Smart travel, from home to gate at HKIA
The Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) has officially launched the world’s first Smartphone Express Bag Drop Service as part of its Flight Token smart technology.
The new service enables passengers to complete online check-in and scan their travel documents with their smartphones before heading to Hong Kong International Airport.
Upon arrival at HKIA, they can proceed directly to the Express Bag Drop counters and drop their bags with their smartphones in under one minute, compared to an average of three minutes at the airline counters or Smart Check-in Kiosks.
HKIA says it is the only airport in the world where passengers are able to complete all departure procedures using only their smartphones and facial recognition technology, including online check-in, travel document verification, bag drop, entering the security area, and boarding through self-service.
All passengers aged 11 or above travelling on a visa-free journey can enjoy this new service and use Flight Token with their electronic travel documents, including Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) passports issued after 14 May 2019, Mainland Travel Permits for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (commonly known as the “Home Return Permits”), electronic passports issued by all other countries or regions, or Mainland residents’ Exit-Entry Permits for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao with valid endorsements for visit.
Chris Au Young, general manager, innovation & data Insights of AAHK, stated, “Flight Token is the world’s first service that applies facial recognition technology to complete the entire departure process at the airport. “
Currently, all HK Express passengers can use the airline’s app for the Smartphone Express Bag Drop Service. Cathay Pacific has started offering the service to passengers for all destinations, except the United States.
Hong Kong Airlines expects to provide the service by the end of this year. AAHK plans to extend this service to more airlines.
Next time leave the drone at home
A 68-year-old tourist from China who illegally flew a drone over Marina Bay has been fined S$12,000 (US$8,900) by a court in Singapore.
The court heard that retiree Zhong Zhensheng arrived in Singapore with his wife on 25 June, and later that day he headed out to take aerial shots of Marina Bay.
Zhong was unaware of Singapore’s Air Navigation Act which forbids operating a drone flying 60 metres above mean sea level in the Marina Bay area for recreational purposes without a permit.
When Zhong’s drone soared to 148 metres, police were alerted by civil aviation authorities.
Zhong’s lawyer told the court that his “hapless client” did not see any signs warning him of the restrictions on operating drones in the area.
Sun and Moon shines with TA Network
Cambodia’s family-owned Sun and Moon hotel group has agreed a strategic partnership with Trip Affiliates which will enable SMH to leverage the network’s proprietary solutions developed to broaden online distribution channels and enhance the group’s booking processes.
Rithy Kurt, group director of sales & marketing at Sun & Moon Hotels said, “TA Network has enabled Sun and Moon Hotels to manage conservative wholesale contracts digitally with full functionality, making our B2B operations faster.
“We can manage dynamic rates efficiently, like an OTA, and work with dynamic wholesalers.”
Chinese travellers strike gold in Paris
Chinese travellers have been flocking to Paris where their compatriots have been hauling in gold medals, including a gold for world record-breaking 100m freestyle swimmer Pan Zhanle.
Online travel platform Figgy has revealed that since July, hotel bookings have increased by more than 1.5 times year-on-year while French visa service transactions have increased by more than 1.4 times YoY.
Host city Paris is, of course,is the star of the show. Flight bookings have increased by more 90% YoY, compared to 70% for the whole of the country
Local leisure packages (sailing tours, helicopter city tours, museum tours, Seine River cruises) have increased by about 100% YoY.
Marseille and Bordeaux, fellow Olympic cities, are also proving to be popular destinations.