their flights on Web-enabled mobile phones. The solution then sends a two-dimensional barcode to the mobile phone, which can be scanned by airline personnel via handheld scanners. The barcodes eliminate the need for a paper boarding pass. Travelers can access the solution by opening the Web browser on their mobile device and typing "m.cathaypacific.com" as the URL.
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Tuesday, 20 January 2009
Global Atlanta: According to a survey recently conducted by SITA, an information technology company that services the air travel industry, the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport leads airports around the world in the percentage of passengers who use online or kiosk check-in self-services. Dominique El Bez, director of portfolio marketing for SITA, said baggage is the leading deterrent to self-service check-in adoption. "The baggage problem will only be solved through a combination of education, improved processes at points where bags are dropped off and increased confidence among travelers that their baggage is safe," he said.
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Wednesday, 14 January 2009
ContactlessNews: More than 100 million electronic passports have been issued since governments initiated production of the new travel credentials two years ago. The challenge for some countries will installing the equipment to read e-passports without adversely affecting wait times. Even the United States, the initiator of the move to e-passports after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, hasn't deployed many inspection systems.
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Monday, 12 January 2009
The (Queensland, Australia) Courier-Mail HeadSt@rt: Passengers flying with Jetstar, an Australian airline, could soon be checking in their own luggage, and at least one airline industry union is not happy about it. The move comes as a cost-cutting measure initiated by the airline, and would mean passengers who checked themselves in at a computer kiosk would get a luggage tag in addition to their boarding pass. But Ingrid Stitt, secretary for Victorian branch of Australian Services Union said the technology would result in job cuts.
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Monday, 29 December 2008
San Francisco Chronicle: Air travelers at the San Francisco International Airport will soon be able to pay restitution for the carbon emissions caused by their trip. This spring, the airport plans to unveil self-service kiosk stations where users can purchase carbon offsets. The experimental program will make the airport the first in the nation to offer such a plan.
"We'd like people to stop and consider the impacts of flying," said Steve McDougal, executive vice president for 3Degrees, a San Francisco firm that sells renewable energy and carbon-reduction investments and is teaming up with the airport and the city on the project.
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Monday, 15 December 2008
Beaver County (Beaver, Pa.) Times: As the recession continues, many cash-strapped airline companies are looking for new sources of revenue. That means travelers could face some kind of convenience fee the next time they try to check in with a self-service check-in kiosk. Jay Sorenson of IdeaWorks, a Wisconsin-based consulting firm for the airline industry, says some airlines are giving the fee careful consideration, just as FlyBe, a British airline, did earlier this year.
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Friday, 12 December 2008
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Laufer Film, distributor of the motion picture "Christmas at Maxwell's," has found a way for holiday travelers to enjoy the film on the go.
According to a news release, the distributor has signed a deal with LightSpeed Cinema, deployer of Movie Booth video-on-demand movie kiosks, to offer the film at airport kiosks throughout the country.
"We have been looking for a partner to bring Christmas at Maxwell's to travelers at major U.S. airports and we love the Movie Booth kiosks concept," said Bill Laufer, president of Laufer Film. "With today's air travel concerns, people most often rush to get to their gate to confirm travel details, but once there, they have time and are looking for a productive way to spend it. The Movie Booth concept is a perfect complement to help make air travel a pleasant experience."
The kiosks enable travelers to download DVD quality movies, TV shows and multigigabyte games in minutes
Friday, 12 December 2008
PARIS -- SITA, provider of IT solutions for the air-travel industry, has released a new global survey of consumer trends that indicates Paris Charles de Gaulle airport leads the pack in getting travelers to adopt self-service check-in.
Of all the passengers who fly in and out of the airport, those flying Air France are most likely to use the technology, a release from SITA says.
At the same time, only 29.9 percent of travelers used the service on the day of the survey, desipte the fact that 69 percent of Paris Charles de Gaulle travelers expressed a preference for self-service check in.
The low usage rate is explained by the fact that 82.3 percent of the non-Air France passengers declared that self-service check-in was not available to them on the day of the survey and only 7.3 of these non-Air France passengers used it.
On the other hand, 58.2 percent of Air France passengers used self-service check-in. This was higher than the 56.2 percent usage rate which was recorded at the world's busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta.
A closer look at the results for CDG shows that passengers had a three-to-one preference for using kiosks (22.7 percent) compared to the Web (7.2 percent) for check-in.
Passenger willingness to use self-service kiosks for flight transfers at CDG was the highest across all six airports surveyed, at 65 percent, compared to a global average of 54 percent.
The SITA/Air Transport World Passenger Self-Service Survey takes an in-depth look at the attitudes and habits of a representative sample of the 232 million passengers who use six of the world's busiest airports across five continents: Hartsfield-Jackson, Atlanta; Mumbai International; Charles de Gaulle, Paris; Moscow Domodedovo; Sao Paulo Guarulhos, Brazil; and OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg.
Wednesday, 03 December 2008
The Daily Gleaner: Air Canada has installed two self-service kiosks at the Fredericton International Airport. The kiosks also can be used to change seat selections, request earlier departures or get upgrades.
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Tuesday, 02 December 2008
Travel Daily News: SITA, the aviation IT specialist, and Malaysia Airlines have announced plans to replace in-house reservations system as part of a $130 million IT-driven turnaround program that has helped bring the Asian carrier back to profitability, with annual expenses cut by more than $140 million. Over the last 10 years, SITA has launched an e-ticketing and self-service check-in option for passengers of Malaysia Airlines. “SITA delivered a new passenger-services system for the airline in record time, including one of the fastest e-ticketing implementations ever seen by IATA," said managing director and chief executive of the airlines, Idris Jala. "It was done in 11 months, resulting in $6 savings for each ticket sold."
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Wednesday, 26 November 2008
Tulsa (Okla.) World: Although Thanksgiving travelers will want to be far from the maddening crowd as airline seating cutbacks intensify airport congestion, there are shortcuts through the maze. Instead of waiting in long lines at the ticket counter, travelers with home computers can make reservations and print out boarding passes before arriving at the airport. Another time-saver: self-service ticketing kiosks.
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Tuesday, 25 November 2008
NEW YORK - Parabit Systems has announced that, after months of work, it has installed its first welcome center at the John F. Kennedy Airport, according to a news release.
The welcome center is the first of 27 that will focus on creating an easy transition as travelers are provided with information on ground transportation services, hotels, attractions and airport services. ATMs will also be provided for travelers who need cash. The welcome centers will be positioned in highly visible areas, either in Customs or next to the baggage claim area.
The JFK welcome center is designed so that passengers can obtain information they need from an array of self-service technologies, including digital signage, kiosks, restricted dial telephons and ATMs, as well as many brochure displays, graphic displays and manned customer service counters. Additional self-service technology to further enhance the center is under evaluation.
"Within the first few weeks of operation at JetBlue T5, thousands of customers have been assisted as well as assisted themselves via the self-service elements of the center," said Rob Leiponis, president of Parabit. "The feedback we are getting from the comments on its design, the services and information it provides and its highly identifiable presence from a distance, supports that our design and technology concept has had a very positive impact on the passenger experience."
Once all 27 welcome centers have been completed, the port authorities in New York and New Jersey will have a standard impressionable design in all terminals for customers to remember for future travel through their four airports.
Monday, 24 November 2008
MUNICH, Germany -- The government of Botswana has awarded a contract to Giesecke & Devrient for the manufacture and delivery of 150,000 electronic passports, according to a news release. G&D also will supply the data acquisition and personalization systems for travel documents.
In addition, the Munich-based technology company will be delivering Botswana's border control system with card readers. The contract was signed in Gaborone, the country's capital. It will take two years to implement the system, with passports scheduled for issue to the citizens of Botswana from 2010. The contract is worth roughly 15 million euros (U.S. $19.3 million).
Botswana is the first South African country to introduce the electronic passport.
"We are proud that the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs has entrusted us with this demanding project," said Hans Wolfgang Kunz, head of G&D's government solutions business. "The new electronic passport will fulfill the extensive ICAO and EU specifications and achieve international recognition and validity. In conjunction with an efficient border-control system, it will ensure Botswana is well prepared to meet the increasing security requirements of international travel."
As prime contractor, G&D will handle all system integration activities. The new passport system will be among the fastest of its kind anywhere in the world. At selected public offices equipped to personalize the documents, passports can even be issued immediately in particularly urgent cases. The entire process, from data registration to complete optical and digital personalization, will take no more than 20 minutes.
Besides personal information, the data page of the ID document also features a color photograph for simple visual checking. To achieve maximum security against forgery and prevent misuse of identity, the new e-passport also contains the holder's details and photograph in digital form, stored on a chip. The electronic reading systems at border-control points then compare the data to verify whether the person presenting the document and wishing to enter or leave the country is indeed the passport's rightful owner.
The data will be acquired and processed at 20 local registration points and other mobile stations all over the country. This allows citizens to apply for a new passport quickly and conveniently, without travel long distances.
Friday, 21 November 2008
AUCKLAND, New Zealand — Air New Zealand has integrated 111 IER 918 self-check-in kiosks as well as 84 IER 600 2D barcode and RF scanners in its innovative travel process now in operation on domestic flights to streamline check-in and boarding operations.
On November 3, Air New Zealand unveiled its new state-of-the-art check-in and boarding experience, introducing a new layout with new kiosks that enable Auckland Domestic Airport customers to print their own bag tags. The layout also includes a direct-to-conveyor-belt bag drop zone to eliminate queues, new gate scanners for straight-to-gate check-in, boarding for customers without bags as well as several new technological enablers for frequent flyers.
In this project, IER — a supplier of passenger and baggage processing solutions in the air transportation industry — has been selected to provide Air New Zealand with a total of 111 IER 918 self-service check-in kiosks, part of which have been deployed first at the country's three main airports: Auckland first, then Christchurch and Wellington. The secondary airports will be equipped at a later date.
The IER 918 kiosks chosen by Air New Zealand are equipped with a 2D barcode scanner for reading passengers' boarding passes that have previously been printed or received on their mobile phones. The kiosks are also equipped with an RF scanner for reading the ePass RF sticker provided to selected members of the Airpoints program by the airline, which is applied either to the back of their mobile phone or on their Frequent Flyer card. Travellers will check in their bags at the kiosks. The IER 918 kiosks are equipped with a bag-tag printer for delivery of their baggage tags to the passengers for self-tagging before drop-off.
Thursday, 20 November 2008
ATLANTA - Delta Air Lines has simplified the ticket purchase process at delta.com and introduced an improved kiosk experience at airports throughout the country, as well as curbside check-in for customers traveling internationally, according to a news release.
"Delta is committed to providing faster, more convenient self-service options for our customers," said Josh Weiss, managing director of delta.com. "Whether they are visiting delta.com or checking in at a kiosk or curbside, these enhancements save time for our customers whenever they travel with us."
Delta's improved kiosk technology, now available at more than 1,300 Delta kiosks in 195 U.S. cities, reduces the number of screens a passenger clicks through when checking in. The new system also provides easier access to flight itineraries and real-time weather conditions at their destination. In addition, customers can elect to bypass baggage-check screens if they are not checking bags, trimming the transaction to as little as one click from start to finish.
Delta anticipates more than 26 million customers will check in using kiosks in 2008 and expects the new kiosk technology will reduce already quick transaction times by as much as a minute for many customers.
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
ITWeb: British Airways customers will now be able to check in using their mobile phones with the introduction of its remote check-in service. This initiative follows the introduction of the iPhone mobile check-in application, which saw more than 16,000 downloads in the U.K. within the first month. Using any mobile phone, customers will now be able to access BA's timetable in real time, select airplane seats and check in individuals, groups and families for departing and return flights.
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Wednesday, 12 November 2008
China Hospitality News: As part of the International Air Transport Association's "Simplifying the Business" project, IATA will promote its "Fast Travel" program in China. Fast Travel will offer full service to passengers through common use self-service kiosks, barcoded boarding passes and 100 percent e-ticketing to meet increasing passenger demands for self-service. IATA is focusing on six key areas including: check-in using the Internet and mobile phones; bags ready-to-go; document scanning; flight re-booking; self-boarding; and luggage recovery. IATA's aim is to establish two pilots per project by the end of 2008.
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Tuesday, 11 November 2008
Chicago Tribune: For $100 and a copy of their fingerprints, U.S. citizens flying from abroad into O'Hare International Airport can skip passport-checking lines and proceed almost directly to baggage claim with the help of automated kiosks. The Global Entry program, unveiled at O'Hare last month by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, is designed to let travelers get through the airport faster but also affords a key benefit for the Department of Homeland Security: It makes tracking who is coming into the country much easier.
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Monday, 10 November 2008
CXOtoday.com: Improving customer service and satisfaction emerges as the high priority investment driver for 80 percent of the world's airport operators in the 5th annual "Airport IT Trends" survey carried out by SITA, a specialist provider of airport IT and communications, in conjunction with Airline Business and the Airports Council International. Airports want to meet the demands of travelers by expanding self-service to include the introduction of passenger self-boarding (35 percent), off-airport passenger/baggage processing (32 percent) and common bag drop locations (33 percent).
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Monday, 03 November 2008
DUBLIN, Ireland — Research and Markets, an international market research and market data firm, has released "Mobile Ticketing: Transport, Sport Entertainment & Events 2008-2013/"
According to Research and Markets, a mobile ticketing user is "someone who stores a ticket on their mobile phone for later redemption" at the point of travel, the music venue, the cinema etc. The purchase of the ticket does not need to have been initiated on the mobile phone and, more than likely, the main point of purchase for mobile tickets is currently either online at an eCommerce Web site, via a telephone call center or alternatively at a physical ticket outlet or kiosk. This definition therefore includes mobile boarding passes for air travel, even if the ticket has been purchased through a non-mobile channel. This is not to say that there will be occasions when the full end-to-end transaction — the purchase, storage and redemption — will all occur on the mobile device.
This full end-to-end transaction is the ultimate mobile ticketing solution. In terms of definition of "mobile device," the report makes the distinction that the primary function must be mobile telephony. This excludes other mobile devices that have a different primary function such as entertainment, e.g. digital music player or portable games console, or travel, e.g. a GPS enabled mapping device.
Organizations that control the issuance and redemption of tickets are seeing the advantages that mobile phones have over other ticketing options, namely paper-based and electronic tickets stored on a smart card. Those organizations, including Ticketmaster and Tickets.com, Major League Baseball and the International Air Travel Association, are promoting and developing mobile-ticketing applications, trials and services.
Monday, 03 November 2008
(Miami) NewsRadio WIOD, AM-610: Customs and Border Protection Global Entry kiosks are popping up at Miami International Airport. The kiosks are expected to make passport check-ins automatic for U.S. citizens and other lawful residents. The kiosks also will help frequent fliers avoid long lines at Customs. Newsradio 610 WIOD reporter Wayne Roustan's full interview with Jose Castelano of Customs and Border Protection can be accessed by clicking the link below.
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Friday, 31 October 2008
(Los Angeles) KABC-TV, Channel 7: Los Angeles International Airport has a new program to get U.S. travelers through customs quickly and efficiently. LAX and three other international airports are now participating in the Global Entry program. Global Entry gives frequent travelers the ability to speed up their arrival into the U.S. by using a kiosk to assist in their clearance. Program members first swipe their passports or resident cards at the kiosk. They will then be instructed to scan their fingerprints and answer some declaration questions to compare with data on file.
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Thursday, 30 October 2008
Irish Examiner: Ryanair is refusing to install self-service check-in kiosks at Dublin Airport in Ireland after Ryanair lost a High Court bid to stop the Dublin Airport Authority from requiring the airline to sign a licensing and fee agreement. The airline says it is now going to bring forward plans to have all of its Dublin passengers use Web check-in, but will push ahead with plans to install the kiosks in Shannon.
