Passengers departing from Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) will now be able to complete pre-departure procedures – including check-in and travel document verification – through their mobile phone.
Passengers departing from Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) will now be able to complete pre-departure procedures – including check-in and travel document verification – through their mobile phone.
The new service – the Smartphone Express Bag Drop Service – is part of HKIA's Flight Token smart technology which enables passengers to complete departure procedures through flight boarding gate using their mobile device with the use of facial recognition technology.
Before heading to the airport, passengers can check-in online for their flight and scan travel documents through their mobile device. Once at the airport, passengers can proceed to the Express Bag Drop counters to drop off check-in luggage. Passengers can then enter the security area and board their flight through self-service, also using their mobile device.
According to AAHK, all passengers above the age of 11 or traveling visa-free will be able to use the new service and use Flight Token with their electronic travel documents. This will include Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) passports issued after May 14, 2019, Mainland Travel Permits for Hong Kong and Macao Residents, electronic passports issued by all other countries or regions, or Mainland residents' Exit-Entry Permits for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao with valid endorsements for visit.
“Flight Token is the world’s first service that applies facial recognition technology to complete the entire departure process at the airport,” said Chris Au Young, General Manager, Innovation & Data Insights of AAHK. “Since its full implementation in 2022, it has won numerous accolades from local and international organisations. The Smartphone Express Bag Drop Service, as an extended service of Flight Token, was just launched in collaboration with airlines, delivering to passengers an even more convenient and efficient departure experience. We will continue to work with our business partners to develop and adopt different technological and innovative solutions to further enhance our services and operational efficiency as part of our Smart Airport’ journey.”
Passengers departing on flights with Cathay Pacific, HK Express, and Hong Kong Airlines from Hong Kong will be among the first to be able to use the new service. All HK Express passengers can use the airline's app, and Cathay Pacific will offer the service for those departing to all destinations except the United States starting August 1. Hong Kong Airlines expects to provide the service before year's end.
Following the rollout with the three Hong Kong-based airlines, AAHK plans to extend the service to more airlines.
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