Automation to take the strain out of flying, preserve environment

By 2020, all Chinese airlines are expected to use electronic boarding passes, and China has become the first country to set such a clear goal.

The passenger check-in process will gradually shift out of airports in China, according to a forecast by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Currently, no country in the world has achieved the full use of electronic boarding passes. Last year, the off-airport check-in rate in China was 50 percent, according to the IATA.