Air France says it will begin testing technology that permits registered travelers to bypass general boarding on shuttle flights between Paris Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam Schiphol.
Frequent customers wishing to participate will have to provide their index fingerprint, which is then encoded in a personal smart card, in advance. Travelers will have to flash their card in front of a machine at the boarding gate, which reads the information. The automated gate opens only when the passenger is verified. The test starts later this year.
The airline is also integrating radio microchips into baggage tags at the Paris airport for flights to and from Amsterdam and Tokyo. The luggage sorter and arrival carousels at the airport are equipped with microchip readers, so bags can be monitored throughout the airport. In the future, Air France plans to introduce a text-messaging service that will alert customers when their luggage will arrive at baggage claim carousels.
Music hath charms
Lambert-St. Louis International has turned to live music as part of a marketing-driven image upgrade. A musician performs one day a week on stage in the upper ticketing level of the main terminal.
The marketing campaign, which will add other amenities later, aims to improve the airport's image and customer experience. The airport plans to stick to quieter varieties of music.
PITTSBURGH
Wi-Fi service area widened
Pittsburgh International has expanded its free Wi-Fi service to both pre- and post-security areas of the terminals. The airport also has installed additional power outlets and chairs in Concourse A.
NEW YORK
Premium lounges, valet parking set
El Al, the national airline of Israel, has two new premium-class passenger lounges at New York John F. Kennedy. It opened its King David Lounges in Terminal 4 last week.
The lounges are open to the carrier's first- and business-class passengers and are equipped with TVs, shower stalls, computer terminals and other Internet connection spots.
JFK has also introduced valet parking. It's located near the Lefferts Boulevard AirTrain JFK Station. Cost: $36 per day, plus $18 for every additional 12 hours.
LOS ANGELES
Planned upgrades seen as vital
Los Angeles International has some huge upgrades underway, with more to come. But unless the airport does more to upgrade its aging facilities, it will lose out on the expected increase in trans-oceanic flights, says a report released last week by the non-profit Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp.
The report warned that several airlines that are now planning routes for their new Airbus A380s and Boeing 787s are "seriously considering deploying their new aircraft at other U.S. gateways if they don't see improvements to facilities at LAX," it says.
FORT LAUDERDALE
Free plastic bags made available
Passengers traveling at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International can now get free clear plastic bags at security checkpoints. The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau is giving away about 1 million bags bearing its logo. Federal rules require passengers to store carry-on liquids in 3-ounce containers inside a 1-quart zipper-lock bag.
CLEVELAND
New Customs facility in the works
Continental's announcement on Friday of plans to expand air service at Cleveland Hopkins is triggering some changes at the airport. Airport officials have been considering building a new Customs and inspection facility for a while, but the plan will now move up on the airport's to-do list, says Todd Payne, an airport executive. Hopkins has outgrown its current Customs area in Concourse A, he says. The airport hasn't determined when it'll begin construction.
The airport also plans to install a new waiting area and more ticket counters for Continental in the main terminal. It's also considering adjusting the positions of its three checkpoints to accelerate security screening.
Continental said it will expand service at Cleveland by 40% in the next two years. It will initially operate 50 new flights and add 20 new non-stop destinations by next summer.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment