The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that Hawaiian Airlines has attained Platinum status for Fast Travel implementation. Hawaiian is the first airline in the United States to achieve Platinum status, which recognizes carriers that offer four or more Fast Travel compliant solutions to at least 80% of their passengers.
The Fast Travel program responds to passenger demand for a more seamless travel experience and more control through six time-saving, self-service initiatives. They are:
Self-check-in and/or automatic check-in
Bags ready-to-go
Document check
Flight re-booking
Self-boarding
Bag recovery
Over 75% of air travelers would prefer to check in online or automatically by receiving a text message or email according to IATA"™s 2014 Global Passenger Survey. Only 15% prefer to receive their boarding passes from an agent at an airport check-in counter. The industry"™s target is to implement Fast Travel projects covering 35% of eligible passengers this year and by 2020, the goal is to have 80% of passengers offered a complete self-service suite based on common industry standards.
«I congratulate Hawaiian Airlines for its leadership in bringing these passenger-pleasing solutions to its customers. Fast Travel is a win-win for passengers and the air transport industry. Surveys consistently show that many flyers prefer the greater convenience and control that self-service options provide for them, while airlines and airports benefit from greater efficiency and better use of increasingly congested terminal real estate,» said Tom Windmuller, IATA Senior Vice President, Airport, Passenger, Cargo and Security.
«We are very pleased to have obtained the Platinum level certification and are proud to be the first airline in the United States to do so. Hawaiian is committed to giving our guests technology driven choices and feel that the Fast Travel certification provides a standard so guests receive a consistent level of self-service regardless of what airline they are flying or where they are traveling in the world,» said Bret Ranoa, Hawaiian Airlines Senior Director, Airport Customer Service.
Regulatory restrictions have held back mass implementation of some Fast Travel options, including the Bags Ready-to-Go project that encompasses self-tagging and home bag tags. Industry stakeholders including airports have partnered with regulators to address concerns and at the end of 2014, regulators in Brazil and then the Transportation Security Administration in the US lifted most restrictions. Other countries are expected to follow suit.
«We welcome the regulatory cooperation in Brazil and the US that will enable airlines to expand the suite of Fast Travel benefits offered to air travellers. We look forward to similar cooperation in other jurisdictions, clearing the way for airlines and airports to implement more Fast Travel solutions around the globe,» said Windmuller…
