Zambia’s National Airports Corporation Ltd. (NACL) is embarking with SITA, the air transport IT specialist, on a major transformation of check-in facilities at Lusaka and Livingstone International Airports.

A key goal of this five-year agreement is to reduce pressure on existing infrastructure at both airports through greater automation of the check-in process and the introduction of passenger self-service check-in on the SITA AirportConnect Open platform. This will also allow for the common-use of all check-in facilities by all airlines based at the two airports.

Passengers and airlines at Lusaka International Airport will benefit from the deployment of the new CUTE (Common Use Terminal Equipment) services at check-in counters and will also be able to use a range of CUSS (Common Use Self-Service) check-in kiosks including the compact S3 free-standing kiosk.

The upgrades happening at Livingstone International Airport will cover both check-in counters and CUSS check-in kiosks. Automation at both locations will also extend to boarding gates, arrivals and lost baggage and other areas.

Robinson Misitala, Managing Director, NACL, said: “Trade, tourism and inward investment are critical to the economic development of Zambia and easy access to the country through its international gateways is a high priority. We are satisfied to introduce these major changes in collaboration with SITA as they will encourage airlines to fly here and give a major boost to passenger traffic.

“The AirportConnect platform offers a wealth of capabilities and functionality that make it an ideal fully flexible common-use airport system. It will reduce handling costs and the demand for additional airport infrastructure as passenger traffic increases while also eliminating congestion during peak periods.”

The AirportConnect CUSS kiosks in Zambia can also be equipped in the future with a wide variety of security devices including integration of fingerprint readers, facial recognition software, passport readers and other devices to support a registered traveller programme.

Rob Watkins, SITA Regional Vice President, Africa, said: “SITA is very pleased to be part of the NACL’s ambitious modernisation plans and to turn Lusaka and Livingstone International Airports into two of southern Africa’s most attractive hubs with a reputation for efficiency with hassle-free check-in.”