Harrods Aviation (Booth A67) has introduced an automated check-in system for VIP and group charter flights at its London Luton and London Stansted FBOs. According to the company, the product from London-based Flight Solutions will improve efficiency by the introduction of automation for previously manual tasks such as passenger processing and ground handling, as well as through the fast capture of passport or other identity documentation, automatic generation of flight manifest, and the issuing of baggage tags.

The electronic departure control system (eDCS) designed specifically for the FBO industry, was installed in February, with training completed in April and, according to Harrods' sales and marketing director Will Holroyd, it is running well. “With this investment, we are well prepared for the stepped-up requirements of electronic passenger and crew manifest data for Border Force that are being introduced and for UK Department of Transport security compliance to the baggage process,” he noted.

Harrods expects to see real tests of the system this summer as both of its locations expect to see large charter groups, including music tours and sports teams pass through its facilities.

“The eDCS solution is a simple but effective, off-the-shelf solution which is great for support out on the ramp too, enabling ground handlers to quickly deal with any bag changes required,” said Harrods operations director Kerry Besgrove. “It is competitively priced, fit for purpose, and tried and proven, which is why we chose it.”

It has been in operation at Stansted’s Inflite Jet Centre since 2012, and at TAG Farnborough for the past three years. Falcon Aviation at Abu Dhabi Al Bateen Executive Airport introduced the system in 2016 and uses it to support its on-time performance of 12 scheduled Bombardier Q400 flights a day, which accounted for 215,000 passengers last year.