02.04.2007
Jump the queue with Sterling

Sterling and Copenhagen Airport are joining forces to speed up the check-in process in a new pilot project. With eight new check-in kiosks and service staff to assist passengers, self-service check-in will truly be quick and easy – also for passengers travelling with checked baggage. The project is part of Copenhagen Airport's three-year plan to optimise the check-in process.

Why stand in line to check in when you can check in easily and quickly on a kiosk? This is a question passengers will have good reasons to ask themselves in future when flying out of Copenhagen Airport on Sterling.

50% of passengers to use self-service

With eight new check-in kiosks made available by Copenhagen Airport and more service staff to guide and assist passengers, the airport and Sterling are launching a pilot project aimed towards 50% of Sterling passengers using self-service kiosks to check in rather than stand in line at the counters. The project is just one of a number of improvements in the check-in process made by Copenhagen Airport in collaboration with the airlines.

“The check-in process is one of the big bottlenecks at the airport, but there is no reason to stand in line to be checked in by a person at a counter. Passengers can do it themselves at a kiosk in just a few minutes – also if they have baggage to check,” said Commercial Director Stefan Vilner of Sterling.

Service staff ready to help

Manual checking in used to be the only option, but a growing number of passengers today use self-service solutions such as kiosks or online systems.

Four out of ten passengers at Copenhagen Airport check themselves in, which is far above the industry average, but the airport would like to have even more passengers jumping the queue in the years ahead. Some passengers are reluctant to use the kiosks because they do not quite know how they work or what to do with their baggage.

“That's why we're putting in more service staff to help guide passengers through the check-in procedure on the kiosks and show them where to drop their checked baggage. We are confident that a whole lot of passengers will find out how easy it is to use the kiosks to check in,” Vilner added.

A three-year plan to optimise the check-in process

The project is part of a three-year plan developed by Copenhagen Airport to optimise the check-in process. Included in this plan are projects aimed at increasing the use of check-in kiosks and online check-in, improving “bag drop” opportunities and optimising the passenger flow at Copenhagen Airport. The plan also includes setting up special check-in facilities for cruise passengers during the busy summer months.

“With this project, Sterling is taking the lead in efforts to make checking in at Copenhagen Airport faster and more flexible. We will use our experience from the pilot project in our continued efforts to optimise the check-in process in the years ahead. I am convinced that in a few years’ time we will see most passengers check themselves in,” said Niels Boserup, President and CEO of Copenhagen Airports A/S.