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Tuesday, 28 October 2008
(New Zealand) One News: Queues at airport check-in gates could be a thing of the past, now that Air New Zealand has announced a $30 million revamp of its domestic terminals. Beginning next week, Air New Zealand will do away with the old check-in counters and introduce do-it-yourself kiosks, where passengers can print off their own bag tags and take their luggage to the bag drop themselves. Travellers' boarding passes can be sent to them via mobile in order to get people through the airport faster.
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Tuesday, 28 October 2008
Los Angeles Times: There's nothing more discouraging for the weary air traveler than to arrive at the airport only to remember that his iPod contains nothing but 1950s polka music. How will he survive that overseas flight? Previously, the only solution to this quandary was for him to download new songs using Wi-Fi on his computer and then transfer them to his iPod (unless he has a phone that lets him purchase songs from it). But now, travelers can go to InMotion kiosks at 20 airports across the country (including LAX) and buy digital music, then plug their iPods or other devices into the kiosk and download the tunes.
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Monday, 27 October 2008
(United Arab Emirates) Business 24/7: After paperless tickets, the future of air travel could involve bar-coded boarding passes on mobile phones as the airline industry continues its quest to tap cost-effective technological innovations. Dominique El Bez, portfolio marketing director of Sita, an IT business solutions provider to the air transport industry, says the introduction of the mobile phone barcoded boarding pass (m-BCBP) could not only help airlines save millions of dollars on flight delay costs, but could ensure passengers a hassle-free journey.
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Monday, 20 October 2008
nst online: Passengers of Hong Kong International Airport can now complete their airline check-in process in as little as one minute by using one of the 42 self check-in kiosks available at Terminal 1, the Airport Authority Hong Kong announced. The self check-in system is part of the authority's ongoing efforts to enhance passenger flow and to accommodate the worldwide trend of increasing passenger demand for self-help service, China's XINHUA news agency quoted the authority as saying in a statement.
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Tuesday, 14 October 2008
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Travelers at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport are increasingly booking tickets online and using kiosks to check in, at a rate higher than some other large airports around the world. A survey of passengers at Hartsfield-Jackson, Mumbai International, Charles de Gaulle in Paris, Moscow Domodedovo, Sao Paulo Guarulhos and Johannesburg released by SITA, an air-transport IT company, found that in Atlanta, 18 percent of travelers check in online and 38 percent use kiosks for checking in. That’s compared with 19 percent and 20 percent a year earlier. Across the six airports, an average of 36 percent of passengers checked in online or with kiosks, compared with the combined 56 percent in Atlanta. Mumbai had a 19 percent rate of online check in, the only airport in the survey with a higher rate than Atlanta. North America in general is “one of the early adopter markets” for self-service technologies, says SITA director of portfolio marketing Dominique El Bez.
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Friday, 10 October 2008
TMCnet.com: Good news for travelers going through the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport: They can now stop by and enjoy valuable services at the Boingo Kiosk. The kiosk enables travelers to recharge computers, cell phones and iPods, and print color documents and get free Wi-Fi access passes.
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Thursday, 09 October 2008
Luxury Travel Magazine: From Oct. 13, 2008, Lufthansa passengers flying from London Heathrow will be able to use mobile boarding passes on all Lufthansa non-stop flights to Germany, as well as to most onward destinations in Europe. The service will be gradually introduced from additional U.K. and European departure points over the coming months. The U.K. launch follows the successful introduction of mobile boarding passes on all domestic German routes in the summer and last month on about 1,000 daily flights out of Germany to almost 400 European destinations.
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Tuesday, 07 October 2008
AME Info: SITA, the specialist provider of IT solutions to airlines and airports, today said there is overwhelming evidence from passengers surveyed at six of the world's busiest airports across five continents, that self-service is fast becoming the norm for passengers from Atlanta to Moscow and that the main challenge to even broader adoption of DIY travel management is baggage.
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Friday, 03 October 2008
The Sydney (Australia) Morning Herald: A generation of children is growing up that will not remember paper airline tickets — and it's possible the next generation will not remember boarding passes, either. It is now possible to book a flight, check in, get a boarding pass and board a plane without a single piece of paper other than your photo identification. Airlines, including KLM, Air France, Lufthansa and Air Canada, have introduced mobile-phone boarding passes.
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Friday, 03 October 2008
Gizmodo: Conspiracy theorists who believe Elvis Presley is still alive and well might be excited to learn that an e-passport containing his photograph and vital statistics was verified and accepted by a self-service terminal at an Amsterdam Airport. The problem is, the passenger was not the king of rock and roll, but a hacker who was making the case that some e-passport verification platforms still lack the basic software infrastructure necessary to spot fraudulent documentation.
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Monday, 29 September 2008
SHENZHEN, China — Universal Travel Group Inc., a growing travel-services provider in the People's Republic of China, has unveiled the TRIPEASY Travel Service Kiosk.
According to a news release, the kiosk is an interactive terminal placed in a targeted public area. Universal Travel Group says the kiosks offer real-time air ticketing inquiries, reservations and purchases, as well as hotel and tour reservations. The kiosks will provide full 360-degree views of hotels and travel destinations and accept payment via bank cards, debit cards and Visa.
Credit Suisse Research says the number of domestic Chinese travelers that use online travel services continues to rise, accounting for 16 percent of users in 2007, up from 12 percent in 2005. The company plans to introduce the kiosks in select parts of China, with approximately 600 kiosks to be rolled out this year after a one-month trial period, which ends in October.
The China Internet Network Information Center says China is the world's largest market for Internet users, yet 95 percent of Internet users still do not make purchases over the Internet.
Universal Travel Group's kiosk interface will feature the same look, feel and functionality as its Web site.
Wednesday, 24 September 2008
nstonline (Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia): Malaysia Airlines customers in Malaysia will be able to check-in via the Web and self-service kiosks for all international travel by year-end. In a statement, senior general manager of transition management, Dr Amin Khan, said international customers would be able to do Web check-in by next year. "They can also select their preferred seats online 24 hours before flight departure and print their boarding passes," he said.
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Tuesday, 23 September 2008
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Delaware North Companies has partnered with uWink to bring uWink's unique self-service and entertainment technology to the Chili's Too Margarita Bar at Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport.
According to a news release, the global hospitality, food-service and retail provider this week completed the installation of four of its uWink's touchscreen terminals at the restaurant and bar. It is the first location to use the unique technology in the airport-hospitality sector.
The Fort Lauderdale Airport was an ideal location for Delaware North to provide travelers with the uWink technology because of its selection in April to be one of 18 "Model Ports of Entry" airports. The initiative seeks to improve the experience of international visitors.
The uWink terminals will help the initiative by offering menus and games in Spanish and English. In the near future, the technology will be available in German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese and French.
"We're pushing very hard to bring cutting-edge brands to travelers across the country, so our partnership with uWink represents an incredible opportunity," said Matt King, president of Delaware North Travel Hospitality Services. "I think people are going to be blown away by how much fun they have at the uWink terminals and how convenient they are for international visitors."
Wednesday, 17 September 2008
James Bickers is the editor of Retail Customer Experience, a sister site of SelfService.org. To submit a comment about this story, e-mail .
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Fliers departing John F. Kennedy International Airport in October will experience a re-opened terminal featuring 250 touchscreen kiosks and 26 arrival and departure gates.
The kiosks from Nextep allow gate-bound travelers to choose food and drink items from multiple vendors and combine them into one order. The buyer swipes a payment card — with an option to add gratuity — and delivery to the gate is scheduled, along with estimated arrival time.
The program is part of Terminal 5's "T5 Experience," which aims to make dining at the airport something travelers will look forward to.
"The initiative also includes a focus on improved food quality, with local ingredients and a 'farmer's market'-type ambiance," said Nextep's Tommy Wojick.
Tuesday, 16 September 2008
NEWS.scotsman.com: Thousands of passengers at Edinburgh Airport are set to speed up their journey through check-in with the delivery of new self-service kiosks. Airport bosses have installed 10 of the terminals in a bid to tackle the queues. British Airways and BMI already have check-in machines for their own customers, but the £300,000 terminals installed by airport operator BAA will be open to all airlines.
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Friday, 12 September 2008
The (Singapore) Straits Times: From check-in to document scanning, baggage tagging and even boarding, more do-it-yourself options will be available to air travellers in three to five years. The airline industry, which expects to lose $5.2 billion this year, is pushing for more automation and self-service options to reduce costs, said Philippe Bruyere, a director at the International Air Transport Association. In addition to helping the airlines save money, self-service will also offer passengers more choices and flexibility he told The Straits Times yesterday.
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Thursday, 28 August 2008
Business of Cinema.com: The seven-screen multiplex Fame Malad in Mumbai, India, has introduced a specially designed ticket ATM kiosk, which provides tickets on the spot. This machine is the first of its kind in the western region. The ticket ATM kiosk has been in use for a week now, however the official launch is likely to take place Aug. 28.
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Monday, 25 August 2008
The Times of India: By 2010, all train passengers would have instant access to unreserved tickets from even the remotest corner in the country. What is more, they would be able to buy a ticket not just from the stations but several public kiosks as well, according to India's Centre for Railway Information System.
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Thursday, 21 August 2008
SOUTHLAKE, Texas — Checking in for your flight from a taxi, in a café, even while dropping the kids off at school is now a reality with the launch of Sabre Airline Solutions' new Mobile Check-In.
Launched in conjunction with Italian carrier, AirOne, Sabre's latest innovative breakthrough allows passengers to check-in for a flight, and even select their seats, using a Web-enabled mobile phone. Mobile Check-In is part of the SabreSonic suite, Sabre's flagship customer sales and service solution, and integrates with other SabreSonic self-service check-in options including Web and kiosk check-in, providing airlines with the broadest range of check-in options across all customer touch points.
"Self-service check-in is now a priority for many airlines as they look for ways to cut costs," said Gordon Locke, vice president of Airline Marketing for Sabre Holdings. "Sabre's Mobile Check-In solution not only provides the cost benefits, more importantly it improves the customer experience, making check-in more accessible, easier and faster — a real bonus for time-constrained corporate travelers."
Thursday, 14 August 2008
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: In a move to encourage more passengers to check in for flights electronically, Delta Air Lines will roll out an upgraded check-in system on some of its kiosks in Atlanta and in several other airports Aug. 14. Travis K. Kircher, editor of SelfService.org, the official site of the Self-Service & Kiosk Association, explained how important having a user-friendly interface can be when attempting to get consumer buy-in to a self-service deployment. "If consumers who are nervous already about using the technology actually walk up to a kiosk and find it's too difficult to operate ... that can discourage adoption," Kircher said.
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Monday, 11 August 2008
I4U News: Best Buy has announced the official launch of its Best Buy Express automated kiosks in airports around the U.S. The launch of the kiosks is part of a pilot program to offer familiar products at the same prices found in stores. Products that will be available in the kiosks will include computer accessories, digital cameras, flash drives, MP3 players, headphones, speakers, unlocked phones, portable game devices, gift cards, travel adapters and chargers. The kiosks will be found in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis and San Francisco. The kiosk rollout will continue through the beginning of September.
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Monday, 11 August 2008
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A spokeswoman for Transport Canada, Canada's ministry of transportation, has told SelfService.org that an investigation into alleged card fraud originating at check-in kiosks in Toronto's Pearson Airport has turned up no evidence of a data breach.
Late in July, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority announced that VISA had flagged what were believed to be suspicious patterns of credit card kiosks at the airport. Shortly thereafter, an investigation was launched to determine whether the patterns indicated criminal activity.
The Canwest News Service is reporting that VISA's investigation will continue, despite the finding.
Thursday, 07 August 2008
Gizmodo: Tests conducted for the U.K.'s Times Online have concluded that the new high-tech e-passports being distributed around the world can be hacked and cloned within minutes. A computer researcher proved it by cloning the chips in two British passports and then implanting digital images of Osama bin Laden and a suicide bomber. Both passports passed as genuine by U.N.-approved passport reader software. The entire process took less than an hour.
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Tuesday, 05 August 2008
The Indianapolis Star: ATA Airlines closed its doors in April. But remnants of the business didn't leave the company's Westside headquarters until Tuesday. Hundreds of office items were auctioned as part of the airline's bankruptcy case. Assets included items you would find in any office setting: 350 file cabinets and bookcases, 500 chairs and 127 desks. And aviation-specialty equipment that included 67 touchscreen kiosks once used by passengers for check-in.
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Tuesday, 05 August 2008
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Visitor management solutions provider STOPware Inc. has selected North Carolina-based Meridian Kiosks to produce security kiosks for its PassagePoint global visitor management solutions.
According to a press release, PassagePoint is used worldwide by the U.S. government, many Fortune 500 companies and smaller organizations to provide a visitor self-registration solution. The kiosk guides visitors through the sign-in process by scanning a driver's license, business card, visitor e-pass or after a user enters his name and the name of his company. Seconds later the kiosk generates a visitor badge.
"PassagePoint's power and convenience lets users tailor the registration process to meet their needs," said Terschuren, STOPware vice president of sales and marketing. "Using the PassagePoint Kiosk can help ensure that only the right visitors are allowed into a facility, improving guard productivity and service, enhancing company image and making a facility more secure."
Monday, 04 August 2008
The Dallas Morning News: Retail giant Best Buy has teamed up with Zoom Systems, a supplier of kiosk vending, to deploy its first-ever vending kiosk in an airport environment at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. But don't look for sodas and candybars here. This kiosk dispenses iPods, headphones and other high-end electronic goods.
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Wednesday, 30 July 2008
The (Toronto) Globe and Mail: Thirteen airlines and a number of technology companies are signing non-disclosure agreements with investigators this week as a full-scale forensic investigation of the self-service kiosks at Toronto's Pearson International Airport gets under way. Visa has been investigating credit-card systems at Canada's busiest airport because its high-tech monitoring systems, called "neural networks," flagged a pattern of fraud on credit cards of some people who had flown out of Toronto.
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Read also: Airline issues statement on alleged data breach.
Read also: Canadian airline disables card use on airport kiosks.
Read also: Investigation into airport kiosks not surprising, say experts.
Monday, 28 July 2008
Canwest News Service: Fallout continues from last week's discovery of alleged card fraud at check-in kiosks located at Toronto's Pearson airport. On July 27, 2008, the government of Ottowa directed the Greater Toronto Airport Authority to reevaluate the security measures in place at the various self-service check-in kiosks deployed at its airports.
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Read also: Investigation into Toronto airport kiosks not surprising, say experts
Monday, 28 July 2008
AsiaTravelTips.com: Visa has opened 55 blue-and-white porcelain tourist information kiosks throughout Beijing to provide multilingual information services to cardholders and international visitors traveling to China for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. The Visa kiosks — found at the Beijing Capital International Airport, Olympic venues and key tourist and shopping areas — are themed with the same blue and white brush stroke and traditional signature seal designs found on dozens of Olympic-themed Visa ATMs, making them easy for Visa cardholders to recognize.
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Friday, 25 July 2008
CanadaEast.com: The possibility that self-serve kiosks at Toronto's Pearson airport were targeted by credit card fraudsters left passengers wary Thursday while at least one expert said it's not surprising an airport would be targeted given the dramatic rise in credit fraud. "When people think of airports, they think of highly secure, security-focused environments," said Michael Geist, a University of Ottawa law professor specializing in Internet and privacy issues. "So the notion that in that very environment you could have a significant security breach, many would find troubling."
