As per the latest development, the Delhi airport operator, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), announced the launch of a self-service mechanism. This new system enables passengers to drop their luggage, collect tags, and complete the check-in process more efficiently and swiftly. The service, in short, eliminates the need for boarding passes and biometric validation, as the required information is embedded in the tags.
If reports are to go by, Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport is the first-ever in India and the second globally, after Toronto's airport in Canada, to offer this facility.
DIAL introduced the Self-Service Bag Drop (SSBD) Quick Drop Solution at Delhi Airport, positioning it as a pioneering technology in India and the second worldwide after Toronto. With 50 SSBD units now operational across Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, passengers will now be able to enjoy a more streamlined and efficient baggage drop process, which will further significantly reduce wait times and enhance the overall passenger experience.
According to DIAL, the new one-step quick baggage drop solution reduces the check-in process from one minute to just 30 seconds. Traditional SSBD units allowed travelers to bypass check-in desks by printing their boarding passes and baggage tags at Common Use Self Service (CUSS) kiosks.
Passengers would then scan their boarding passes or use biometric cameras at the SSBD unit to drop their bags on the conveyor belt, a process that typically took about a minute. However, with the Quick Drop Solution, the need for boarding passes or biometric validation is eliminated, cutting the processing time to just 30 seconds and making the check-in experience even more efficient.
Currently, the self-service bag drop (SSBD) units are available with three airlines: Air India, IndiGo, and Air India Express. Passengers can collect and attach their luggage tags at CUSS kiosks upon arrival at the airport. After placing their bags onto the SBD conveyor belt, the system opens the respective airline's application on the SBD machine with a single click, reducing the processing time from about a minute to 30 seconds.
In the event of dangerous goods, passengers must agree to the dangerous goods self-declaration form with a single click. The SBD system then internally checks all relevant criteria and business rules defined by the airlines. Once verification is complete, the bag is automatically processed.
This innovative approach at Delhi Airport is set to revolutionize the check-in process, providing a faster, more convenient option for travelers and enhancing the overall airport experience.
