News

Gulf Air first Middle East airline to offer self-check in

July 10, 2004

BAHRAIN, Middle East -- Gulf Air has introduced self-service e-check-in kiosks at airports in Bahrain, Abu Dhabi and Oman.

According to a report inGulf Daily News, the kiosks were designed to make check-in faster and easier for passengers, said Tariq Sultan, Gulf Air vice-president of information technology.

"Four kiosks have been installed initially, two in Bahrain and one each in Abu Dhabi and Muscat, at a cost of $500,000," he said at a news conference.

"The cost does not include the huge expense incurred in developing the product, in co-ordination with our IT partners, EDS, Sabre, IBM, GBM, Amadeus andInnovata."

In the first phase of rollout, the kiosk will be located in the check-in area at each airport and will operate alongside traditional check-in desks. Sultan said kiosks will be installed in major hotels and business centers later, the report said.

"To speed up check-in, global travel technology provider Amadeus and IBM have built the necessary link between the kiosks and the Amadeus airline departure control system," said Sultan.

"This allows the kiosk to recognize the passenger, pull up booking details on the touchscreen, reconfirm any changes, like choice of seating and ultimately issue a boarding pass."

Travelers can use a frequent flyer card, credit card or coupon from travel agents.

Customers can also use the kiosk to check in groups of up to four people at one time, as well as enter details of any frequent-flyer program.