New Beijing airport to embrace smart technologies

From facial recognition to real-time baggage tracking, Beijing Daxing International Airport has embraced the latest smart technologies to improve passenger experience, an official at the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) said at a news conference on Thursday.

Self-service check-in kiosks and baggage drop machines will have 86 percent and 76 percent coverage, respectively, at the new Beijing airport, said Zhang Rui, vice-director of the Airport Department of the CAAC.

Smart technologies have been deployed in security check lanes for a fast and smooth passage, he said.

Passengers can enjoy a completely paperless, self-service boarding experience, from entry into the terminal building to the boarding gate, Zhang said.

The Daxing airport has also introduced the radio-frequency identification (RFID) baggage tracking system, which will allow passengers to track their luggage status in real time on their mobile phones.

The new airport, located in Daxing district of Beijing, is scheduled to be completed on June 30 and begin operations in September.