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Read also: WestJet issues statement on alleged data breach.
Thursday, 24 July 2008
Globe and Mail (Toronto): WestJet plans to disable the credit-card readers in kiosks that customers use to check-in for its flights at 28 Canadian airports, as a precaution in the wake of an investigation into the kiosks' security. Credit-card companies are conducting an investigation into the security of data that's inputted at 150 self-serve kiosks at Toronto's Pearson International Airport, after financial institutions that issue credit cards spotted isolated patterns of fraud on cards of people who had travelled through the airport.
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SEE ALSO: Canadian airport kiosks investigated for possible card fraud
Thursday, 24 July 2008
ALBERTA, Canada — WestJet, an airline based in Canada, has issued a statement regarding a report of alleged fraudulent activity involving customer credit card information potentially emanating from self-service check-in kiosks at Toronto's Pearson International Airport. WestJet announced that it will disable its credit card check-in functionality at all airport kiosks across Canada, according to a news release.
"Despite the fact that there does not appear to be any fraud committed, we're not prepared to take any chances with our guests' credit card information," said Ken McKenzie, WestJet executive vice president of operations. "Until we know what's happened, if in fact anything has, this is the best way to protect our guests. We take our guests' credit card information very seriously. It is part of the trust our guests place in us, and it's an integral part of our values as an organization."
"Once the investigation is complete, we will take whatever action may be necessary," said McKenzie. "In the meantime, disabling the credit card reading function at airport kiosks used by our guests ensure WestJet is doing its part."
Read also: Canadian airport kiosks investigated for possible card fraud.
Wednesday, 23 July 2008
The (Ontario, Canada) Mississauga News: The kiosks that provide customer services at Pearson International Airport in Canada are at the center of an investigation into potential credit card fraud after financial institutions raised concerns about potential security problems. Earlier this month, Gary Long, chief information officer for the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, sent a letter to technology firms servicing the kiosks that said VISA is investigating use of credit cards at the airport.
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Tuesday, 08 July 2008
Washington Post: While Brill's Verified Identity Pass is the dominant player in the new registered traveler industry, with kiosks in many major airports to register new members, new startup Fast Lane Option (FLO), is targeting itinerant businessmen for its kiosk-lined, fast-pass airport security service. While the two companies are quick to point out each other’s faults, the market will determine the winner.
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Friday, 20 June 2008
(Little Rock, Ark.) KLRT-TV, Channel 16: Travellers running late for a business trip or vacation who dash out the door and forget necessities like their digital camera or laptop, can now pick up these items on the fly. The number of items available for purchase or rental in self-service kiosks has jumped 15 percent to 20 percent in the last few years. Mp3 players, play stations, curling irons, digital cameras — even laptop computers — now can be obtained via self-service kiosk technology.
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Wednesday, 11 June 2008
CHANTILLY, Virginia — GAMUT Systems has announced that TRAVELER has been selected and implemented by the Bolivian Ministry of Tourism to provide real-time information for travelers using interactive informational kiosks installed throughout the 3 largest cities in Bolivia; La Paz, Santa Cruz and Cochabamba.
TRAVELER is an interactive and scalable composite application solution from GAMUT which integrates data from disparate sources into a single-view touchscreen user interface, whereby users can quickly gain access to information on various points of interest within a specified locale.
TRAVELER operates online via the Internet as well as on a desktop or personal data computer (PDA). TRAVELER is also available in several languages such as English, Spanish, French, and German. In addition, TRAVELER deploys a built-in advertising screen-saver which constantly scrolls through local ads and events and even exhibits a virtual keyboard for custom ad hoc searches.
Tuesday, 03 June 2008
Aruba.com: The Aruba Airport Authority has announced that KLM and Martinair passengers can use newly installed Common Use Self Service (CUSS) check-in kiosks to check in and print their own boarding passes. The airport claims it is the first Caribbean airport to offer the service.
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Monday, 02 June 2008
ABC7 (San Francisco, Calif.): A first-of-its kind service for BART public transport riders started recently. You can not only enjoy the ride, you can enjoy a book from the BART library, available right at an automated book lending system. There are 400 fiction and non-fiction books inside the kiosk and all you need is your Contra Costa County library card to access it. You can check out up to three books at a time. You can keep the books for three weeks and then you have to return the books to the kiosk.
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Friday, 30 May 2008
BELLEVUE, Wash. — Coinstar E-Payment Services, a subsidiary of Coinstar Inc., has announced that its full range of Pay As You Go products and services will be available in TravelCenters of America full-service travel centers.
The lineup of Coinstar Pay As You Go products includes prepaid wireless, long distance, gift cards, financial services such as prepaid re-loadable and one-time gift debit cards. These products and services will be available at more than 230 TA and Petro locations.
TA and Petro have already installed other Coinstar products, including amusement vending equipment, in more than 85 locations as well as a number of coin counting locations.
Thursday, 15 May 2008
Washington Post: Travelers who love going abroad — but hate the tedious customs process — soon might be able to avoid customs altogether. Dulles International Airport has been selected for a pilot program that will let U.S. citizens and others who qualify to check themselves through customs at a self-service kiosk. Enrollees would pay a yearly fee of $100, go through a background check and then take a biometrics test to get through the process.
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Monday, 21 April 2008
Cheapflights.com: Passengers traveling between China and the U.S. will soon be able to take advantage of self-service check-in kiosks at Shanghai Pudong Airport. The newly opened Terminal 2 building, used by international passengers, has been fitted with 80 Common Use Self-Service (CUSS) units. Northwest Airlines will be the first carrier to offer self-service tickets at the airport, with several other carriers expected to follow suit over the next few months.
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Monday, 21 April 2008
Easier Travel: Flybe, a low cost European airline, has completed the installation of 64 new self-service electronic check-in kiosks at regional airports across the UK. The kiosks, placed at 13 UK airports at which Flybe is based, were installed by ARINC Inc., a provider of check in and boarding systems.
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Thursday, 17 April 2008
LAS VEGAS—It was triple vision for SoloHealth at KioskCom’s Self Service Excellence awards ceremony as its innovative EyeSite kiosk won two of three categories where it had been entered and snagged the day’s grand prize, the Best of the Best, for receiving the most votes of entries in all categories.
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David Drain (left), executive director of the Self-Service & Kiosk Association, congratulates IBM's Cortlandt Johnson, who was inducted into the association's hall of fame.
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Users of the EyeSite kiosk enter sight-related information on a touchscreen, such as the person’s age, the date of his last eye exam and whether he wears contacts or glasses. The kiosk then presents a series of stimuli for both near and distance vision. A printout of the results and a video analysis help the user determine the next steps for eye care.
In addition to overall best, the application was voted best healthcare application and best new innovation in a kiosk deployment. Manufacturer KIOSK Information Systems and software vendor Netkey submitted the kiosk for the Self Service Excellence awards, which were presented on the first day of KioskCom Self Service Expo.
For the first time, the Self-Service and Kiosk Association announced its Hall of Fame inductees as part of the awards ceremony. They were Cortlandt Johnson and Janet Webster. Johnson’s background includes helping Eastman Kodak develop the first photo kiosk and being a leader of self-service technology at IBM. He also helped found the association. Webster, who manages self-service for the United States Postal Service, is responsible for the deployment of 2,500 Automated Postal Center kiosks. For 2005, she was the recipient of the 2005 Kiosk Industry Leader of the Year Award in the Deployer category.
Below are all entries and winners of the KioskCom Self Service Excellence Awards.
Best Retail Deployment
• Cabelas - Best Retail Deployment, submitted by KIOSK Information Systems
• Self-Service Networks: Electronic Gift Card Dispenser, submitted by Self-Service Networks
• WINNER: Self-Service Networks: Thule Interactive Point-of-Purchase, submitted by Self-Service Networks
Best Financial Services Deployment
• Alltel BillPay Kiosk, submitted by Source Technologies
• Automated Commerce Machine (ACM), submitted by Pay-Ease LLC
• WINNER: Multi-Function Financial Services Kiosk, submitted by INFONOX
Best Goverment/Education/Non-Profit Agency Deployment
• WINNER: Automated Commerce Machine (ACM), submitted by Pay-Ease LLC
• Barcelona City Council Service Kiosk, submitted by FOCUS ON EMOTIONS
• SWANSON SERVICES CORPORATION COBRA KIOSK, submitted by Source Technologies
Best Travel/Hospitality Deployment
• Northwest Airlines Mobile Website, submitted by Northwest Airlines
• WINNER: PDC Smart Kiosk, submitted by MEI
• SITA S2 AirportConnect Kiosk, submitted by SITA
Best Entertainment/Gaming Deployment
• Dave & Buster's Loyalty Kiosk, submitted by KIOSK Information Systems
• WINNER: Foxwoods Resort Casino Promotions Kiosk, submitted by Livewire International
• SanDisk Digital Media Download Kiosk, submitted by Nanonation
Best Healthcare Deployment
• WINNER: EyeSite Kiosk by SoloHealth, submitted by Netkey and KIOSK Information Systems
• Patient Passport Express, submitted by D2 Sales
• Phreesia - The Patient Check-in Company, submitted by Phreesia, Inc.
• RemoteNurse Patient Monitor, submitted by Elo TouchSystems
Best Food Service Deployment
• Mandalay Bay - Bayside Buffet, submitted by NCR Corporation and MGM
• WINNER: Prepayment Kiosk by School-Link Technologies, submitted by MEI
Best Other Industry Deployment
• BMW ICS (Indoor Communication System), submitted by Reality Interactive
• EyeSite Kiosk by SoloHealth, submitted by Netkey, KIOSK Information Systems
• WINNER: Ford SYNC Kiosk, submitted by Frank Mayer & Associates, Inc., Wireless Ronin Inc.
Best Overall Software Solution
• BMW ICS (Indoor Communication System), submitted by Reality Interactive
• WINNER: Dave & Buster's Loyalty Kiosk, submitted by KIOSK Information Systems, St. Clair Interactive
• Showroom Technology SHOW/PRO V3 Kiosk, submitted by Netkey
Best Hardware/Enclosure Design
• Automated Commerce Machine (ACM), submitted by Pay-Ease, LLC
• BMW ICS (Indoor Communication System), submitted by Reality Interactive
• WINNER: CVD's, submitted by CVD, Inc.
Best New Innovation in a Kiosk Deployment
• WINNER: EyeSite Kiosk by SoloHealth, submitted by KIOSK Information Systems & Netkey
• Live Nation - Interactive Mobile Phone Digital Signage, submitted by Nanonation
• Phreesia - The Patient Check-in Company, submitted by Phreesia
• Qflix, submitted by Sonic Solutions
Best of the Best
EyeSite Kiosk by SoloHealth, Netkey & KIOSK Information Systems
Industry Deployer of the Year
David Forbes, exec director, IT, AT&T, for his work using kiosks and digital signage to enhance the customer experience for mobile customers.
Monday, 07 April 2008
LONDON — Ryanair has said it will submit a High Court appeal against the Irish aviation regulator's recent decision to allow a Dublin airport to increase charges to airlines.
The low-cost carrier claims the Dublin Airport Authority has allowed a 50-percent hike in check-in desk charges and a doubling of charges for check-in kiosks at Dublin airport.
“Airport costs at most UK and European airports are falling thanks to lower cost facilities and competition. But in Ireland this regulator is allowing ... price increases at the DAA monopoly,” said Michael O'Leary, Ryanair's chief executive.
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Tuesday, 25 March 2008
Stuff.co.nz (New Zealand): Kiwis flying across the region could soon be getting through airports more quickly with the help of automatic passport-reading machines. New Zealand and Australian travelers with electronic passports will be able to put themselves through passport control without having to queue. Passengers put their passports into a kiosk that downloads details, including an electronic image of the passport holder's face. Passengers are then given a coupon for a gate, at which cameras and computers use facial recognition technology to do the checks now done by customs officers.
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Wednesday, 12 March 2008
LONDON — In partnership with AV reseller Audio Visual Solutions Ltd, Working Solutions has installed its new Acquire Bluetooth application on three LCD kiosks at London Luton Airport. Protouch supplied the kiosks, which house 40-inch LCD screens.
Powered by the Acquire Kiosk Designer software application, the three kiosks provide multifunctional assistance for airport customers. Both 3D airport and destinations maps were repurposed so that they suited kiosk use. Customers also can give their opinion on the standard of airport facilities by using the touchscreen feedback form. In addition, customers can download offers from the terminal’s retail outlets.
The Bluetooth application, developed by Working Solutions’ in-house programming team, works in conjunction with the Acquire software platform. Using a Bluetooth transceiver device connected to the kiosk, the software searches for Bluetooth activated devices, usually mobile phones, with a predetermined radius. When the kiosk promotion is touched by the user, the transceiver broadcasts its offer – in this case, an image of the special offer. If the mobile phone user chooses to accept the offer, their phone downloads the image. This image can then no longer be downloaded to the same phone unless the phone leaves the area for a predetermined length of time. Any user who refuses the image will not be sent that image again, so users are not bombarded with Bluetooth offers that they do not want. And for those newer mobile phones that have a default security function that asks for a 4-digit pairing code to be entered before the image is accepted, the kiosk provides this information as an on-screen instruction.
Wednesday, 12 March 2008
DAYTON, Ohio — Self-service check-in kiosks from NCR Corp. have been added to 13 airports throughout Latin America. The units will serve those customers flying on Continental Airlines.
Continental has installed the NCR kiosks in Acapulco, Mexico; Bogota, Colombia; Cali, Colombia; Mexico City; Guadalajara, Mexico; Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Monterrey, Mexico; Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Belize, Belize; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Aguadilla, Puerto Rico; Panama City, Panama; and Managua, Nicaragua.
NCR self-check-in kiosks utilize Common Use Self-Service technology, which allows different airline applications to run concurrently on a single self-service device. The kiosks also feature an integrated bar code imager, to help enable customer identification, as well as an integrated passport reader to cater to international travelers. NCR will also provide preventive and hardware maintenance services to help ensure consistent service delivery and product uptime throughout Continental’s locations.
Friday, 07 March 2008
The Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch: Columbus-based Skybus announced that its self-service kiosks at Port Columbus are set to be moved further from its ticket counter by Thursday night to alleviate crowding at peak hours as the spring-break travel season nears. Crowding in the Skybus ticket counter area, particularly early in the morning, caused some delays during the winter holidays.
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Friday, 07 March 2008
Isle of Man Newspapers: FlyBe has announced it may charge passengers in the future for using its check-in desks at Ronaldsway Airport. The airline plans to install self-service kiosks to speed up the process of checking in for flights. A spokesman for FlyBe said that passengers who wanted to continue to use the traditional check-in desk rather than the self-service kiosks could be charged for doing so in the future.
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Tuesday, 04 March 2008
Peanuts! Online: Ryanair has published its submission to the Aviation Regulator, opposing the latest increases in airport charges at Dublin Airport. The charges includes a 50 percent increase for check-in desk rentals and a new double charge for the floor space for self-service kiosks in the terminal at Dublin Airport.
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Tuesday, 04 March 2008
Associated Press: Passengers using United Airlines' "Easy Check-In" found it anything but that on Leap Day when the automated system crashed, resulting in longer lines. The nation's No. 2 carrier blames the service interruption on software issues related to the leap year. Spokeswoman Megan McCarthy says customers were still able to check in online and with customer service agents but not at Easy Check-In kiosks for several hours. She says the units are now back in service.
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Tuesday, 04 March 2008
The Rocky Mountain News: Verified Identity Pass has opened an enrollment kiosk in Boulder for its Clear Registered Traveler program, which allows members to use separate security lanes at participating airports. Applicants first must register at flyclear.com and then visit an enrollment kiosk, where they're required to provide biometric data such as fingerprints.
