In a first, Hyderabad airport completes e-boarding project

HYDERABAD: The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) here has successfully implemented an e-boarding pilot project that started in April.

With this, the GMR Group-run airport has become the first one in the country to have such a facility, the company said today.

E-boarding allows a flyer to check in electronically without traditional paper boarding passes.

The project was executed in collaboration with Jet Airways. So far, more than 7,000 passengers have used this service from RGIA, the release added.

SGK Kishore, chief executive of GMR Hyderabad International Airport which runs RGIA, said: "E-boarding reduces human interface and takes a big leap towards automation, easing the movement of passengers through the airport and reducing the waiting time at various check points within the airport."

After a Web check-in, the passenger will get a unique mobile pass and a QR code on her registered mobile phone. On the day of travel, she has to scan the code using a special e-boarding machine at the entry gate after entering the Aadhaar number, which is subsequently verified by the respective airline.

The process not only enhances security as the biometric data of the traveller is verified and also saves time and paper.

The process of e-boarding is seamless and integrated with the passengers' list of the airline. This also makes it easy to check whether the passenger is actually at the airport or not.

For the airport operator, e-boarding is expected to help enhance operational efficiency.

GMR said Mumbai and Delhi airports have initiated e-boarding pilots too.

The e-boarding project at RGIA has been recognised by the International Air Transport Association.

Meanwhile, earlier this month, both the Mumbai and Bangalore airports launched e-gates to cater to tech-savvy travellers.

After introducing mobile boarding pass on select flights earlier this year, the Bangalore airport set up automated e-Gates at domestic pre-embarkation security check points to fast-track passenger screening.

Started on a trial basis, passengers can flash their 2D bar-coded paper or mobile boarding pass at the e-Gates, which will open automatically after verifying the identity.

The details of the passenger will also be displayed on a screen built into the e-Gate, following which the passenger can proceed to the mandatory security check.

The Mumbai airport has also launched an e-Gates facility for select flights by allowing mobile boarding passes, which will replace printed paper cards.

The Mumbai airport has initiated the pilot project with Vistara, the airline which operates domestic flights from the new Terminal 2.

Several airports and airlines the world over offer e-pass for many years now.