Online check-in to increase in 2010

A new survey by the Airports Council International (ACI) has revealed that web check-in services are almost set to double in 2010. The data collated by ACI shows that self service check-in will be at the forefront in 2010 after they surveyed more than 150 airports across they world. The sixth annual report by the firm reveals that 40 per cent of the top 100 airports in the world already use web check-in for the majority of their customers, which they believe is what will double by the end of next year.

They also say that automated desks for luggage, passport scanning on geo-metric types and tag printing for bags will see a boom from the current 63 per cent to 90 per cent by 2012 making the whole process quicker and easier for everyone involved, hopefully. Airports across the globe have said that they think the increase in paperless tickets will be the biggest improvement to the smooth flow of arriving at the airport to boarding the plane. Boarding passes that are printed at home are a big help as the passengers just walks in the airport and straight to security, if they have no baggage to check.

Wizz Air are the latest to ask passengers to print out their boarding passes at home when flying from Budapest Airport. It is the pilot scheme for the low-cost airline and if it proves successful they have said the next step will be the rest of Europe in early spring, just in time for the summer rush.