SWISSAIR is trialling a system which will eventually replace the need for check-in or passports at airports.
The Fast Track Card is being tested until the end of the year with members of the airline’s frequent-flyer club at Swissair’s Zurich hub.
Travellers passing through Zurich with just hand luggage are taking part in the trial. Depending on results, the trial will be rolled out to other European airports next year.
Once the system has proved successful, the Fast Track Card will be available to all passengers. No date has been set for the card to become the standard.
Passengers will still need a ticket, electronic or conventional, but a chip in the card has their personal details allowing customers to bypass check-in as flight details will be read when they go through passport control.
Boarding passes will be given out at passport control and passengers can then enter a lounge by using the card.
The card also has the technology to store passport or national ID details and can be used in place of a boarding pass when buying duty free. Future developments will allow passengers with full baggage to use the card.
n Swissair’s sister company Swissport International is set to take over the ground handling operations of Aer Lingus at Heathrow this week. Around 1,000 Aer Lingus staff will transfer to Swissport.