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Tuesday, 04 March 2008
The (Qatar) Gulf Times: Qatar Airways has set up frequent flyer enrollment kiosks at Doha International Airport to provide more self-service capabilities to Privilege Club loyalty members. Each of the four airport lounges now has a kiosk, which allows passengers to enroll in the airline’s frequent flyer program and receive their personalized and magnetically encoded membership card within seconds of enrolling.
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Tuesday, 26 February 2008
DAYTON, Ohio — AeroMexico has announced it recently deployed 32 self-check-in kiosks from NCR Corp. in the new Terminal 2 at Benito Juárez International Airport in Mexico City. The airline currently offers NCR self-check-in kiosks at seven additional locations throughout Mexico, including Guadalajara, Monterrey, Culiacán, Chihuahua, Torreón, Tijuana and Villahermosa.
Powered by NCR’s Kinetics self-service travel software platform, the kiosks feature an integrated bar code imager to help enable customer identification, as well as an integrated passport reader to cater to international travelers. The NCR kiosks also feature Kinetics’ Common Use Self-Service technology, which allows different airline applications to run concurrently on a single self-service device.
"As Mexico continues to grow into one of the world’s top destinations for travel and tourism, airlines in the region must increasingly differentiate themselves by offering time savings and convenience to their customers," said Michael O’Laughlin, NCR vice president for the Caribbean and Latin America.
NCR will also provide preventive and hardware maintenance services to help assure consistent service delivery and product uptime throughout AeroMexico’s locations.
Monday, 18 February 2008
USA Today: Alaska Airlines opened a second cluster of self-service kiosks and bag drop-off pods at Seattle-Tacoma. It's another step toward Alaska's goal of overhauling its check-in procedures. The Seattle-based carrier is spending $18 million to renovate its ticketing lobby at Sea-Tac in three phases. Each phase consists of a cluster of 11 kiosks and 16 bag-drop pods. The last will open in the summer.
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Monday, 18 February 2008
USA Today: All gates at Lufthansa's Frankfurt hub are now equipped for self-boarding. A scanner reads the bar code on the pass and lets passengers walk through a turnstile to board the aircraft. An agent is usually present to deal with only non-routine matters, such as torn or damaged passes. Flights to the USA, Canada and the United Kingdom still board passengers the old-fashioned way, with agents checking identification.
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Monday, 18 February 2008
The (San Jose, Calif.) Mercury News: Train riders at a San Francisco area train station will soon have the Contra Costa County library system at their fingertips. The last station on the East County BART line — through which about 5,000 people travel each weekday — will be one of the first places in the country to carry an automated book-borrowing kiosk. It resembles an ATM, except it holds 400 popular paperback titles instead of cash. Others will be added later at a shopping center in Discovery Bay, a transit village near the Pleasant Hill BART station and a site in West County not yet chosen. The machines will be considered part of the county library system, which will operate and maintain them. The approximately $95,000 for each kiosk is being paid for by grants from the California State Library and Bay Area Library and Information System, and the books for the first machine will be stocked by multimedia supplier Baker & Taylor Inc.
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Wednesday, 13 February 2008
MSNBC: It is cavernous enough to hold 50 soccer fields, it cost $8.6 billion to build and it is designed to handle 30 million people a year. It is the nearly completed Terminal 5 at Heathrow International Airport, the largest of London’s five major airports. Passengers at the terminal are greeted by 96 metallic blue check-in kiosks.
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Monday, 11 February 2008
Russia-InfoCentre: Self-service check-in kiosks are expected to appear in all Moscow airports this year, according to a new report. With the help of the new system, passengers will be able to get boarding passes on their own, which will considerably reduce queues and the time check-in normally takes. At the moment these universal kiosks are working in a limited regime and for passengers of a few airlines only. However, in March 2008 such kiosks will become available to all passengers.
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Friday, 08 February 2008
The Times of India: Mumbai airport's international terminal will hopefully see less of those long check-in queues this summer. About 20 self-service check-in kiosks will be installed at city hotels which will allow people to complete the check-in formalities for their flight when they check out of the hotel.
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Wednesday, 06 February 2008
TULSA, Okla. — Alamo Rent A Car is nearing a remarkable milestone: its one millionth kiosk rental. Alamo is hundreds of thousands of kiosk rentals ahead of its competitors, who have adopted Alamo’s strategy to save customers time and make travel more convenient.
“Almost one million customers have skipped the rental counter because self-service eliminates one more hassle from the travel experience — and they’re getting to where they’re going quicker,” said Greg Stubblefield, president of Alamo Rent A Car. “Customers already are comfortable using kiosks to check in for flights, so we created the Alamo kiosk for car rental as a natural progression.”
After successful testing in Dallas, Las Vegas, and Jacksonville, Alamo began installing kiosks throughout its network of rental locations in November 2006. Today, Alamo operates 159 kiosks at 65 U.S. locations in 28 states and the District of Columbia, and it continues to refine the technology and expand the number of kiosk locations. Alamo expects to reach its one millionth kiosk rental within the next few weeks.
Last year, the success and popularity of the kiosks earned Alamo the “Extra Mile Award” from Budget Travel magazine.
Alamo’s touchscreen kiosk allows customers with a valid driver’s license and a major credit card to skip lines at the rental counter and check in directly. After a customer agrees to terms and conditions, a receipt-sized rental agreement is printed at the kiosk, and the customer is directed to their rental car on the lot. At the exit booth, the customer shows the booth agent the rental agreement, driver’s license and credit card — and simply drives away.
The kiosk also allows the customer to review rental information, upgrade to a larger class car, add drivers and purchase optional items such as a GPS unit and prepaid gasoline.
Wednesday, 06 February 2008
Helicopter Association International: ARINC Inc. has announced a new technology agreement with the Montego Bay, Jamaica, airport to deliver passenger technologies including common-use passenger kiosks for Sangster International Airport. In a first for any major Caribbean airport, MBJA will deploy twenty ARINC SelfServ passenger check-in kiosks for common use by passengers of all participating airlines. The complete installation will include 150 new check-in kiosks.
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Tuesday, 05 February 2008
Business Week: No ID? No problem. In Sweden, all the identification you need to board an airplane is now at your fingertips. Scandinavian Airlines Sweden now allows travelers with luggage to board domestic flights by providing a scan of their index fingerprint.
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Thursday, 03 January 2008
The Globe and Mail: The trend toward self-service kiosks at airports will accelerate this year. That's good news for tech-savvy travellers who prefer punching a few buttons over waiting in line up to talk to an agent. But for some, the future could be an intimidating place.
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Monday, 17 December 2007
Stuff.co.nz: New Zealand's customs has shelved plans to trial a self-service kiosk at Auckland's airport that would have let frequent fliers re-enter the country without having their passports checked at a manned customs booth. Customs issued a tender for the self-service kiosk trial in March last year, envisaging a kiosk would be used by about 1,000 frequent fliers who had pre-enrolled to take part in the trial. The kiosk was to have been equipped with a scanner capable of checking machine-readable passports, a camera and facial recognition software, and might also have been able to check passengers' fingerprints against prints passengers had provided when they enrolled.
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Monday, 17 December 2007
USA Today: London Heathrow's new Terminal 5, which opens in March, will feature a new car-finding technology that should help passengers who can't remember where they parked. Using infrared cameras and sensors, the system captures an image of a car's license plate as it enters the terminal's main garage. The cameras, which are placed throughout each level of the 3,700-space garage, then take more shots of the car's plate, including one at its parking spot. Passengers who return from their trip can find the car by inserting the parking ticket or keying in the plate number at a Car Finder kiosk in the terminal.
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Thursday, 13 December 2007
CNNMoney.com: Aloha Airlines has chosen IBM to expand its customer service offerings. IBM's self-service systems give travelers more options for using the Web as well as kiosks to check-in without waiting, check baggage and choose amenities such as lounge access and in-flight meals. Additionally, with IBM's solutions, Aloha Air customers will be able to select group check-in, purchase upgrades and manage their frequent flyer accounts. The system allows for the retrieval of passenger records by barcode scan from itinerary or passenger loyalty card.
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Monday, 10 December 2007
Easier Travel: The use of the Icelandair self-service kiosks in Keflavik, Iceland, has increased rapidly. A third of passengers use one of the 18 self-service kiosks to check in. These kiosks were introduced just over a year and a half ago and allow Icelandair passengers to check into all Icelandair destinations and to select seats on the plane.
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Wednesday, 05 December 2007
USA Today: Continental Airlines passengers in Houston will be able to board flights using just a cell phone or personal-digital assistant instead of a regular boarding pass in a three-month test program launched recently at Bush Intercontinental Airport. The program could expand to airlines and airports nationwide. If a passenger's cell phone or mobile device loses power, the passenger can get a paper boarding pass from a kiosk or a Continental agent.
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Tuesday, 04 December 2007
The Denver Post: Travelers looking for the fast lane at Denver International Airport can start at the Hyatt Regency Tech Center. The Denver Tech Center hotel has installed a kiosk from Clear, a New York-based company that provides an airport-security fast-pass program. Customers pay an annual $99 fee to Clear to go through a special security lane at 11 airports nationwide. The concierge-type service lane is expected to be in operation at DIA in January and promises to help Clear members get through a special security line faster than a basic security line.
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Monday, 03 December 2007
Chicago Tribune: The computers handling United Airlines check-ins and reservations crashed companywide for several hours Friday, causing long lines at check-in counters as agents filled out tickets and baggage tags by hand.
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Friday, 30 November 2007
The Charlotte Examiner: Brothers Mark and Michael Ionescu have developed GPS-based software for touchscreen kiosks that help people access information on restaurants, events and shopping in Baltimore City and Baltimore County. The kiosks, which prints directions for free, are located at three downtown hotels · the Tremont Plaza, the Sheraton Inner Harbor and the Holiday Inn Express · as well as the Maryland Science Center and the Baltimore National Aquarium.
Wednesday, 28 November 2007
Aviation Week: Hot trends in airport design include an increase in self-service kiosks, more concessions to deal with longer dwell times and better uses of security space, said Thomas Rossbach, associate vice president and aviation market sector director for HNTB Architecture.
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Wednesday, 21 November 2007
KATU-TV (Portland, Ore.): Kiosks are meant to speed up the check-in process at the airport, but security experts say they could be open doors for terrorists to hide their identities on U.S. jets.
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Tuesday, 20 November 2007
CHICAGO · In an effort to help travelers during the holiday season, United Airlines has added 140 self-service kiosks in the gate areas of some of the busiest airports, so when United automatically rebooks customers who are experiencing delays or cancellations, travelers can print their new boarding passes without having to go through security again.
These kiosks also have United's Easy Rebook software that enables customers to make changes to their itineraries, such as placing themselves on the stand-by list for an earlier flight.
United is also adding more than 78 Easy Bag Claim kiosks in the baggage claim areas of our busiest airports. These kiosks enable customers to scan the barcodes on their baggage claim tags to see exactly where their bag is and to which claim belt it will be delivered.
Tuesday, 20 November 2007
The Financial Express: The International Air Transport Association has released a report which shows that not only are passengers accepting high-tech travel options, but they are demanding even more opportunities to take control of their travel experience. The Association, in its annual Corporate Air Travel Survey of more than 10,000 active travelers, showed that 89 percent of responding travelers preferred e-tickets to paper tickets, 56 percent had experienced Internet check-in and 69 percent has used self-service kiosks.
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Friday, 16 November 2007
Information Week: Air passengers at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport can try out the latest technology during a new Traveler TechFest. The technology on display includes six PowerPort laptop rental, charge, and recharge kiosks, 14 automated Zoomsystem kiosks, 50 Neptune Network Internet Kiosks and seven Samsung display kiosks. The event, which continues through December, features demonstrations, displays, prizes, and freebies from Samsung, Apple, Sony, and Motorola. The Dallas airport says it hosted the event to show that it's one of the most technology-friendly airports in the world.
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Wednesday, 14 November 2007
EXTON, Pa. · Scala Inc. announced that Carnival Cruise Lines now features Scala InfoChannel Digital Signage on all of its cruise ships.
Scala InfoChannel powers a variety of Carnival Cruise Lines' shipboard information displays. From large format 61-inch plasma screens to 32-inch LCD's, Scala InfoChannel has been adaptable to a variety of display platforms, including several large screen interactive kiosks, providing Carnival's guests access to large amounts of information, quickly and easily. The touch-enabled Digital Signage Kiosks are used by guests to access information about deck plans, onboard events, dining times, shore excursions and other port-of-call information.
Carnival Cruise Lines first implemented Scala InfoChannel on its vessels in 2001, with the introduction of the Carnival Spirit · the first vessel to carry digital signage. Since then, Carnival has deployed more than 150 units across the fleet, and extended installations to the cruise terminals in a variety of embarkation ports. To run this operation, Carnival employs a group of A/V professionals dedicated to the installation, maintenance, programming and design of the entire network of units.
With vessels situated in the Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, and cruise terminals in Florida, California, and Puerto Rico, the company performs all content updates from its Miami headquarters via satellite.
Tuesday, 13 November 2007
San Diego Union-Tribune: Balboa Park has three new tour guides: 12-foot-tall kiosks that provide convenient, easy-to-use information for visitors to the sprawling park. In addition to maps of the park, the computerized kiosks offer the lowdown on museums, gardens and restaurants. Visitors also can get cash from ATMs or e-mail a Balboa Park postcard to friends. The kiosks also provide Wi-Fi coverage in surrounding areas.
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Monday, 29 October 2007
Orlando Business Journal: AirTran Airways has introduced a new Mobile Web program that allows customers to view their flight status, check in for flights and select seats using their personal mobile devices and cell phones. When checking in through their mobile devices, customers can obtain printed boarding passes at ByePass kiosks or AirTran ticket counters. AirTran plans to add more capabilities in the future.
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Monday, 22 October 2007
Management Consultancy: 89 percent of airlines expect to offer check-in over the Web within the next two years, in response to accelerating take-up of self-service technologies by passengers. More than half of 100 airlines surveyed now offer online check-in · compared to 42 percent last year · with 100 percent implementation among low-cost carriers and the top 25 passenger-carrying airlines, according to the ninth annual Airline IT Trends Survey, sponsored by travel IT supplier SITA.
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Friday, 19 October 2007
Silicon.com: SITA found on average 21 percent of passengers use online check-in and this is expected to increase to 35 percent by the end of 2008. Passengers also are turning to self-service kiosks to avoid queues with 37 percent of plane travelers expected to use these kiosks during 2007, rising to 49 percent next year. E-ticketing also is becoming the norm with 86 percent of all tickets issued expected to be in this form by the end of 2008.
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Friday, 19 October 2007
North-West Evening Mail (Cumbria, England): The Children's Information Service is working with Kiosks4Business to install parent information kiosks in children's centers at Barrow's Bram Longstaffe Children's Centre and at the Lakes Children's Centre at Ambleside Library. If families find the kiosks useful in this pilot scheme, more will be installed in children's centres across the county.
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Tuesday, 16 October 2007
MIAMI · American Airlines has announced that it continues to see unprecedented growth at Miami International Airport. To accommodate the growing traffic at the Miami hub, American has been working with the Miami-Dade Aviation Department to expedite construction of the North Terminal Project. The recent opening of the South Terminal will allow the closing of Concourse A and for American to operate in Concourses C, D and E.
When the North Terminal project is complete, American will operate from a new, state-of-the-art terminal with 50 international gates, an automated people-mover system, 49 ticket counter positions, 90 self-service check-in devices, 20 staffed self-service baggage check-in positions, a new baggage handling system, and a new Customs facility.
American recently added curbside check-in for international passengers at Miami, the only carrier to offer this service. It also has added 23 new self-service check-in stations and a new security checkpoint at Concourse E to accelerate the flow of traffic within the airport.
Sunday, 14 October 2007
The San Francisco Chronicle: In recent years, the airline boarding pass has gone from a bulky packet of paper you received in the mail to an e-mail that you can print out at home. But the incredible shrinking boarding pass may not be done evolving. Soon, it may become a tiny digital barcode that sits on your cell phone screen. The International Air Transport Association, which represents 240 airlines, said it has taken a step toward allowing passengers to check in for flights using a barcode sent to their cell phones via e-mail or text message, making the process truly paperless.
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Sunday, 14 October 2007
The San Francisco Chronicle: In recent years, the airline boarding pass has gone from a bulky packet of paper you received in the mail to an e-mail that you can print out at home. But the incredible shrinking boarding pass may not be done evolving. Soon, it may become a tiny digital barcode that sits on your cell phone screen. The International Air Transport Association, which represents 240 airlines, said it has taken a step toward allowing passengers to check in for flights using a barcode sent to their cell phones via e-mail or text message, making the process truly paperless.
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Thursday, 11 October 2007
USA Today: In a move that could save air travelers time, more U.S. airports are installing common-use kiosks that enable self-check-in for multiple airlines. Nine U.S. airports now have the devices to supplement or replace the airlines' own self-check-in kiosks. That's up from two airports five years ago. Among the places they can be found: Seattle-Tacoma, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Washington Dulles. Airports own the CUSS kiosks and often place them in terminal areas not occupied by an airline. This spreads out travelers away from airline counters, improving the flow of people, says Byford Treanor, an executive at Dallas/Fort Worth. That airport has 51 CUSS kiosks. It plans to buy more.
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Tuesday, 02 October 2007
CNNMoney.com: GE Homeland Protection Inc. has announced it has begun a development program designed to create an automated air passenger identification system potentially more effective and less costly than the manual processes employed at today's airport screening lanes. The aviation identity kiosk development program seeks to supplement advances in passenger screening already attained by GE Security's Checkpoint of the Future initiative, bringing an advanced technology solution to the head of the security lane where passengers' government-issued ID photos are currently compared by security officials with faces and the names on boarding passes.
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Tuesday, 02 October 2007
The Australian: Jetstar Airways has signed a $3 million agreement with IBM Corp. to establish and support the carrier's domestic Web check-in and kiosk solutions. Jetstar and IBM Global Business Services will introduce Internet check-in capability and 32 airport check-in kiosk units during the first implementation phase at Jetstar's major domestic gateway airports.
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Friday, 21 September 2007
PHOENIX, Ariz. · SuperShuttle has introduced a kiosk for its shared-ride ground transportation at Baltimore-Washington International Airport. Passengers using SuperShuttle transportation will be able to book, confirm and pay for their reservations at the SuperShuttle Kiosk located in the ground transportation area, next to the SuperShuttle service counters.
Other airports in the SuperShuttle system including Dulles and Reagan in the Washington, D.C. area, Denver International, Denver; George Bush International, Houston; Austin-Bergstrom International, Austin, Texas; Kansas City International Airport, Kansas City, Mo.; Minneapolis-St. Paul International and Sacramento International in California will all be adding kiosk over the next 10-12 months.
Monday, 17 September 2007
The Associated Press: It's a discouraging sight for busy travelers: throngs of people huddled around a lone power outlet at an airport gate, all of them hoping to recharge their BlackBerries, laptops and other gadgets. Across the country, airports are trying to bring precious energy more conveniently to millions of travelers who rely on a plethora of battery-powered devices. Their solution: kiosks.
Monday, 17 September 2007
Chicago Tribune: The Transportation Security Administration is working with six airports to provide another option for harried travelers with prohibited items. The Mailsafe Express program allows passengers to mail prohibited items or have them held at the airport for their return without ever leaving the security line. A TSA officer escorts the passenger to an ATM-looking kiosk and puts the prohibited item in an envelope and in the kiosk.
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Friday, 14 September 2007
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. · Kern County, California has announced the installation of outdoor touchscreen interactive visitor information kiosks at the Flying J Travel Plaza, in Lebec, California. The installation incorporates the collaborative technologies and efforts of four display companies, Jupiterbay, Kortek, NextWindow and Display Devices.
The large-format display is the first of the roughly nine kiosks that are anticipated to placed throughout Kern County. In addition to general countywide dining, lodging and attraction visitor information, each kiosk will feature site-specific information as well, including such sites as the Mojave Space Center and the Bakersfield Airport.
Kern County Executive Director, Rick Davis, said that he had a virtual tourism kiosk in mind when he first attended KioskCom and saw the Kortek all-in-one 46-inch interactive display, which ultimately would become the model for the Kern County installation.
Friday, 14 September 2007
Smarter Travel: As the automatic doors part, you step into your familiar old airport. Except it's not familiar at all. Gone are the ticket clerks, baggage handlers and other airline personnel you've long depended on to get you and your luggage to your destination. You walk up to a kiosk and check in for your flight by waving your cell phone at a laser, then drop your suitcase into a chute and proceed to security. You're ready to fly and it's only been three minutes, but you haven't interacted with a soul. The fictitious scenario above could become reality if the proposals for Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport come to fruition.
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Wednesday, 12 September 2007
WARSAW, Ind. · The Fort Wayne/Allen County Convention and Visitors Bureau has partnered with Video and Sound Productions to launch interactive kiosks to promote the community.
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Christopher Sanchez, Video and Sound Production's executive producer, demonstrates the new touchscreen kiosks to Fort Wayne residents.
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The interactive information centers will be located in high-traffic locations such as Fort Wayne's Spiece Field House, the Grand Wayne Center and the airport.
The touchscreen kiosks allow people to learn more about the community, tourist attractions and places to do business in and around Fort Wayne. The interactive kiosks feature pictures, graphics, video, audio, unique animations and printing capabilities.
Tuesday, 11 September 2007
Air Transport World: Air France will pilot a program by year end that will use biometric information encrypted on a small card to enable a passenger to obtain a boarding pass from a kiosk in the terminal and will provide access to a boarding portal.
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Friday, 31 August 2007
USA Today: Hertz has introduced a new budget car rental program, "Simply Wheelz," with online booking, self-service rental kiosks and rates starting as low as $15 per weekend day (two-day minimum) and $94 a week. Customers pick up their cars using one-stop rental kiosks, which scan a bar code from the printed Web reservation and also scans the renter's driver's license. The customer selects a few additional options, such as additional drivers and insurance/waiver options, and then the machine assigns a vehicle and prints the rental agreement. The key is in the waiting car.
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Thursday, 30 August 2007
NEW YORK CITY · American Airlines formally unveiled its new terminal at New York JFK Airport this week. The terminal is reportedly the largest construction project the airport has undergone in decades. The 88,600-square-foot lobby has 44 self-service kiosks in a separate area, where a few agents will be stationed to help customers use the machines and check bags. The kiosks can handle both domestic and international flights.
Tuesday, 21 August 2007
New Orleans City Business: Touchscreen kiosks have been installed at the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau. The kiosks offer information about topics ranging from live music and restaurants to religious services and museums. Visitors can access maps and directions to attractions and even place free calls to establishments they've clicked on for more information.
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Friday, 17 August 2007
WBKO Bowling Green (Ky.): The San Francisco, Calif., airport is launching a registered traveler program, intended to shorten long lines at security. With the new "clear" service, registered travelers can bypass standard security lines. Members swipe a biometric I.D. card for verification at a kiosk and the card stores their data on a smart chip.
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Monday, 13 August 2007
SANTA CLARA, Calif. · McAfee Inc. announced that McAfee VirusScan Enterprise 8.5i now supports the Windows XP Embedded operating system. By expanding their protection to Windows XPE, companies can manage security on point-of-sale terminals, including airline kiosks and ATMs, using McAfee's ePolicy Orchestrator security-management software.
"Many of our larger customers, including financial institutions, major retail and airlines, have requested support for this platform," said Rees Johnson, vice president of product management for McAfee. "A more secure retail location enables easier and safer connectivity with customers. McAfee VirusScan Enterprise protects these retail sites from viruses, malware and theft of customer information."
As more companies with remote kiosks, point-of-sale terminals and ATMs move away from proprietary operating platforms to the Windows XPE platform, their exposure to the threats that affect the Windows platform increase.
Tuesday, 07 August 2007
The Charlotte Observer: The screens will be a little bigger, and the color will be a little lighter. Those are among the small changes that travelers who use US Airways' kiosks at Charlotte, N.C.'s airport may notice the next time they check in for a flight. The 30 kiosks · 26 are being replaced, and four are new · have 17-inch screens, compared with the 15-inch screens used now. The kiosks also will come in a lighter blue to match recently painted jets and new uniforms planned for next year, said US Airways spokeswoman Michelle Mohr.
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Friday, 03 August 2007
Travel Daily News: The first common-use self-service airline passenger kiosks deployed in Russia have been delivered by ARINC Inc. The nine check-in kiosks are installed at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport. Passengers on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines are already using the new kiosks, and other carriers are expected to join the common-use system in time for the summer travel season.
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Thursday, 02 August 2007
ORLANDO, Fla. · Hertz Corp. says it plans to roll out a new company that puts travelers in the driver's seat.
Simply Wheelz, which will operate under the Hertz brand, offers Web site reservations and a kiosk for car rentals and returns.
According to a news release, Simply Wheelz expected to start accepting online reservations for rentals by Aug. 1 in Orlando, Fla. On Sept. 1, Hertz customers will be able to use kiosks at airports fot book car rentals.
The rental kiosk scans a barcode from the printed Web reservation and scans the renter's driver's license.
Tuesday, 31 July 2007
The Bakersfield Californian: The first in a series of kiosks designed to promote Kern County, Calif., tourist attractions is on its way. The first two kiosks are set to roll out now, with seven more on the way.
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Thursday, 26 July 2007
WLS-TV (Chicago): Chicago's airports are offering disabled travelers a high-tech option for communicating their needs. A new kiosk now allows travelers who are deaf or hard of hearing to place video phone calls to request services. They also can use it to communicate with friends or family by sign language. Eleven of the kiosks are expected to be installed at Chicago's O'Hare and Midway airports by next year.
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Thursday, 26 July 2007
News.com.au: Tourists who want to hop on a ferry to visit New York's first lady, the Statue of Liberty, will wait only a fraction of the time for tickets and a seat on the boat under changes planned by the new owners of the service. Under the new system, visitors will be able to make reservations for specific departure slots, print tickets at home, then arrive up to 60 minutes before they embark. Tickets would also be available at self-serve kiosks in Times Square and other tourist spots around the city.
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Thursday, 26 July 2007
News.com.au: Tourists who want to hop on a ferry to visit New York's first lady, the Statue of Liberty, will wait only a fraction of the time for tickets and a seat on the boat under changes planned by the new owners of the service. Under the new system, visitors will be able to make reservations for specific departure slots, print tickets at home, then arrive up to 60 minutes before they embark. Tickets would also be available at self-serve kiosks in Times Square and other tourist spots around the city.
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Friday, 13 July 2007
Fin24 (Africa): South African Airways this week encouraged travelers to book and pay for flights on its website rather than at its ticket kiosks at airports and in big shopping centers. Effective August 1, a service charge of R200 (approximately $28) would be levied on all domestic tickets bought at the airline's ticket outlets.
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Wednesday, 11 July 2007
LONDON · The United Kingdom's Bristol International airport is switching to SITA's AirportConnect common use terminal equipment open IT platform.
According to a news release, the platform includes self-service check-in kiosks designed to handle anywhere from 6 million to 9 million passengers. SITA has reportedly already started work on its five-year, $2 million project, which will bring CUTE to the airport.
The project involves the deployment of 58 CUTE work stations and eight common use self-service check-in kiosks. The kiosks also support Web check-in and are equipped with passport and visa readers.
Wednesday, 11 July 2007
InterGovWorld.com: Terrorism, escalating crime and illegal immigration have pushed the British government closer to dropping a tight electronic curtain over its borders. At London's Heathrow Airport, passengers are using the miSense program · a program that comprises a check-in kiosk and a biometric electronic-immigration system named miSenseplus. The kiosk uses biometric data to verify passengers from check-in through boarding. The kiosk scans the code on the first page of a passport as well as the passenger's fingerprint.
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Monday, 25 June 2007
Canadian Business Online: Fresh out of bankruptcy, Northwest Airlines Corp. says it expects to make $102 million in non-ticket revenue this year from fliers who purchase seat upgrades, one-day airport club passes and more online or through check-in kiosks.
Forecasted revenue is nearly eight times the $13 million Northwest earned from non-ticket items in 2004. "We're just scratching the surface," said Al Lenza, Northwest's vice president of distribution and e-commerce.
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Wednesday, 20 June 2007
Silicon.com: Air travelers have backed biometric security checks after a four-month trial of the passenger screening technology at London's Heathrow airport. Overall, passenger feedback on the trial has been positive with 81 percent rating the service "good" or "excellent" and 87 percent saying the enrolment process was easy. The main benefit cited by those who took part in the trial was faster journey times.
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Tuesday, 12 June 2007
DALLAS · Dallas/Fort Worth International is testing a retail concept that is new to the United States but commonplace in Europe and Asia: a high-end vending machine with something for every kind of traveler. Shop24, a New Zealand company, will install its first airport unit on July 11 at DFW's Terminal A near Gate 29. The 13-foot-wide self-service convenience store will offer more than 200 items, including meals, phone cards, diapers, curling irons, coloring books and umbrellas.
Monday, 11 June 2007
Palm Beach (Fla.) Post: Mailing kiosks in TSA security checkpoint lanes allow passengers to mail banned items such as pocket knives, lighters and perfumes to their destination or home, rather than throw these items away or turn them over to TSA officials.
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Monday, 04 June 2007
(Virginia) Leesburg Today: Guests gathered at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Washington, D.C., recently to unveil a kiosk with an electronic database and touchscreen that directs visitors of the museum to various other places of interest in the region, including historic sites, special tours, entertainment and shopping centers.
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Friday, 01 June 2007
Internet Travel News: Thai Airways International has launched a new range of passenger self-service functionality using SITA's Integration Platform. The new functionality has reportedly helped the airline cut costs by 30 percent.
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Thursday, 31 May 2007
ATLANTA · US Airways has signed agreements with NCR Corp. to deploy self-service check-in solutions from Kinetics, an NCR subsidiary, at all 107 US Airways locations in the United States and Caribbean.
According to a news release, the deal includes software, 600 replacement kiosks, installation services and a three-year maintenance agreement.
"This is all about continuously improving the travel experience for our customers by providing a self-service check-in that offers ease of use and that will now be on a common platform, system-wide," said US Airways' Joe Beery.
America West, which merged with US Airways in 2005, had installed Kinetics self-check-in systems in 2002. The replacement of the 600 kiosks will begin in mid-June and continue through September.
"US Airways recognizes that self-service technology is an essential component of effective customer service and efficient airline check-in operations," said NCR's vice president for self-service solutions, Mike Webster.
Sunday, 27 May 2007
NEW DELHI (India) · Jet Airways has launched SMS check in for its frequent-flyer passengers following the launch of its mobile-ticketing program.
According to a news release, Jet Airways is the first airline in India to launch this type of self-service check-in solution.
A Jet Privilege member carrying a valid e-ticket can check in with an SMS to have seat numbers instantly assigned and delivered to his mobile phone.
