Self check-in offered by 50% of airlines

More than half of all airlines offer web check-in and other self-service technology, according to a survey.

Of the 100 airlines who responded to this year’s SITA and Airline Business IT survey, 89% said they expected to offer web check-in within two years.

There is 100% implementation of web check-in among low-cost carriers and the top 25 passenger-carrying airlines also offer the service.

The survey reported that 21% of passengers check-in online, a figure expected to reach 35% by the end of 2008.

Other travellers are using self-service check-in kiosks at airports to avoid queues. Figures show that 37% of the travelling public are expected to have used a kiosk in 2007.

In 2008, it is predicted this figure will rise to 49%. Within the next two years around three quarters of airlines plan to implement mobile phone check-in.

SITA chairman Paul Coby said: “Airlines want to make travel easier for passengers. Mobile phone check-in is relatively easy to deploy and saves money.”