Skip check-in queues: Air New Zealand installs world's first automated bag drop using biometric technology

Air New Zealand is claiming another world first with its new electronic bag drops at Auckland International Airport.

The national carrier said checking-in would be faster with the new bag drops which featured "world-first biometric technology".

The technology was similar to that used by SmartGates, where passengers scan their passports and boarding passes to have their identities verified by a biometric camera.

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Once identification has been confirmed passengers weigh their bags which are then processed through the airline's baggage handling system.

Five bag drops have been installed at Auckland Airport with eight more being installed in early 2016.

In November Air New Zealand claimed another first by introducing monitoring bracelets for minors, called Airbands.

The wristband is embedded with a chip which is scanned at stages of the journey, triggering text notifications to be sent to up to five nominated contacts.

Air New Zealand group general manager of airports John Whittaker said the bag drop kiosks would free up Air New Zealand airport staff to provide customer assistance.

Stuff.co.nz

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