The onward march of IT solutions for the handling industry shows no signs of slowing, despite the current climate.
ARINC is just one name amongst many in this specialised sector and in recent times it has been focussing on mobility concepts in the fullest sense of the word. To that end it has looked at the topics of flight departures, portable common use check-in solutions and even mobile communication facilities.
The company’s AviCheck is an interesting case in point. Essentially a fully transportable, common-use solution for airport check-in and passenger services, it takes the shape of a lightweight tablet-type PC which has wireless connectivity; it works in tandem with a portable 2D barcode-enabled boarding pass printer. Such a discrete application is now becoming an increasingly popular tool at forward thinking airports.
The application represents a joint effort between AviIT and ARINC and the product allows the handler to cut down on the queue process as well as providing a “floating” check-in facility in times of need. It has the ability to host sessions on multiple DCS and, if, required, allows the handler to capture baggage information and avail himself of remote bag tag printing as and when necessary. For special customers it also allows a discreet check-in facility, something the regular business traveller has come to expect.
According to the IT company, whilst the idea of the portable device is not new, it has hitherto been specific to an airline. ARINC wanted to cut across that boundary and introduce multi-carrier usage for the highest degree of flexibility. Moreover, this application permits the generation of ancillary revenue through h credit card processing and the like.