Thursday, 24 May 2007
Kentucky.com: Museums, educators and others are increasingly using kiosk-based video, animation and graphics to depict historical sites beyond what text, maps and drawings offer.
Read more.
Tuesday, 22 May 2007
ZDNet: Korea's Incheon International Airport, voted world's best airport for the last two years, is adding common-use self-service kiosks for passenger check-in. Several airlines will participate as part of a three-year, multi-million dollar investment plan.
Read more.
Wednesday, 16 May 2007
San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News: Fliers interested in enrolling in the Clear registered-traveler program no longer have to go to Mineta San Jose International Airport. Mobile enrollment kiosks are now open at Hyatt Regency hotels in Santa Clara, Calif., and San Francisco's Embarcadero Center.
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Tuesday, 15 May 2007
Financial Times: A passenger survey led by the International Air Transport Association found that only 2 percent of the passengers surveyed had checked in for flights using text messaging on their mobile phones. But that percentage is expected to rise as more airlines introduce mobile check in.
Monday, 07 May 2007
Timesunion.com: Albany County, N.Y.'s airport authority is considering a program designed to speed frequent fliers through security. Albany International Airport was one of 20 nationwide chosen for a pilot project to register travelers who would get faster processing at security checkpoints in return for undergoing a background check and submitting to fingerprinting and iris scans.
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Wednesday, 02 May 2007
Aviationweek.com: San Francisco International Airport is rolling out the first of 35 Common Use Self-Service (CUSS) kiosks in its international terminal. SFO selected the IER 918 kiosks after a year-long competitive trial, during which several vendors supplied machines to be operated in the terminal, said Gerry Alley, manager of common use systems at SFO.
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Wednesday, 02 May 2007
SINGAPORE · ARINC Inc. has won the contract to install common-use self-service (CUSS) kiosks for international passengers at Japan's Narita International Airport, Terminal 1.
Under the contract, awarded by airlines of the Narita Terminal 1 North CLUB, ARINC will install 126 CUSS kiosks in Terminal 1 North Wing. The project closely matches the 126 CUSS kiosks ARINC is currently installing for airlines at Terminal 1 South Wing, under a separate contract.
"Our member airlines require a CUSS solution that is flexible to meet all their different system performance requirements, yet remains open and scalable to accommodate future technology and new applications," said Tony Mulholland, chairman of the Narita Terminal 1 North CLUB. "After a thorough evaluation, we selected ARINC's SelfServ CUSS solution. We fully expect it to meet all our performance objectives and to facilitate the efficient sharing of operational costs among our members."
Airlines at Narita Terminal 1 that will share the kiosks include Aeromexico, Air Calin, Air France, Alitalia, British Airways, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Korean Air, Northwest Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic Airways.
Monday, 30 April 2007
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: US Airways said Thursday it will hire more than 1,000 people, upgrade about 600 check-in kiosks and make other customer-service improvements to ensure passengers' winter of discontent doesn't spill into summer doldrums. The moves, announced along with respectable quarterly earnings, follow winter storms and a reservation-system meltdown that stranded thousands of passengers along the East Coast, especially in Philadelphia and Charlotte.
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Monday, 30 April 2007
ANNAPOLIS, Md. · Canada's busiest airport is providing a new level of convenience by installing advanced self-service check-in kiosks for United States-bound travelers departing from Terminal 1. The Greater Toronto Airports Authority, which operates Toronto Pearson International Airport, says it expects to install 92 new common-use self-service (CUSS) kiosks to streamline trans-border passenger operations.
According to a news release, 60 of the new kiosks have been placed in Pier F. The installation was overseen by ARINC Canada and its partner, IBM Canada. Another 32 kiosks are destined for Terminal 3 operations later this year.
The Pier F kiosks are located in a common check-in area and may be shared by as many as 15 airlines.
"The use of kiosks is a major part of Air Canada's multichannel self-service operating strategy, not only at Pearson, but wherever we have access to them. We are very satisfied with the reliability of the new kiosks, and the system is helping significantly with transborder passenger flow," said John Segaert, Air Canada's general manager.
The new units offer 2D barcode printing and scanning to reduce operating costs and handle new applications.
The GTAA has completed a 10-year modernization program and operates an airport-wide Internet-protocol network supporting a range of advanced network and wireless applications for airlines, vendors, airport management and passengers. By 2010 the airport expects to handle more than 35 million passengers a year.
Monday, 30 April 2007
ANNAPOLIS, Md. · Canada's busiest airport is providing a new level of convenience by installing advanced self-service check-in kiosks for United States-bound travelers departing from Terminal 1. The Greater Toronto Airports Authority, which operates Toronto Pearson International Airport, says it expects to install 92 new common-use self-service (CUSS) kiosks to streamline trans-border passenger operations.
According to a news release, 60 of the new kiosks have been placed in Pier F. The installation was overseen by ARINC Canada and its partner, IBM Canada. Another 32 kiosks are destined for Terminal 3 operations later this year.
The Pier F kiosks are located in a common check-in area and may be shared by as many as 15 airlines.
"The use of kiosks is a major part of Air Canada's multichannel self-service operating strategy, not only at Pearson, but wherever we have access to them. We are very satisfied with the reliability of the new kiosks, and the system is helping significantly with transborder passenger flow," said John Segaert, Air Canada's general manager.
The new units offer 2D barcode printing and scanning to reduce operating costs and handle new applications.
The GTAA has completed a 10-year modernization program and operates an airport-wide Internet-protocol network supporting a range of advanced network and wireless applications for airlines, vendors, airport management and passengers. By 2010 the airport expects to handle more than 35 million passengers a year.
Monday, 30 April 2007
ANNAPOLIS, Md. · Canada's busiest airport is providing a new level of convenience by installing advanced self-service check-in kiosks for United States-bound travelers departing from Terminal 1. The Greater Toronto Airports Authority, which operates Toronto Pearson International Airport, says it expects to install 92 new common-use self-service (CUSS) kiosks to streamline trans-border passenger operations.
According to a news release, 60 of the new kiosks have been placed in Pier F. The installation was overseen by ARINC Canada and its partner, IBM Canada. Another 32 kiosks are destined for Terminal 3 operations later this year.
The Pier F kiosks are located in a common check-in area and may be shared by as many as 15 airlines.
"The use of kiosks is a major part of Air Canada's multichannel self-service operating strategy, not only at Pearson, but wherever we have access to them. We are very satisfied with the reliability of the new kiosks, and the system is helping significantly with transborder passenger flow,"� said John Segaert, Air Canada's general manager.
The new units offer 2D barcode printing and scanning to reduce operating costs and handle new applications.
The GTAA has completed a 10-year modernization program and operates an airport-wide Internet-protocol network supporting a range of advanced network and wireless applications for airlines, vendors, airport management and passengers. By 2010 the airport expects to handle more than 35 million passengers a year.
Monday, 30 April 2007
ANNAPOLIS, Md. · Canada's busiest airport is providing a new level of convenience by installing advanced self-service check-in kiosks for United States-bound travelers departing from Terminal 1. The Greater Toronto Airports Authority, which operates Toronto Pearson International Airport, says it expects to install 92 new common-use self-service (CUSS) kiosks to streamline trans-border passenger operations.
According to a news release, 60 of the new kiosks have been placed in Pier F. The installation was overseen by ARINC Canada and its partner, IBM Canada. Another 32 kiosks are destined for Terminal 3 operations later this year.
The Pier F kiosks are located in a common check-in area and may be shared by as many as 15 airlines.
"The use of kiosks is a major part of Air Canada's multichannel self-service operating strategy, not only at Pearson, but wherever we have access to them. We are very satisfied with the reliability of the new kiosks, and the system is helping significantly with transborder passenger flow," said John Segaert, Air Canada's general manager.
The new units offer 2D barcode printing and scanning to reduce operating costs and handle new applications.
The GTAA has completed a 10-year modernization program and operates an airport-wide Internet-protocol network supporting a range of advanced network and wireless applications for airlines, vendors, airport management and passengers. By 2010 the airport expects to handle more than 35 million passengers a year.
Friday, 13 April 2007
RFIDupdate.com: British newspaper The Telegraph reports that Manchester Airport, one of the United Kingdom's largest, has just wrapped a six-month passenger tracking trial. The airport used RFID tags to track 50,000 passenger volunteers as they moved throughout the facility with the goal of measuring and improving the efficiency of airport operations.
Read more
Monday, 09 April 2007
Btnmag.com: The Transportation Security Administration released a request for information as its first step in exploring an end-to-end system for tracking passengers. Among technologies TSA plans to explore are biometrics, smart cards, documentation scanners, integrated portals, kiosks, and such other tracking technologies as RFID and video surveillance.
Read more
Friday, 06 April 2007
Gonomad.com: A company called Verified Identity Pass Inc. pre-screens frequent travelers, issuing a Clear Member's card, which they then scan in the Clear Lane at the airport. Within seconds their fingerprints and iris images are matched to those embedded in their card.
Read more
Wednesday, 04 April 2007
Computerworlduk.com: US Airways has said legacy systems were partly to blame for a glitch in its self-service kiosk system that led to long queues and delayed flights last month.
Read more
Monday, 02 April 2007
KOTAtv.com: Bilingual self-check-in kiosks introduced this month by Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air will allow customers to check in for flights, confirm seating assignments and receive boarding passes in English or Spanish. The 475 check-in kiosks are available at 82 of the 90 airports the airlines serve in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Read more
Wednesday, 21 March 2007
BELIZE · Continental Airlines announced recently that it has successfully installed self check-in kiosks at the International Airport in Belize. Continental is the first airline to offer self check-in kiosks in Belize.
"These self check-in kiosks allow our passengers greater convenience by enabling them to have greater control at the airport and to help them avoid lines and wait times, which are part of our goal to make flying on Continental an enjoyable experience for our passengers," said Salvador Marrero, director for Continental Airlines in Central America.
Passengers may also use the kiosks to buy Continental currency, and purchase audio headsets, beer, cocktails and wine on board. Continental's self check-in kiosks offer service in English, Spanish, French and German. A total of five self check-in kiosks were installed in Belize, bringing the total number to more than 1,000 kiosks at 165 airports worldwide.
Monday, 19 March 2007
Htlounge.net: RFID Ltd. upgraded its BagChip system for tracking air passengers' baggage by using RFID chips to include designer luggage tags. The tags, part of the BagChipElite system, are designed to match the colors and overall look of luggage designed by manufacturers like Chanel, Dior, Gucci, Prada and Louis Vuitton.
Read more
Tuesday, 13 March 2007
Egovmonitor.com: The Identity and Passport Service has issued British travelers with the first 48-page '"jumbo'" biometrics ePassports from seven regional offices. Ideal for frequent globetrotters, the eJumbo is the latest version of the U.K. passport, combining the security enhancements of the 32-page ePassport introduced last year with 16 extra pages of space for visas.
Read more
Thursday, 08 March 2007
The Associated Press: US Airways on March 6 said its operations were returning to normal after computer glitches started shutting down hundreds of check-in kiosks over the weekend. US Airways spokesman Phil Gee said technicians are continuing to fix computer systems in several cities where travelers experienced delays. Meanwhile, the carrier asked its customers to use Web-based check-ins.
Read more
Tuesday, 06 March 2007
Witntv.com: US Airways Group Inc. says it will continue to pull additional ticket agents and ask passengers to use Web-based check-in kiosks. The Arizona-based airline is still fixing malfunctioning check-in kiosks that created long lines and delayed travelers throughout the first weekend of March.
Monday, 05 March 2007
WBT News: A problem with a computerized reservation system caused delays for US Airways passengers March 4, airline officials said. Airline passengers at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport found delays of up to an hour and a half after automated kiosks did not work.
Read more
Friday, 02 March 2007
Mercury News: One month after fast-pass security kiosks opened at San Jose's airport, only about one-third of the Bay Area travelers who have applied to join the program have been cleared to speed through checkpoints. Although the kiosks are averaging about 20 to 25 users a day at Mineta San Jose International, some fliers who applied for the cards when enrollment kiosks opened in October still haven't received them.
Read more
Thursday, 01 March 2007
WARRINGTON, England · Hand Held Products has announced the launch of its self-service Image Kiosk 8560, which scans barcodes and allows users to check information in real time.
According to a news release, the kiosk is designed to improve efficiency, productivity and customer service in retail, manufacturing and transportation.
The Image Kiosk 8560 is an interactive device that allows a multitude of applications. It's powered by Adaptus Image Scanning Technology 5.0, which allows manufacturers to control access to secure areas as well as locate key assets in their inventory and check part numbers. Also, it allows transporters and airport professionals to control access to lounges and enables users to check the status of their frequent flyer programs andreceive targeted promotions. It also can be used at the check-in counters and departure halls to read 2-D barcodes on boarding passes, or to display information and maps.
The Image Kiosk 8560 allows retailers to enable shoppers to check prices, product information, store maps and loyalty-program status. They can display targeted promotional messages to influence the customer at the point of decision and increase basket value.
Wednesday, 28 February 2007
MONTREAL · The customs-enrollment center at Montreal's Pierre Trudeau International Airport is open for travelers interested in applying for the NEXUS program.
According to a news release, the passage kiosks are expected to be operational in the coming weeks.
An enrollment center in Toronto opened earlier this month, and expansion to the Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Ottawa, and Halifax airports is expected by the end of the year.
NEXUS is a joint initiative of the Canada Border Services Agency and U.S. Customs and Border Protection that facilitates quick and secure entry into Canada and the United States for pre-approved, low-risk travelers. A NEXUS card can serve as an alternative to a passport when traveling between the United States and Canada by air at designated airports.
Monday, 26 February 2007
Detroit News: Northwest and other carriers say they plan by year's end to eliminate paper tickets in favor of computer-generated e-tickets. The move is expected to cut ticket-issuance costs from $10 to $1, potentially saving the industry about $3 billion a year. Already, Northwest charges $50 for a hard-copy ticket, to discourage those who cling to the old practice.
Read more
Thursday, 22 February 2007
Saipantribune.com: Continental Micronesia unveiled its enhanced, self-check-in kiosk in a presentation to travel partners at the Continental ticket counter in the Guam International Airport. The enhancements include three new language capabilities: Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, and Japanese. The kiosks also allow customers to utilize five other languages: English, French, German, Portuguese and Spanish.
Read more
Monday, 19 February 2007
Cbs4Denver.com: Frontier Airlines has plans to make it possible for passengers to rebook tickets from canceled flights or make future reservations at kiosks in the Denver International Airport. The expectation is to cut down on the number of frustrated passengers who call the airline after canceled or delayed flights because of weather. Frontier plans to add more kiosks as well at the check-in counters.
Read more
Monday, 19 February 2007
SUNNYVALE, Calif. · Hoteliers can now provide their patrons with a compact, stylish computer-access kiosk that can streamline guest service by freeing up employees to help guests who require more personal services.
Vertical Systems Inc. is offering Aspen, a sleek, high-style kiosk unit that can be placed in hotel lobbies, corridors, conference rooms or other public spaces. Aspen kiosks can house either VSi's BoardEZ airline boarding-pass printing systems, Internet-access PCs or a hotel's own proprietary computer equipment with high quality printer for guest use.
VSi's Aspen comes with a wired or wireless network connection and can be loaded with hotel-specific software.
The Hyatt Regency Indianapolis installed its Aspen kiosk near the reception desk as part of a station that includes two of the hotel's automated express check-in/-out units. The kiosk houses the Hyatt FastBoard boarding-pass unit.
"The guests love being able to check out of the hotel and go to the Aspen kiosk and print out their boarding pass," said Richard Walter, the hotel's Director of Rooms.
