Abu Dhabi Airport first in region to create 'Smart Travel'

From check-in to aircraft boarding, passengers traveling through Abu Dhabi International Airport can now do so without having any human contact. 
The initiative, implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Interior and Abu Dhabi Police, allows passengers to check-in and move through immigration and security, interacting only with innovative technology. 
This pioneering system consists of self-check-in and baggage drop facilities, automated passport control gates equipped with biometric verification functions and facial recognition technology, along with smart boarding gates.  
These 'Smart Travel' processes will replace the previously used e-gates and enhance passenger experience by decreasing processing times within the airport by up to 70 per cent, meaning less time in queues for travellers. 
For the airport and airlines, a quicker flow of passengers will also effectively increase capacity and throughput of the available facilities. 
The 'Smart Travel' processes launched at Abu Dhabi International Airport involve five steps: Self Check-In, Self-Baggage Drop, E-Registration, E-Gate, and Self-Boarding,with clear signage across the airport's terminals, identifying each step to ensure all passengers benefit from this pioneering initiative. 
On Wednesday, Abu Dhabi Airports began installing 25 e-registration stands, 58 e-gates, and 76 self-boarding gates distributed at arrivals and departures over the airport's two terminals, with full implementation being complete by June this year. Additionally, the airport is already operating 10 self-check-in kiosks, and two self-baggage drop. 
The Ministry of Interior also launched a registration campaign across key outlets and malls in Abu Dhabi to encourage residents and tourists to register for the new E-gate system, to benefit from the smart solutions. 
UAE embassies around the world are also encouraging all visa applicants to register for this process in an effort to maximise reach of this initiative amongst travellers using the capital's airport.
 
jasmine@khaleejtimes.com