Human Workers May Not Be Needed In Future Terminals

As one of the worst years in history for the airline industry in terms of flight delays and mishandled luggage comes to a close, a recent conference in Nevada gave carrier managers something to hope for.

Last week's Check-In 2007, a two-day conference for airlines and airport officials at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, focused on ways the industry can make air travel run a bit more smoothly and be a bit more -- dare we say it? -- pleasant.

The buzzwords of the event were 'self-service', according to the Los Angeles Times.

"People don't think flying is a whole lot of fun anymore," said Charles "Duffy" Mees, chief information officer for JetBlue Airways Corp.

About 300 attendees were presented a vision of an automated future: passengers checking, tagging and preparing their own luggage for boarding; selecting their own seating and printing their own boarding passes.

Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport revealed just such a plan for itself at the conference. Schiphol officials predict the new machines will process passengers easier and faster and few humans will be needed or utilized in the process.

"It'll be highly efficient," Marcel van Beek, Schiphol's program manager for passenger process. The plan drew thunderous applause from the packed room when it was unveiled.

About 20 companies showcased new machines and devices designed to ease congestion, frustration and long waits at the airport.

One of the presenters in the exhibit hall was Edinburgh, Scotland-based Mobiqa Ltd. This company developed some software that would enable a cell phone to be used to check in or board a flight. The user is emailed a bar code and only needs to swipe the cell phone under an image reading machine.

One thing conference-goers agree upon is the fact there is nothing they can do to avoid the long lines waiting to pass through the Transportation Security Administration's system.

"We have to somehow compensate for their inefficiencies," Mees said.

"We can at least try to make the airport experience a positive one," said Randall Walker, head of Las Vegas' McCarran International Airport, host of the conference.

FMI: www.schiphol.nl, www.mccarran.com