News

SITA to provide self-check-in kiosks for India's CIAL Airport

November 17, 2010

Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) has entered into a strategic partnership with SITA to automate passenger check-in and bag reconciliation, according to Travelbizmonitor.com. The five-year agreement includes the supply of Common Use Self-Service (CUSS) kiosks and more than 80 Airport Connect Open workstations for check-in, boarding, load control and baggage areas.

CIAL was India's fourth busiest airport in 2009, serving nearly 4 million passengers.

The airport has also introduced SITA's passenger bag reconciliation and message distribution solutions to ensure the right bag always gets on the right plane. The steps are expected to increase passenger satisfaction, enhance security and save costs for airlines.

By using CUSS kiosks and common use workstations, the airport provides advanced passenger services to the 24 airlines that fly from Kochi. CUSS kiosks enable multiple airlines to share self-service booths for faster passenger check-in, while the common use platform also allows shared airline use of the more than 80 workstations ensuring a more efficient airport. Dr C.G. Krishnadas Nair, managing director, CIAL, says the introduction of these advanced services is a part of the plan for an integrated airport management system, which will help the company in its marketing efforts to attract direct flights from European and North American destinations.
 
ACK Nair, airport director, CIAL, says Airport Connect Workstations and CUSS kiosks also support the use of 2-D barcode technology which facilitates fast and convenient check-in and boarding, ensuring that CIAL meets the International Air Transport Association's (IATA's) deadline for the 100 percent adoption of barcoded boarding pass systems this year.