Star Alliance invests in baggage handling solutions

baggage-on-conveyor-belt

THE Star Alliance is investing into an airline IT hub for baggage technology, set to be operational by end-2016.

CEOs of the Alliance’s member airlines gave the go-ahead for the project as part of new multi-million investments to improve overall operational processes.

According to a statement by the Star Alliance, current baggage processes are overly complex due to the use of many different systems by all parties involved. With each airline and airport running its own baggage solution, it is difficult to retrieve the status of bags and to take remedial action if they are mishandled.

Said Star Alliance CEO Mark Schwab: “We believe modern technology can be of tremendous assistance in significantly reducing the number of baggage issues and providing faster and more accurate information for our customer service agents.”

In conjunction, the Alliance heads have also endorsed the development of standardised processes for self-service check-in, fast bag drop technology at airports, baggage self-tagging and automated travel document validation.

These standards are expected to provide greater conveniences for Star Alliance customers as well as reduce infrastructure requirements and handling costs.

“This initiative represents another industry first and is created in full support of the IATA Fast Travel mandate,” added Schwab, who will be stepping down as CEO of the Alliance at the end of the year.

“As we represent around one quarter of the world’s scheduled airline services, we believe we can contribute to the reduction of operating complexities. Our member airlines have benefited significantly from standardisation in other areas and are determined to drive this process forward now, together with airports and system providers.”

Schwab will be succeeded by Jeffrey Goh, current COO and general counsel of Star Alliance, on January 1, 2017.

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