ATW Daily News

ANZ to speed up domestic check-in, boarding from today

Monday November 3, 2008

Air New Zealand today will roll out its new domestic airport product featuring a range of technical and design innovations designed to speed check-in and boarding. Unveiling will take place at Auckland's domestic terminal, where new kiosks will enable passengers to print their own bag tags and a conveyor belt bag drop zone will help shorten or eliminate queues. New gate scanners will allow for straight-to-gate check-in and boarding for those without bags. ANZ Group GM-Short Haul Airlines Bruce Parton told ATWOnline that 12 months ago the airline set about "to create and deliver a new experience that would allow customers to move quickly and seamlessly through domestic airports. Our goal was to get rid of frustrating queues, cut customer waiting time and make checking in and boarding as quick and easy as possible."

Christchurch will follow on Nov. 17 and Wellington shortly thereafter, with other airports getting the upgrade over the next six months. ANZ is investing NZ$30 million ($17.7 million) in the makeover, which also will include RFID identifiers attached to the back of mobile phones to facilitate ticketing and boarding for certain loyalty program members. The airline recently reconfigured its 16 domestic 737s to offer a new Space+ section in the front half of the cabin with an additional 2-5 in. of legroom.

Separately, ANZ received Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand certification for RNP operations into Queenstown for its 15 A320s. It now is the only airline able to offer international (A320) and domestic (737) RNP operations into the popular tourist destination, which is nestled among mountain ranges (ATW, September 2008).

by Geoffrey Thomas

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