9 December 2019
By Mary Bermingham
mary@TheCork.ie
Cork Airport and its airline partner Aer Lingus have launched new self-service platforms for the airport following a €200,000 capital investment. The automated self-service technology, designed to enhance the passenger experience at Ireland’s most punctual airport, includes six self-service kiosks and two self-service bag drops.
Pictured are, from left: Niall MacCarthy, Managing Director, Cork Airport; Jim Rogers, Manager Business Systems, Aer Lingus; Peter O’Shea, Ground Operations Manager, Aer Lingus, Cork and Dorothy Coffey, Operations & Safety, Cork Airport
Pic: Brian Lougheed
Pictured are, from left: Jim Rogers, Manager Business Systems, Aer Lingus; Peter O’Shea, Ground Operations Manager, Aer Lingus, Cork; Dorothy Coffey, Operations & Safety, Cork Airport and Niall MacCarthy, Managing Director, Cork Airport
Pic: Brian Lougheed
The new services installed by contractors Collins Aerospace allows Aer Lingus passengers to check-in for their flight through common-use self-service (CUSS) kiosks. This will speed up the check-in process and significantly reduce queuing times. The additional self-service baggage drop facility now means passengers can check, tag and dispatch their own luggage, reducing queues and increasing terminal throughput while making the overall process faster and more efficient.
Speaking on today’s announcement, Managing Director at Cork Airport Niall MacCarthy said: “This year passenger numbers traveling through Cork Airport will hit 2.6 million, up 8% on 2018 and making us Ireland’s fastest growing airport. As we head into 2020 with more growth forecast, we are introducing new automated technologies to increase operational efficiency and further enhance passenger experience at the airport.
“We are delighted to announce these new self-service kiosks and baggage drops, hosted by our key airline partners Aer Lingus and Aer Lingus Regional. Our aim is to make Cork Airport the airport of choice for those who value convenience and a stress-free travel experience wherever they live in Munster or South Leinster. We encourage passengers to leave stress behind when flying and love taking off from Cork Airport.”
The new technology at Cork Airport unveiled today is one of several new initiatives it has introduced in the past year to improve the passenger experience. In March, Cork Airport opened a new Airport Control Centre for three of its operational departments — the Airport Police, Airport Duty Managers and the Airside Management Unit.
A purpose-built office suite, The Hub, also opened following a significant investment by daa plc at Cork Airport. In addition, the restaurant and bar experience has been transformed in the last 18 months. These new facilities followed additional investment in Cork Airport’s campus roads and forecourt management technology.
General Manager of Operations and Safety at Cork Airport Dorothy Coffey added: “My job is to ensure the passenger journey is convenient, safe and secure. Earlier this year, Cork Airport won the top award for European airports in its class from the Airport Council International. We always strive to stay ahead of the curve with innovation and this latest technology deployment is part of our continuous improvement programme.”
