Tom PowellPASSENGERS heading for the Costa del Sol can now board their flight using their phone – as Northern Ireland’s largest airline becomes the first European carrier to introduce mobile boarding passes.
Everyone flying from Belfast International Airport with easyJet can now download their boarding pass via the airline’s app and scan it to gain access to their flight.
Spain-bound passengers flying to Malaga, Barcelona, Alicante, Palma and Ibiza can now all use their phone.
Special scanners have been installed at bag drop desks, security and departure gates across the airport to help speed up queues and boarding times.
More than 100,000 passengers at Belfast International Airport are expected to download mobile boarding passes over the next year. Since launching the technology in September 2013 over 2.5 million mobile boarding passes have been downloaded across Europe by easyJet customers.
Ali Gayward, easyJet’s Head of Northern Ireland said: “We’re pleased to introduce mobile boarding passes across all easyJet flights from Belfast to make travel easier for our passengers. The service will be offered in addition to printed boarding passes and will allow customers to check in and download their pass via the easyJet app.
“Mobile boarding passes can be saved on the easyJet app and accessed without network coverage or roaming charges wherever you are. Customers can check in for their flight as early as 30 days ahead of the departure or as little as two hours before.”
Uel Hoey, the airport’s Business Development Director, said: “This is another great initiative from easyJet and with the growth of mobile devices it makes sense that this service is in place for all of easyJet’s Belfast passengers. With around 50% of the air travel market in Northern Ireland using easyJet we are sure passengers will welcome this new development.”
This is a great idea which was in fact introduced by Easyjet last year as I used from Gatwick airport to Almeria airport. You need to ensure your phone is charged up. At the time I could not use on my return journey from Almeria but I am sure in time most airports will have the necessary equipment.