News

America West to triple number of self-service kiosks

January 20, 2003

TEMPE, Ariz. -- America West Airlines is planning a substantial expansion of its self-service ticket kiosks.

According to The Business Journal, the Tempe-based airline has used the kiosks for ticket check-ins since late 2001. Currently it has 54 kiosks deployed at a dozen airports and hopes to have about 150 units in place nationwide at 22 locations. A timetable for achieving that goal wasn't disclosed.

The move will generate new business for kiosk manufacturers such as Florida-based Kinetics, which provides kiosks to America West and other carriers (See "Northwest adding self-service kiosks at 102 airports").

America West officials said passengers checking in via kiosks wait an average two minutes in line versus three minutes for traditional queues.

Executives also said the kiosks won't mean personnel cuts at the gates. They stress the terminals are part of the carrier's improved customer-service effort and outreach to business travelers.