July 30, 2012 BRISBANE - Bag-carrying passengers at Brisbane Airport are enjoying quicker and easier self-service check-in as the airport uses the latest bag-drop system from technology provider SITA. Working with the baggage handling system specialist, BCS Group, SITA has begun an initial phase deployment at the airport which allows passengers to drop off their bags in less than 25 seconds.
Passengers on Jetstars domestic flights are the first to experience the project and as it progresses it will be expanded to include other airlines flying both domestic and international routes. Roel Hellemons, General Manager Strategic Planning and Development, Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC), said: 2011/12 financial year was another record year for Brisbane Airport with more than 21 million passengers travelling through our terminals. Peak times are already busy and will only become busier so, we are committed to using the best technology to improve operations, enhance the passenger experience and to make optimum use of the space we have available. This initial phase of self-bag drop deployed by SITA and BCS is a perfect example of this with the new self-service bag drop process taking less than 25 seconds per bag. The solution also delivers space efficiency to maximise the number of baggage injection points. These initial results are very promising and we look forward to SITAs common-use capability and including other airlines in this project, Mr Hellemons said. Using the new service, Jetstar passengers simply check-in at the kiosk, attach the bag tag then drop the bag at the self-bag drop station where it is automatically processed. The bag is then weighed, the tag is scanned, the bag measured and dispatched for the flight. Ilya Gutlin, SITA President, Asia Pacific, said: Passengers are requesting self-service but according to the latest SITA Passenger Self-Service Survey close to half of those checking in at desks do so because of the need to check in a bag. The same survey shows that 65 per cent of passengers are interested in self-service bag drop. We at SITA see both airlines and airports responding to this demand. At Brisbane, the airport is taking the lead and that is why we are working with the team at BAC to try out a common-use solution which will handle multiple airlines. The results to date at Brisbane are very encouraging with bag drop taking just 25 seconds. This compares very favorably to installations at other airports which have been reported as taking considerably longer. In addition to this fast processing, self-service bag drop devices are always open and so they can 'eat the peaks' while airline personnel focus on service and support. This initial phase of the SITA-BCS self-bag drop project will continue at Brisbane Airport over the next few months at which time its full common-use functionality will be implemented. Notes to Editors: About SITA SITA is the world's leading specialist in air transport communications and IT solutions. SITA delivers and manages business solutions for airline, airport, GDS, government and other customers over the worlds most extensive network, which forms the communications backbone of the global air transport industry. SITAs portfolio includes managed global communications, infrastructure and outsourcing services, as well as services for airline commercial management and passenger operations, flight operations, aircraft operations and air-to-ground communications, airport management and operations, baggage operations, transportation security and border management, cargo operations and more. With a customer service team of over 2,000 staff around the world, SITA invests significantly in achieving best-in-class customer service, providing integrated local and global support for both its communications and IT application services. SITA has two main subsidiaries: OnAir, which is the leading provider of in-flight connectivity, and CHAMP Cargosystems, the world's only IT company dedicated solely to air cargo. SITA also operates two joint ventures providing services to the air transport community: Aviareto for aircraft asset management and CertiPath for secure electronic identity management. SITA is one of the world's most international companies. Its global reach is based on local presence, with services for over 500 air transport industry members and 2,700 customers in over 200 countries and territories. Set up in 1949 with 11 member airlines, SITA today employs people of more than 140 nationalities, speaking over 70 different languages. SITA had consolidated revenues of US$ 1.517 billion (1.09 billion) in 2011. For further information go to www.sita.aero About BCS BCS Group is a synergistic group of technology companies based in Australasia. Its products and solutions are primarily customised to meet and exceed the needs of the global airports and the airline industry for optimised baggage, freight and passenger handling. BCS believes that collaboration drives innovation. BCS has been nominated by the Technology Investment Network as one of NZs top 10 technology companies to watch. It is headquartered in Auckland NZ and employs 320 staff globally across operations in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Perth with regional operations in Malaysia ,USA and Mexico. BCS is a privately owned company with the majority shareholding owned by key BCS staff. Further information on BCS can be found at www.bcsgroup.biz About Brisbane Airport Brisbane Airport is the third busiest airport in Australia on passenger numbers and operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is Australias largest capital city airport (by land size) and has two major terminals providing services to 27 airlines flying to 45 national and 309 international destinations. In 2011/12 Brisbane Airport welcomed more than 21 million passengers through its terminals. There are more than 420 businesses located at Brisbane Airport with an on-airport workforce of more than 19,000 people. This is expected to grow to 50,000 by 2029. Brisbane Airport is consistently recognised as a leading airport nationally and internationally. Some of the accolades have included being recognised as: one of the best privatised airports in the world in the IATA Eagle Award in 2005 and the Skytrax Awards in 2009; and the best Australian airport for overall quality of service, standards and facilities eight years in a row (ranked by the ACCC). For further information go to www.bne.com.au
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