Bengaluru International Airport (BIA) is all set to become the first airport in the country to implement a check-in technology using mobile phones.

Marcel Hungerbuehler, chief executive officer, Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), on Monday said that the company was awaiting clearance from security agencies for implementing the system. "We are planning to put the technology into operation soon. We just need to get the nod from the security agencies, and airlines also need to get used to the technology," he said.

The ‘mobile boarding' will work with the help of a two-dimensional bar code that will be e-mailed to the passenger. Commuters who have cell phones with accessibility to internet can avail this service. "As long as your cell phones are web-enabled and can receive e-mails and display images, you are good to go. The screen size is not important here," he said.

The customers have to first log in to the official website of the airlines that they intend to take using their mobile phones. "From the website you will get a 2D encrypted bar code. You need to save that bar code on your cell phone. The airline authorities can scan the code on your cell phone at the check-point and the entrance. Using the bar code, the authorities can generate boarding passes," said Hungerbuehler. "If for some reason the system fails, attendants can print the boarding passes at the entrance," he said.

However, the airlines are yet to obtain this technology. "The airport is equipped with the technology. But airlines will take some more time to become fully prepared for the implementation of the technology," he said.
Hungerbuehler also elaborated the company's expansion plan worth Rs1,000 million. "Development works at the present airport terminal will start in January next. It is scheduled to be completed within 18 months," he said. "After the make-over, the passenger capacity of the airport will increase considerably. The terminal, which now has a capacity to cater to about 11 million passengers annually, will be able to host over 17 million passengers after the expansion. The new terminal will have 83 check-in counters and it is expected to be one of the architectural wonders in the state," said Hungerbuehler. He also said the expansion would continue till the airport's capacity reached its maximum. "The work on the second runway will start in 2015," he said.

Ruling out airspace congestion in the state, he said, "There is no question of airspace congestion as the closest airport is about five nautical miles away from the BIA. Bangalore's airspace is divided into three parts —- BIA, Air Force base in Yelahanka and HAL. HAL is too far to create any problem for BIA," he said. "Even if there is some airspace problem, the matter can be solved in no time," he added.