Thursday, 15 February 2007
The Toronto Star: NEXUS, which may be launched as early as next month, should be a real time-saver for travelers who cross the border regularly. NEXUS is designed to speed up border clearance for low-risk, pre-approved travelers who travel between Canada and the United States. A dedicated NEXUS line with automated self-service kiosks is expected to be installed in the U.S. Customs areas at Toronto Pearson International Airport.
Read more
Wednesday, 14 February 2007
The Calgary Sun: With an eye to speeding up travel between Canada and the United States, iris-recognition technology will soon take off at Calgary International Airport. The technology will allow travelers to bypass long waits in customs inspection lines by using automated self-serve kiosks that scan their eyes for security clearance.
Read more
Thursday, 08 February 2007
Silicon.com: Birmingham, England's airport has launched a security system based on biometric technology. The system is part of a nationwide rollout project, Project Iris, at airports across the United Kingdom. Project Iris is an iris-recognition immigration system that allows registered travelers to use retinal scan kiosks to speed up immigration checks.
Read more
Friday, 02 February 2007
TORONTO · Porter Airlines, Canada's newest passenger airline, is offering its customers the convenience of self-service check-in via kiosks from Kinetics, a subsidiary of NCR Corporation.
Porter Airlines has deployed Kinetics TouchPort IIC self-check-in kiosks, featuring a passport reader and barcode imager, in its ticketing area at Toronto City Centre Airport and at the airline's shuttle service departure site. The Kinetics self-service software application allows passengers to access their itinerary, check baggage, swipe their credit card for personal or group check-in and print their boarding pass.
"By deploying a superior self-check-in solution from Kinetics, we are providing our customers with a check-in experience that exemplifies our mission to deliver speed, convenience and exceptional service throughout all aspects of our airline's operations," said Robert Deluce, president and chief executive officer of Porter Airlines.
Kinetics is a provider of self-service technologies for the travel industry, offering hardware, industrial design, engineering, software solutions and maintenance support. The company has deployed thousands of TouchPort units in over 285 airports worldwide.
Monday, 29 January 2007
The Kentucky Post: Clear opened a Registered Traveler security lane at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport last week, fully aware of initial mixed reviews. But company officials are confident that with its embedded biometric identification cards now being issued and its high-tech check-in kiosk now open, those who fly the skies frequently · business travelers in particular · will take notice.
Read more
Tuesday, 23 January 2007
Add Mineta San Jose International to the growing list of airports offering the Registered Traveler program, which allows frequent travelers to use a biometric kiosk instead of going through long security lines · for a fee.
By the end of the week, the kiosks will be installed at five airports across the country. The machines, developed by General Electric's homeland security division, currently use fingerprint and retinal scanners to positively identify each traveler. Within the year, the kiosks will be able to scan footwear and fingerprints for explosives, possibly eliminating the need to remove jackets and shoes.
Watch the kiosk in action in this video from CBS 5 in San Jose.
Friday, 19 January 2007
ORLANDO, Fla. · The reviews are just so-so for a shoe scanner rolled out at Orlando International Airport in Florida. Some travelers complained they had to kick loafers or heels off anyway, even after standing in a kiosk that reads their biometric information and uses radio waves to test for explosives and metal.
Read more
Wednesday, 17 January 2007
The (Malaysia) Star Online: Malaysia Airlines is deploying self-service check-in kiosks in an effort to comply with the International Air Transport Association's mandate for all air travel to be ticketless by the end of 2007.
Read more
Monday, 15 January 2007
Mail & Guardian: Airports Company South Africa has unveiled self-service check-in kiosks called Flightcheck at South Africa's four major airports. ACSA said in a statement that 36 kiosks have been installed, and plans are underway to add 70 more.
Read more
Sunday, 07 January 2007
Dexigner: Behavior Design has reunited with New York's Museum of Modern Art for their latest exhibition, Georges Seurat: The Drawings, creating an interactive touchscreen kiosk that enables MoMA's visitors to explore Seurat's four surviving sketchbooks.
Read more
Thursday, 14 December 2006
SourceNews.com: The U.S. government approved new technology that will automatically scan shoes and boots for bombs, and promises that travelers will soon be spared the trouble of scurrying through security in their socks. The devices will be available to passengers enrolled in the Registered Traveler program, which uses biometric ID kiosks to speed airport security checks.
Read more
Tuesday, 05 December 2006
Asia Pacific News: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is implementing ticket-kiosk and Web-check-in applications. The airline has introduced e-ticketing for all bookings made directly with the airline and through travel agencies, eliminating paper ticketing long before the IATA-mandated Dec. 31, 2007, deadline.
Tuesday, 28 November 2006
Business Travel Executive: British Airways plans to launch the Clear Registered Traveler program at Terminal 7 of John F. Kennedy International Airport this fall and market the program to its North American customers. By entering the Registered Traveler program, participants submit to a series of background checks and use security kiosks to bypass the ordinary queues for security checks.
The BA deployment makes it the first airline to market the program. JFK is the first airport in the New York area to have the security pass program. Clear will use mobile kiosks to enroll British Airways corporate clients who travel overseas regularly from JFK's Terminal 7.
Read more
Thursday, 16 November 2006
Times of Oman: Qatar Airways has launched an instant frequent-flyer enrollment kiosk for new privilege club members at Doha International Airport.
Located in the Qatar Airways Business class lounge at the airport, the kiosk dispenses membership cards within seconds of passengers completing their registration.
Tuesday, 31 October 2006
Forbes.com: Rep. Loretta Sanchez, a democrat who has been a critic of the no-fly list, said her staff had booked her a one-way ticket from Boise, Idaho, to Cincinnati through Denver. But they were prevented from printing her boarding pass online and at an airport kiosk. Sanchez said she was instructed to check in with a United employee, who told her she was on the terrorist watch list.
Read more
Monday, 30 October 2006
HotelMarketing.com: A new Forrester report examines customer satisfaction and self-service efficiencies. At Air Canada, a customer who uses its kiosk to check in costs only 16 cents. That same customer checking in with an agent costs $3. A Forrester report also finds that 50 percent of retail customers are comfortable with online self-service.
Read more
Monday, 16 October 2006
ZDNet UK: A new RFID tag has been designed and its inventors claim it could improve airport security by tracking passengers as they mingle in the departure lounge. The plan is to issue every passenger with an RFID tag at check-in so human traffic can be monitored around the airport.
Read more
Friday, 06 October 2006
DUBAI, U.A.E. · Emirates customers will be able to enjoy time savings, convenience and 500 bonus Skywards Miles when they use online or self-service check-in facilities between Oct. 4, 2006, and Nov. 30, 2006.
The promotion also gives large groups the flexibility of being able to check-in up to nine passengers two to 12 hours in advance.
Skywards, the frequent flyer program of Emirates and SriLankan airlines, offers three tiers of membership · Blue, Silver and Gold · with each membership tier providing exclusive privileges.
Gold and Silver members are entitled to wait-list priority for all classes of travel, priority check-in and airport lounge access.
Members earn Skywards miles for each mile they fly on Emirates, Sri Lankan or partner airlines, or when they use the program's designated hotels, car rentals, financial, leisure and lifestyle partners.
Skywards miles can be redeemed for a wide range of rewards, including free tickets on Emirates or SriLankan and other Skywards partner airlines, flights upgrades, hotel accommodation, excursions, and exclusive shopping.
Tuesday, 19 September 2006
Zwire.com: Dollywood has implemented the first phase of a line buster system which allows people to reserve a place in line for an attraction without having to actually wait. The system incorporates a kiosk allowing groups of six to pay a fee not to wait in line.
Read more.
Tuesday, 19 September 2006
ThisIsDerbyshire.co.uk: Disabled and elderly people will be able to see what is upstairs at Erewash Museum, thanks to a new multimedia kiosk. The kiosk features images of the displays, along with information about the individual pieces.
Read more.
Wednesday, 13 September 2006
Rocky Mountain News: United Airlines says a new service it is testing at Denver International Airport has reduced congestion at check-in areas and trimmed 20 seconds off the time it takes some customers to check bags. The carrier is testing eight kiosks at DIA reserved for travelers who print boarding passes online and need to check luggage once they arrive at the airport.
In the past, those customers had to stand in the same lines as everyone else, diminishing the benefits of checking in ahead of time. But the new kiosks, installed several months ago at DIA and Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, have separate baggage lines specifically for passengers who already have their boarding passes.
Read more
Tuesday, 12 September 2006
MyrtleBeachOnline.com: An interactive exhibit that tells the personal stories of South Carolina's military men and women in their own words and photos will tour the state for the next six months. The traveling exhibit includes several panels featuring military men and women who have contributed to the site, a computer kiosk for visitors to access the program's Web site, and a background display of some of the contributions.
Read more.
Tuesday, 12 September 2006
Ctimes.com: The Eternal Egypt kiosk located at the National Science Centre gallery lets visitors explore Ancient Egypt by extending the three-dimensional environments and rich data into a fully immersive, real-time experience.
Read more.
Monday, 11 September 2006
Czech Business Weekly: With passenger traffic continuously growing at Prague Ruzyna Airport, modern technologies are set to ensure smooth and speedy check-in.
Letiata Praha, the company that operates the airport, has installed eight self-service check-in kiosks, including one testing kiosk, at its new terminal. By the end of the year, major airlines including British Airways, Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines (Swiss), and Czech Airlines (AŒSA) plan to offer the service to their passengers, said Letiata Praha spokeswoman Veronika Sedlaia�?kovai. German air carrier Lufthansa has installed its own kiosk at the airport in Prague. By using the self-service kiosks, passengers can check in by themselves at the airport.
Read more
Wednesday, 30 August 2006
PASADENA, Calif. — Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the world-renowned NASA research and development center, recently deployed SeePoint's newest M-Kiosk to showcase PlanetQuest, one of the nation's most important programs in astronomy and astrophysics. JPL is SeePoint's first customer to use the M-Kiosk.
The PlanetQuest application looks at JPL's successful completion of eight seemingly impossible technology milestones to develop a space telescope so powerful it can detect and study Earth-like planets around nearby stars. The application demonstrates how JPL scientists and engineers use breakthroughs in technology to survey the Milky Way Galaxy 1,000 times more accurately than has ever been possible.
JPL selected the SeePoint M-Kiosk because the video- and data-intensive PlanetQuest application required a computer with high processing power and graphical capabilities. The M-Kiosk maximizes video performance with up to 1 gigabyte of on-board RAM and a 400 MHz front-side bus.
Monday, 14 August 2006
Forbes: Don't expect Aug. 10's foiled terror plot in London to ground the U.S. government's Ez-pass style security program for frequent travelers. And that's good news for Steve Brill, the media entrepreneur who's now running a security business geared to frequent business fliers. His company, Verified Identity Pass, a screening service that's created an express lane at airport security posts for pre-screened passengers deemed safe by the government, has effectively been cleared to take off past its initial successful test run in Orlando, Fla. Already, it's proved enormously popular with customers.
In the Orlando experiment, frequent travelers forked over $79.95 to register with Brill's company, which passed along the names to the Transportation Security Agency. Those cleared as safe were given an electronic card allowing them to proceed through high-tech kiosks, bypassing long security lines. The technology includes fingerprint and iris scans to help ensure the person zipping through is in fact the customer who applied and was approved for safe travel. The kiosk also detects any explosive materials a traveler may be carrying.
Read more
Friday, 11 August 2006
LAS VEGAS -- The Venetian has partnered with McCarran Airport to introduce Airport SpeedCheck Advance, a service that allows guests to bypass airport lines by checking their luggage and receiving their boarding passes directly on the property.
This exclusive service, administered by Bags To Go Inc., is made for all travelers, especially for those with late afternoon or evening flights, after suite checkout time has passed. Travelers will be able to spend their spare time at The Venetian without carrying luggage. Additionally, waiting time in airport lines is cut in half as travelers now have the luxury of arriving at the airport one hour in advance opposed to the suggested three-hour arrival time.
"As the first property on The Strip offering our guests a secure and reliable way to process luggage for the trip home, we continue to advance our mission of providing unmatched service and excellence to all that stay with us," stated Paul Pusateri, senior vice president of The Venetian. "When the team at McCarran Airport explained the fundamentals of this service and how safe and convenient it would be for our guests, we didn't hesitate to sign on. With Airport SpeedCheck Advance kiosks, we will continue to provide services not found anywhere else and ensure an outstanding benefit for our visitors -- even at the end of their stay."
Friday, 11 August 2006
eTravel Blackboard: Online Travel Agency Zuji is celebrating not only its fourth birthday in Australia and the Asia Pacific, but also the launch of a new logo and a new walk-in, free-of-charge, Internet booking kiosk facility in Sydney.
Read more.
Wednesday, 26 July 2006
FORT WORTH, Texas · American Airlines has rolled out a new enhancement in its self-service check-in machines, which will now offer travelers the opportunity to purchase one-day passes for Admirals Club lounges as they are checking in.
"Our customers have asked us to make the purchase of one-day passes for American's Admirals Club lounges easier and faster," said Maya Leibman, American's managing director of airport automation. "With the flexibility and the ease of use that we have built into our self-service machines, we are able to deliver a simple solution that allows our customers to take full advantage of our premium services."
One-day passes to American's Admirals Club lounges are available for purchase immediately at domestic airport self-service machines, but may be used at any of the more than 40 lounges on the day of travel.
How it works
Admirals Club One-Day Passes: During the self-service check-in process, customers will be given the opportunity to purchase one-day passes for up to three passengers in the same reservation. The cost of the first pass is $50. Up to two additional passes may be purchased for an additional $25 each, for a maximum of three one-day passes per reservation. Additionally, if a customer purchases an Admirals Club lounge annual membership within 30 days of using a one-day pass, the previously paid pass fees (up to $100) may be applied toward the membership cost. One-day passes are valid only for day of travel.
American has more than 750 self-service machines available throughout its network.
Thursday, 20 July 2006
Computing.co.uk: Self-service is proving to be a win-win situation, benefiting businesses and customers alike. Companies like Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury's and British Airways are feeling the benefits. The head of IT for British Airways says "customers prefer to do it themselves"; Tesco has traffic of 1.5 million customers every week through its self-checkouts.
Thursday, 06 July 2006
Eye for Travel: People and processes, not peanuts and pillows, make a difference when it comes to satisfying airline passengers, according to the JD Power and Associates 2006 North America Airline Satisfaction Study. Among the study's findings: Passengers who check in for flights online or at electronic check-in kiosks have higher satisfaction levels and save more time during the check-in process than those who use the ticket counter or curbside check-in.
Read more
Thursday, 22 June 2006
sita.com: There has been a dramatic rise of 40 percent over the last year in the numbers of people booking their travel on-line, according to SITA, the world's leading provider of communications and IT solutions to the air transport industry.
Early data from the most comprehensive industry survey of airline IT trends, states that the global average of on-line plane ticket sales now stands at 28 percent compared to 20% last year which means that an estimated 560 million of today's two billion airline passengers now use the internet to make their bookings.
Read more.
Tuesday, 20 June 2006
The Australian: The $67 million automated border processing system will begin next year with a single SmartGate Series 1 kiosk in each Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane airport.
The first operational unit will be installed at one of the three airports in February.
SmartGate will perform customs and immigration checks using data contained in e-passports.
The system incorporates facial recognition technology, which matches a live image of the traveller against a digitised photo stored on a microchip embedded in the passport.
If the images match, the traveller is cleared through the control point.
If not, the traveller will be referred to a Customs officer for further examination.
Read more.
