The Week In Travel

Berlin Brandenburg Airport has launched a new service this week, which will use facial recognition technology to speed up security procedures. The service, launched in partnership with Lufthansa, will allow passengers faster access to the priority security lane without the use of a boarding pass. Both parties are optimistic that this innovation will improve efficiency and reduce wait times for passengers.

In the UK, a final decision on the airport charges London Heathrow Airport can levy per passenger has been delayed until October. The Civil Aviation Authority ordered the airport to cut its passenger charges by around 20% back in March, which would see prices capped at £31.57 per passenger for the remainder of this year, before falling to £25.43 in 2024. The airport has since appealed to the Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA), arguing that the prices have been set too low. The CMA had been due to make a decision on the matter in August, but this has now been pushed back to mid-October.

In sustainability news, Emirates Airlines has eliminated paper boarding passes for flights departing from Dubai International Airport, transitioning to fully digital processes. Passengers can now use mobile boarding passes or Emirates’ biometric technology for seamless check-in and boarding. The eco-friendly initiative aims to enhance efficiency and reduce paper waste while providing a more convenient experience for travellers at the airport.

Over in China, Hainan Airlines has announced the relaunch of its Edinburgh-Beijing route, restoring direct flights between the two cities for the first time since 2020. The twice weekly service will be the only non-stop route between Scotland and China when it starts on 26th June, and is expected to boost tourism and business connections between the regions.

And finally, a man managed to delay a flight for a five-hour period after he tried to board without paying his ‘fare share’. Despite having not purchased a ticket, the man was able to wing it onto a Jetstar flight from Sunshine Coast Airport to Sydney – passing through two security checks. The man was discovered when another passenger boarded and tried to claim his rightful seat. As a result of the incident, all passengers had to go through security again, leading to the lengthy delay before the man was removed and the plane finally took off.