Airblue introduces self check-in system at Karachi Airport

Abbas Ali · Post by **Abbas Ali** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 10:36 am

KARACHI, June 28 (APP) - Airblue (www.airblue.com) became the first among public and private sector airlines in South Asia and second after Emirates in the region to introduce latest self check-in system at Karachi airport.

Inaugurated by Airport Manager, Yusuf Abbas at a colourful ceremony held at the domestic departure lounge at Jinnah International Terminal Tuesday afternoon, the self check-in system will facilitate the passengers carrying baggage with them, to get boarding card through the new screen touch system without reporting at the counter.

The ceremony was largely attended, among others, by Chief Operating Officer Airblue Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Director Commercial Syed Nasir Ali and senior airline and civil aviation officials.

The Airport Manager got his boarding card within 2 minutes after inserting the ticket into the system for scanning.

Later talking to newsmen, COO Airblue Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that four such machines will be installed at Karachi airport for domestic passengers within 2 weeks and later at other airports like Lahore and Islamabad.

He said that except for Emirates at Dubai airport, no other private or public sector airline has this modern facility of self check-in.

It will not only facilitate the passengers but also reduce load on our counters which are limited in number, he added.

Replying a question, he informed that required permission for UK- operation is still awaited while our request is in the process. He said we have also applied for operation to Jordan.

He described airblue's operation to Gwadar as successful and said the airline will start operating second flight a day in the month of August.

Shahid Khaqan said the airline, which ferried about half a million passengers on its first anniverary, touched the one million mark on its second anniversary and is likely to hit 1.50 to 1.75 lac passengers a month during the period for third anniversary, if it gets permission for UK operation.

To a question, he said that new self check-in system has been introduced after great research and with the use of totally indigenous technology.

Replying another query, COO Airblue said the airline is likely to be listed on Stock Exchange by next year.

He told a questioner that at present our seat occupancy rate is 80 percent on an average, "but we don't measure it".

Airport Manager Yusuf Abbas said Karachi airport is facing problems because of power outages and our chilling plants suffering for the last couple of weeks.

He pointed out that for meeting our electricity requirements we need 12 KV load against which we are getting 9 KV from KESC which is insufficient to keep the chillers running.

Today KESC provided us required quantity of electricity by resorting to load-shedding in others areas, thus making our chillers functional.

He said the CAA has now decided to look into own power generation plan for its new airports.

He congratulated Airblue on its second annivesary and said that at every anniversary the airline introduced value added new system. He described it premier airline of the future and said we feel proud to have it on our airports.

Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

basit_s · Post by **basit_s** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 5:37 pm

Karachi Airport: Airblue installs 'Automatic Checking System of Boarding Pass'

KARACHI: Airblue, the fast growing airline in Pakistan has installed "Automatic Checking System of Boarding Pass" at Jinnah International Airport Karachi.

Manager Jinnah International Airport, Yousuf Abbas inaugurated the first automatic checking machine installed at this airport here on Tuesday.

Speaking on the occasion the Chief Operating Officer, Airblue, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said this automatic checking machine is a locally made modern technology which is being installed to facilitate the passengers to avoid standing in queues for getting a boarding passes.

He pointed out that Airblue is first airline in the Islamic Republic, which has installed this modern automatic checking system for boarding passes. He said that three more automatic checking machines would be installed at Jinnah International Airport Karachi within the next two weeks while Airblue would install this system at every airport where it is operating.

He said that after installing this checking system rush at the counters would be reduced and the passengers would be able to get boarding passes in less time.

Regarding Manchester operation, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that their proposal is in progress and after getting approval from the Pakistani Government and UK Airblue's operation would be started. "We have planned to operate four to six flights per week on this route which would be brought to a daily flight", he added. "We have also planned to start Airblue's operation on Pakistan-Jordan route", he said and added that after necessary work and approval for this operation would be started.

He said that Gwader operation is being done and Airblue's daily flight with full load is operating successfully. He pointed out that they are expecting to double the flights on Gwader route in August next. He said that over 150,000 passengers would be travelling through Airblue after starting its operation to Manchester per month as against 80,000 passengers that travelled through Airblue during its second years of operation.

Yousuf Abbas, Manager, Jinnah International Airport said on this occasion that Airblue is a fast growing airline in the country and said that it is expected that it would become a premier airline in the world in future.

He appreciated Airblue's efforts for providing more facilities to its passengers and said that the installation of modern automatic checking system at airport proves that the airline is committed to provide more facilities to its passengers. Syed Nasir Ali, Director Commercial, Airblue and other dignities were also present on this occasion.

PK777 · Post by **PK777** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 6:58 pm

Wow, talk about taking airport services to the next level. Cant believe the national carrier didnt think of it

Imran Hassan · Post by **Imran Hassan** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 10:12 pm

I didn't think load shedding would ever affect an airport especially one of such international importance such as Jinnah terminal at Karachi. Airports should have a backup system in case of power failure to power essential systems without interruption such as radar, airfield lighting etc.

AIR PAKISTAN · Post by **AIR PAKISTAN** » Thu Jun 29, 2006 9:29 am

I don't know how they say that Emirates and AirBlue are the only airlines in the region to provide this facility. Saudi Arabian Airlines also has the self-check in at all the three international airports in Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam. I myself availed the facility in Jeddah for flight to Cairo.

Abbas Ali · Post by **Abbas Ali** » Mon Jul 03, 2006 7:49 am

Found this photo of airblue self check-in system at airline's official website:

Image source: www.airblue.com