The Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) has launched the world’s first
Smartphone Express Bag Drop Service as part of its Flight Token smart
technology.
The new service enables passengers to complete online check-in and
scan their travel documents with their smartphones before heading to
Hong Kong International Airport.
Upon arrival at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), they can
proceed directly to the Express Bag Drop counters and drop their bags
using their smartphones in under one minute, compared to an average of
three minutes at the airline counters or Smart Check-in Kiosks.
HKIA says it is the only airport in the world where passengers are
able to complete all departure procedures using only their smartphones
and facial recognition technology, including online check-in, travel
document verification, bag drop, entering the security area, and
boarding through self-service.
Chris Au Young, general manager, innovation & data Insights of
AAHK, stated, "Flight Token is the world’s first service that applies
facial recognition technology to complete the entire departure process
at the airport.”
Currently, all HK Express passengers can use the airline’s app for
the Smartphone Express Bag Drop Service. Cathay Pacific has started
offering the service to passengers for all destinations, except the
United States.
Hong Kong Airlines expects to provide the service by the end of this
year. Looking ahead, AAHK plans to extend this service to more airlines.
Passport-free immigration clearance in Singapore
Elsewhere, travellers flying into Singapore can now experience passport-less immigration clearance at Changi Airport.
From 5 August, all travellers will enjoy automated clearance and all
Singapore residents will be able to move through selected automated
lanes at Terminal 3 simply by using their facial and iris biometrics.
It is part of a trial for the new passport-less clearance system,
which will be progressively rolled out across all terminals in Changi
Airport by the end of September, and at Marina Bay Cruise Centre in
December.