Faster check-ins and bag drop now as the Hamad International Airport goes smart
If you recently passed through the Hamad International Airport (HIA) and felt the services appeared faster than usual, then that feeling was very real.
The HIA has announced that it has successfully completed the first phase of its ‘Smart Airport’ programme, which will help Qatar Airways to process more than 25% of its passengers faster, using self-service check-in and bag-drop facilities, according to Gulf Times.
#HIAQatar has completed the first major phase of its innovative #SmartAirport program by implementing self-service kiosks and bag drops to provide a seamless and efficient customer experience for @qatarairways passengers.https://t.co/fl7Uhobvur pic.twitter.com/lmtLMNKwsw
— Hamad Int'l Airport (@HIAQatar) October 30, 2018
Partnering with international air transport specialists SITA and CCM, the HIA commissioned 62 next-generation self-service check-in kiosks and 12 self-service bag drop points featuring futuristic biometric technology capability.
The kiosks, which are peppered across the departures check-in hall, will enable passengers to check-in, print boarding passes and get bag tags before dropping them at the bag drop before proceeding to border control.
#HIAqatar has successfully commissioned 62 next-generation self-check-in and 12 self-bag drop kiosks including future biometric technology capability spread across the departures check-in hall.@qatarairways#smartAirporthttps://t.co/fl7UhnTU5R
— Hamad Int'l Airport (@HIAQatar) October 30, 2018
Groundbreaking technology — the Automated Visa Document Check — has been implemented at the HIA. It allows ground service agents to check a passenger’s visa documentation before continuing with their journey, reported The Peninsula.
While these services are currently available to only passengers flying with Qatar Airways, the plan is to open it to other airlines as well in the future.
#SmartAirport program will enable passengers to check in, print their boarding passes and bag tags and allows passengers to tag their bags and drop them at the bag drop before proceeding to border control@qatarairwayshttps://t.co/fl7Uhobvur
— Hamad Int'l Airport (@HIAQatar) October 30, 2018
A conservative estimate shows that once fully implemented, it could make passenger movement and ease of travel up to 40% faster.
The new facilities came into effect at the HIA on October 15.
“As Qatar Airways’ home and hub, HIA is the airline’s five-star gateway to the world. Initiatives like the Smart Airport programme puts the passenger at the heart of the airport’s strategy, helping make it one of the most technologically advanced and operationally efficient airports in the world,” Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker was quoted as saying by Qatar Tribune.
#HIAQatar implemented a mobile Automated Visa Document Check, which is the first of its kind in any major Airport world-wide@qatarairways
— Hamad Int'l Airport (@HIAQatar) October 30, 2018
https://t.co/fl7UhnTU5R
HIA’s Smart Airport programme was first launched in April 2016, by Qatar’s Prime Minister HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani.
if you meant the road is very confusing with last minute notice of which road leads to where .. I agree .. I have been to airport several times and its still confusing for me .. the last I went there a car in front of me suddenly braked because he has to take the left lane. I like how they made clear marking now on the road to pearl.
The designer who made the road to Airport have low vision.