As part of its policy to manage the pandemic, the second-busiest airport in France has developed a technological solution with its partners, which allows passengers to avoid touching the self-service check-in kiosks.
This innovation makes the passenger experience even more “touchless” and reduces the spread of any viruses.
From December 6, and for a two-month trial period, a new system will be tested at Nice Côte d’Azur Airport. The result of a collaboration between the airport’s technical and IT services and those of its partner EASIER, this innovative solution will allow passengers to operate the self-service check-in kiosks using their smartphones.
Passengers need to scan a QR code displayed on the screen to control the check-in process remotely: airline and flight selection, passenger and baggage check-in methods, and printing boarding passes and luggage labels. The whole operation is just as quick as a traditional digital process.
The service uses a specific security system to prevent any problems. The kiosk recognizes the smartphone via a Wi-Fi connection activated by the QR code. The kiosk is then “locked” so that only this user can control it. If the passenger does not interact with it for 20 seconds or if they move too far away without completing the operation, the kiosk cancels it and becomes available again. This means a second passenger cannot take over a process that another passenger has started.
This “touchless” system has been introduced to all the airlines already available on these kiosks, and has been well received. During this trial phase, this service is available for passengers travelling with Air France and Air Corsica.
“Alongside improved air filtration within our terminals, optimised conditions to ensure preventive measures are respected, and continuous operations to disinfect surfaces, this additional measure will help to reduce the risk of spreading the virus. We believe that protecting passenger health will remain a key consideration for air transport in the future, and we intend to do everything possible to help passengers, ground staff, flight crew and everyone working at our airport feel safe,” said Franck Goldnadel, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Aéroports de la Côte d’Azur.
Since March 2020, Nice Côte d’Azur Airport has been highly committed to the fight against the transmission of Covid-19, and has been a pioneer of various measures, which have since been recognized and even required by healthcare authorities. The airport has made a commitment to the wider profession by means of the EASA Charter, in addition to obtaining last January the ACI Health Accreditation, which validates their efforts and the measures implemented across the airport.
Watch a video which explains the system here.