The airline and mobile phone operator sign a partnership agreement to develop check-in via mobile handsets
Madrid, the 6th of June 2007
Vodafone Spain and the airline Spanair today announced the signing of a partnership agreement launching an innovative two-dimensional code system that will enable passengers to receive their boarding card on their mobile phone and proceed directly to security and boarding, thereby saving time and gaining efficiency.
In order to benefit from this pioneering service, customers will simply be required to check-in via spanair.com, (where they will be asked to key in their mobile number, brand and model), and then choose the option of receiving their boarding card via their phone (in a two-dimensional barcode format). Once at the airport, passengers will be free to board the flight as soon as the code has been read and automatically validated, simply by passing their handset through a special scanner located at the security control and boarding gates.
The technology utilized will allow for optimising the barcodes for each type of mobile phone, avoiding reading errors and ensuring reliability.
The exciting new project, developed by Spanair’s Innovation and Commercial Systems Department in partnership with Vodafone, demonstrates that mobile communications are increasingly linked to citizens’ activities, both professionally and personally; and also how technological innovation is creating procedures to simplify our daily lives and bring greater efficiency to routine tasks.
The mobile check-in system, launched at Madrid Barajas airport during MOVE 07, Vodafone’s innovation trade fair, is soon to become operative at several Spanish airports.
On the 6th and 7th of June, Spanair passengers visiting MOVE 07 will be able to check in at the trade fair, before travelling to Madrid Barajas airport, where they will then board their flight, making use of this groundbreaking service.
“By means of this initiative, Spanair will offer passengers an innovative system to simplify and facilitate transit at the airport, bringing increased comfort to the different phases of their trip by removing the requirement for paper documents. Once again, Spanair is setting itself apart as an innovative carrier, which takes great care to offer all its passengers the highest quality standards”, stated Pablo Sánchez, Spanair’s E-Commerce Director.
Spanair was founded in 1986 and offers more than 600 daily flights, operated with a fleet of 65 aircraft and in code share with its partners, to 241 destinations. Since April 2003, Spanair is a member of Star Alliance, the largest and most prestigious airline network in the world.
Vodafone Spain is part of the Vodafone group, the world leader in mobiles, operating in 25 countries, with agreements in a further 38 worldwide. Vodafone provides a complete range of mobile telecommunications services, including voice and data communication, ensuring access for 206 million proportional customers. Vodafone Spain’s 15 million clients benefit from the experience and capacity of a world business leader helping individuals, companies and communities to be better connected in a mobile world.