Monday, 19 June 2006
www.gov.tw: This June, tourists in Taiwan won't need to mess with all sorts of agritourism information or worry about not being able to find someone who knows where they can find the farm products they have been looking for. The Council of Agriculture's EZcall added Kaohsiung and Pingtung to its network, giving people a chance to access information by Internet telephony either from their home or while on the go.
Internet telephony (an inter-computer communication system using Voice over Internet Protocal, VoIP) is a tool that allows people to use a business or home phone to make calls. It also costs less. The Council of Agriculture has set up the EZcall kiosks at selected train stations and tourist centers. People can use these platforms to look up local agritourism information. They can also use free Internet phones to make calls, place orders, make reservations, order tickets or call a taxi.
Read more.
Wednesday, 14 June 2006
businesswire.com: Visa USA announced an agreement with Verified Identity Pass, Inc. (Verified ID) to offer discounted memberships for Clear, Verified ID's registered traveler program, to select Visa Signature and Visa Traditional Rewards cardholders.
Clear members receive fast access through security checkpoints by verifying their biometric information in specially-designed Clear lines, enabling time-pressed travelers to quickly move through long lines and experience a more hassle-free travel experience.
Tuesday, 13 June 2006
CINCINNATI -- Electronic Art, a full-service Internet services company specializing in computer kiosks and Web-based software development, signed a contract to provide kiosks to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center for an upcoming exhibit on the tragedies in Darfur, a region of western Sudan.
The exhibit, which opens at the Center on June 14th, 2006, features images and video taken by George and Nick Clooney during a recent visit to Darfur. The Clooneys hope their trip to the war-torn Sudan province will focus world attention on getting protection and aid for the refugees. The poignant exhibit, named Smallest Witnesses: The Conflict in Darfur through Children's Eyes, presents drawings from children in refugee camps along the border between Darfur and Chad. The children's illustrations offer a fresh, often heartbreaking perspective on the violence and suffering in the region.
The kiosks provided by Electronic Art will be used in the exhibit to enable guests to learn more about the struggles in Darfur and empower them to become more involved by supporting organizations that are actively helping refugees. Custom software was created to make the exhibit interactive for guests, and to allow them to visit the websites of organizations that have partnered with the Freedom Center, perhaps becoming "agents of change" in the process.
Along with providing kiosks and custom software, Electronic Art is also fabricating custom signage hardware to match the kiosks. For the opening night event, the Center will have five to six kiosks available and then a reduced number during the temporary exhibit, lasting for one month.
Wednesday, 10 May 2006
ATLANTA — Delta Air Lines' new self-service kiosks with passport readers support Delta's international expansion plans and provide international travellers additional convenience and control for self-service check-in.
The solution - provided by Kinetics, a subsidiary of association member NCR Corporation -includes Kinetics TouchPort I C self-service kiosks enhanced with an optical reader that allows customers to swipe their passport to begin the transaction and provide required data.
"This new functionality extends the benefits of self-service check-in already enjoyed by customers on domestic itineraries to those traveling internationally. Customers can check-in and check their bags in just minutes and go right to the gate," said Josh Weiss, Delta's director of airport operations and strategy.
Kiosk upgrades at Delta locations have been underway since late 2005. Delta's nearly 1,000 kiosks system-wide will include international check-in capability by the end of 2006, with major airports completed before the summer. Plans also call for the upgraded kiosks to be deployed at future Delta Air Lines sites in the United States.
"We are proud to offer this enhanced solution to Delta·a company that shares our commitment to best-in-class technology and service," said Theresa Heinz, vice president of business development for Kinetics. "We look forward to continuing to support Delta's initiative to offer time-saving technologies to its customers, and a more convenient way of traveling around the world."
Tuesday, 25 April 2006
According to recent research from Venture Development Corporation (VDC), the global market for RFID systems in the transportation vertical reached an estimated $767 million in 2005, with hardware representing approximately 40% of the market. VDC forecasts a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22% through 2010, with revenue shipments projected to approach more than $2 billion within five years.
VDC's transportation vertical market report includes coverage and analysis of RFID systems operating in the following market segments:
- Air transportation/airports;
- General freight trucking/long-distance trucking;
- Line-haul railroads/Inter-modal freight;
- Mail/courier/parcel services;
- Third-party logistics (3PL);
- Transit and passenger transportation (i.e., buses, subways, ski lifts, toll roads); and
- Water transportation (i.e., ocean freight, port facilities, etc.).
Primary applications within these industry sectors include: asset management; baggage handling; electronic toll collection (ETC); real-time location systems (RTLS); security/access control; supply chain management (pallet, case/carton, and item tracking); and transportation ticketing. ETC and rail car tagging are the more established, historic applications for RFID in the transportation vertical; however, the future market will be driven by open-loop applications such as supply chain management, baggage handling, and ticketing.
According to VDC's recent end-user survey of transportation-related organizations, RFID is being investigated as a solution to improve efficiency, traceability and profitability. Surveyed transportation end users specifically cited the following benefits:
- Mandate compliance: Mandates for RFID are cascading throughout the value chain and compliance to those mandates is becoming a critical requirement for logistics service providers. Many are encountering more demand for RFID from their larger accounts due to customer mandates from Wal-Mart, the US DoD, and others;
- Real-time traceability: Couriers and 3rd-party logistics providers are experiencing increased pressure from their customers to provide real-time tracking and near 100% delivery accuracy; and
- Added functionality: New technologies such as thin-film, flexible batteries and printed electronics that enable increased power and range are expected to exert significant influence on both market and application development. In addition, through the convergence of RFID with sensors, solutions can enable the monitoring of 'sensitive' packages (i.e., temperature, shock, humidity) and the storage of additional value-add information on the packages or shipments.
"Over the next 3-5 years, RFID within the transportation industry will remain concentrated in traditional application segments such as electronic toll collection, security/access control, and asset management (i.e., rail car tagging)," says Michael J. Liard, VDC's RFID Director. "Open-loop applications such as supply chain management and baggage handling will increasingly be evaluated, but RFID will not become pervasive until economies of scale are obtained, improvements in performance are achieved, and reliable costs models are developed."
About VDC
Venture Development Corporation (VDC) is an independent technology market research and strategy consulting firm that specializes in a number of retail automation, RFID, AIDC, embedded, component, industrial, and defense markets. VDC has been operating since 1971, when the firm was founded by graduates of the Harvard Business School and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Today, we employ a talented collection of analysts and consultants who offer a rare combination of expertise in the market research process; experience in technology product and program management; and formal training in engineering and marketing. VDC's clients include thousands of the largest and fastest-growing tech suppliers in the world and the most successful investors participating in the markets we cover.
For further information about: "2005-2006 RFID Business Planning Service"
Monday, 24 April 2006
Zumikon, Switzerland — CHECKOMATâ„¢ is a joint Swiss/Swedish company with headquarters in Switzerland. We are exclusively active in distributing this state-of-the-art, fully automatic check-in and check-out system on a world-wide basis. The CHECKOMAT system has been extensively tested and proves to be reliable, flexible, innovative and economic (rent or purchase). More information on
www.checkomat.com
Checkomat is pleased to announce that Yotel London has decided to use the Checkomat check-in system for their exciting new venture at London's Heathrow and Gatwick Airports. Both properties are due to open in November 2006.
Yotel is a radical hotel concept which is part of the Yo! family of companies. Checkomat will be used in an adapted form. There will be no casing, just three touch-screens incorporated into each reception desk, with the necessary additional hardware being placed under the desk, for a total integration into the design by Conran. www.yotel.com
This modified Checkomat concept is also available to other hotels on request. Desk-top versions of Checkomat can also be used for placing at airports or railway stations for hotel guests to check in even before arriving at their hotel.
Contact: Verena Mumford +4144.918.30.87(phone) +4179.548.60.45(cell)
Friday, 31 March 2006
LAKE MARY, Fla. —Virgin Blue Airlines, serving travelers in Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific destinations, has been recognized for offering the best 2005 travel Web site in Australia. The awards·bestowed last month at the second annual Hitwise Online Performance Awards in Sydney, Australia·recognize www.virginblue.com.au, which includes a Web check-in solution from Kinetics, a subsidiary of NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR).
Virgin Blue's Web site received awards in two categories: Aviation, Commercial Airline; and Travel — Transport. Awards are given based on number of visits in 2005.
"With the launch of Kinetics' Web check-in solution, Virgin Blue has further emphasized its commitment to providing our customers with best-in-class Internet technology," said Nick Brant, general manager of IT, Virgin Blue. "More than 90 percent of our bookings are made online, and with this tool our guests have all-hours access to a user-friendly service that makes their check-in process easier than ever."
Virgin Blue launched the Kinetics Web check-in solution in mid-2005. The online tool provides Virgin Blue customers with self-check-in services and boarding pass printouts. Virgin Blue also utilizes Kinetics TouchPort II B self-check-in kiosks at its airport terminals in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Hobart, Launceston, Cairns, Cooloongatta and Canberra.
"With the accelerating adoption and compelling benefits of self-service in the travel industry, adding an online check-in tool is vital to an airline's success," said Theresa Heinz, vice president of business development, Kinetics. "With the Kinetics Web check-in solution, Virgin Blue customers know they'll receive quick, reliable service."
About Virgin Blue
Award-winning airline Virgin Blue and sister carriers Pacific Blue and Polynesian Blue currently operate a fleet of 51 modern Boeing 737 aircraft flying to 22 destinations across metropolitan and regional Australia, as well as eight international destinations taking in New Zealand, Vanuatu , Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and Rarotonga. For more information, visit www.virginblue.com.au.
About Kinetics
Kinetics, a subsidiary of NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR), is a leading provider of enterprise and self-service technologies to today's travel industry and is the architect of the modern airline self-service era. Kinetics, based in Lake Mary, Fla., produces hardware and software solutions, as well as engineering, developmental and preventive maintenance services designed to help businesses capture more revenue, expand distribution channels and enhance customer service. Kinetics technologies support all consumer channels, including kiosks, Web, PDAs, cell phones and phones (natural speech recognition). For more information, go to www.kineticsusa.com.
About NCR Corporation
NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) is a leading global technology company helping businesses build stronger relationships with their customers. NCR's Teradata® data warehouses, ATMs, retail systems, self-service solutions and IT services provide Relationship Technology™ that maximizes the value of customer interactions and helps organizations create a stronger competitive position. Based in Dayton, Ohio, NCR (www.ncr.com) employs approximately 28,200 people worldwide.
Monday, 06 March 2006
Killing time in Kona is easier thanks to Kinetics, a subsidiary of SSKA member NCR. That's the firm Hawaiian commuter airline Island Air tapped to help passengers island hop with ease.
Kinetics installed five TouchPort II C check-in kiosks at Island Air's terminals around Hawaii and will install five more.
The TouchPort II's hardware and software are designed specifically for the travel industry, including:
- Integrated barcode and passport readers
- Multiple language support
- 15" touch screen
- 8" wide-format 300dpi thermal printer
- Dip style card swipe
- Ability to hold/print 2,500 ATB-sized documents
Island Air lost e-ticketing capabilities after being sold in 2004 and has since been rebuilding its automated customer service capabilities. Chief operating officer Les Murashige said Island Air spent more to have Kinetics' systems, but the extra quality justifies the added expense. Kinetics claims to have installed about 80% of domestic airlines' self-check-in kiosks.
"There are certain things you can get a cheaper model on, but if you're buying tires for your wife or your kids or your parents' car, obviously you want to get them the best kind of tires," Murashige said. "Working with (Kinetics), I'm glad we made the decision to go with them. They've been very helpful to expedite the whole process. When there are little glitches they respond right away. They've been very proactive about getting a maintenance group out here."
Murashige said the initial installation took about 90 days from the time he called Kinetics.
"We have web check-in as well, which is part of Kinetics' system," Murashige said. "You can do web check-in at home. You can do kiosk check-in at the airport. If you have a bag, just go to one of the kiosks, scan a barcode and it will prompt you with questions on how many bags you have."
The system includes web-based check-in allowing passengers to print luggage tags at home, eliminating the need to wait in line at the terminal.
"Kinetics' solutions provide Island Air's customers with an even smoother, more efficient way to fly," Kinetics vice president Theresa Heinz said. "With Kinetics' technology, passengers can travel with the confidence that they have the industry's most developed self-service check-in solutions to speed them through the airport and on to their flights."
The little airline, which Murashige said moves 15,000-18,000 passengers per week on its eleven twin turbo prop commuter craft, also has some big plans for the future.
"We want to be able to put self-service devices in our terminal area that will allow people to actually check into their hotel rooms from our holding rooms," Murashige said. "So let's say you're going to Lanei, which has two beautiful Four Seasons properties on it, as you wait for your plane you go to this kiosk and check into your hotel. You get your keys and everything. Vice versa, when you're leaving a hotel, you can check in for your flight — have your bag tags printed at the hotel and have them prior to coming to the airport."
Thursday, 23 February 2006
LAKE MARY, Fla. - Island Air, Hawaii's leading regional airline carrier, has launched a Web check-in solution and self-check-in kiosks from Kinetics, a subsidiary of NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR), designed to provide a quick and convenient travel experience to its passengers.
"Kinetics' solutions provide Island Air's customers with an even smoother, more efficient way to fly," said Theresa Heinz, vice president of Kinetics. "With Kinetics' technology, passengers can travel with the confidence that they have the industry's most developed self-service check-in solutions to speed them through the airport and on to their flights."
Beginning this month, Island Air will install Kinetics TouchPort II C self-check-in kiosks initially at its Honolulu International Airport curbside and check-in counter, and then at its Kahului Airport and Kona International Airport terminals. With the TouchPort II C kiosks, passengers can access their itinerary, check-in, check luggage and print their boarding pass by using a credit card.
The Web check-in solution was also launched this month on Island Air's Web site, allowing passengers to check-in and print their boarding passes online.
"We're very excited about introducing 'Island Express' services to our passengers," said Island Air CEO Rob Mauracher. "Home check-in on the Web and self-serve kiosks are another example of our efforts to make travel easy and convenient for our customers."
About Island Air
Island Air is Hawaii 's leading regional carrier, serving more destinations in Hawaii than any other airline. Island Air now offers 92 daily flights to the islands of Oahu (Honolulu International Airport), Molokai (Hoolehua Airport), Lanai (Lanai City Airport), Maui (Kahului Airport and West-Maui's Kapalua Airport), Kauai (Lihue Airport), and the Island of Hawaii (Kona International Airport and Hilo International Airport).
About Kinetics
Kinetics, a subsidiary of NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR), is a leading provider of enterprise and self-service technologies to today's travel industry and is the architect of the modern airline self-service era. Kinetics, based in Lake Mary , Fla. , produces hardware and software solutions, as well as engineering, developmental and preventive maintenance services designed to help businesses capture more revenue, expand distribution channels and enhance customer service. Kinetics technologies support all consumer channels, including kiosks, Web, PDAs, cell phones and phones (natural speech recognition). For more information, go to www.kineticsusa.com
About NCR Corporation
NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) is a leading global technology company helping businesses build stronger relationships with their customers. NCR's Teradata (r) data warehouses, ATMs, retail systems, self-service solutions and IT services provide Relationship Technology (tm) that maximizes the value of customer interactions and helps organizations create a stronger competitive position. Based in Dayton , Ohio , NCR (www.ncr.com) employs approximately 28,200 people worldwide.
NCR, NCR EasyPoint, NCR FastLane, NCR RealPOS, NCR RealPrice, NCR RealScan, NCR RealSolutions and Teradata are trademarks or registered trademarks of NCR Corporation in the United States and other countries.
For further information:
Emily Ramsland
NCR Corporation
770-623-7874
emily.ramsland@ncr.com
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