A new global standard has been established that will pave the way for mobile phone check-in at airports around the world.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA), which represents more than 240 airlines, has announced a standard for bar-coded boarding passes (BCBP) that is already the basis for web check-in and will allow airlines to send 2D bar codes straight to passengers’ mobile phones or PDAs.
Customers will need to register their mobile number when they book their ticket, and will then receive a text message with the bar code, or instructions on how to download it.
The bar code acts as the passenger’s boarding pass and is read straight from the mobile device’s screen.
“Passengers want the convenience of self-service options in a paperless environment,” said Giovanni Bisignani, Director General and CEO. “This standard is an important step in getting rid of paper that bogs down processes and drives up costs.”
He said the IATA would be working with member airlines in the coming months to standardise guidelines and practices.
The group expects the bar code boarding passes to be fully implemented by the end of 2010, entirely replacing the current magnetic stripe technology.
