Emirates has announced the introduction of self-check-in and bag drop kiosks at Terminal 3, Dubai International Airport. It notes that the service is now available to customers traveling to all destinations except the USA, Canada, China, India and Hong Kong due to additional requirements from these destinations.
The 16 self-service bag-drop machines and 8 self-service kiosks complement the desks manned by Emirates check-in agents, with the aim of reducing waiting time for customers during peak periods. The airline says that additional self-service facilities are planned for the coming months. The bag drop and check-in solution was developed in-house at Emirates in collaboration with Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects and Dubai Airports. Future upgrades to the system will include touchless operation and the addition of functionality to enable customers to make rebookings on their own.
The kiosks allow customers to check in, receive their boarding pass, choose seats on board and drop off their bags. Although Emirates staff will be on hand for any assistance required, the facilities are fully self-service, enabling customers to quickly proceed directly to immigration. While the units reduce face-to-face contact between passengers and staff, Emirates notes the facilities are cleaned and disinfected regularly and hand sanitizers are also available for customers to use.