Avalon introduces touchless check-in system

AVALON Airport will be the first airport in Australia to implement touchless self-service through a new deal with Elenium Automation, which says the technology will encourage people to return to travel.
The new system is intended to provide passengers, airline partners, and staff with an effective, rapid response to the coronavirus pandemic as well to future health risk scenarios.
Instead of touching screens, passengers at Avalon Airport will control their interaction with the kiosks and bag drops via head movement.
Cameras in kiosks and bag drops will link the movement of the passenger’s head with the movement of a cursor on the screen.
Passports can also be read by holding them open in front of a camera, rather than by inserting them into a passport slot. This technology reduces the risk that a virus is transferred between multiple passengers touching the same devices.
Last month, Elenium announced it had also developed touchless, patent-pending technologies that can also measure a passenger’s vital signs including temperature, respiratory and heart rate.
The touchless component of this technology will be available at Avalon Airport kiosks and bag drops to assist in the fight against COVID-19 and other transmissible illnesses.
“While this is very difficult time for the aviation industry, we have an opportunity to make the changes for passenger safety and wellbeing that will increase their confidence,” Elenium Automation chief executive officer and co-founder Aaron Hornlimann said.
“We are very excited that Avalon is working with us to ensure the airport is in a great position to rebound from this crisis by giving their passengers and team a streamlined, safe airport experience.
“We believe the introduction of touchless self-service will encourage people to return to travel.”
Tourism Greater Geelong and the Bellarine (TGGB) executive director Brett Ince welcomed the new technology at Avalon, and said people would be eager to have a holiday or visit friends and family when the easing of coronavirus restrictions allowed them to do so.
“For us, in our region, having Avalon Airport is a big opportunity for Geelong, the Bellarine and the broader Great Ocean Road region.
“We expect there’s a lot of people that do want to recharge and reconnect, and that will focus on multiple short breaks as opposed to the usual annual international holiday.”
He said TGGB had been working closely with Tourism Australia and Visit Victoria during the restricted travel phase of the coronavirus.
“There’s a mindset in consumers that there’s a level of frustration and boredom, but there’s an also an opportunity for people to dream, and a big part of that is people thinking where they might go in Australia, so we’d certainly encourage our community to invite their family and friends this way when the time is right.”