Delta Pilots Automated Boarding in Atlanta

Image: PHOTO: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport's international terminal. (photo via Flickr/formulanone)
Image: PHOTO: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport's international terminal. (photo via Flickr/formulanone)
Patrick Clarke
by Patrick Clarke
Last updated: 12:45 PM ET, Mon July 31, 2017

Delta Air Lines continues to test new technology inside Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

The Atlanta-based carrier announced Friday that it has kicked off a new pilot program at the airport's Concourse T.

The three-month test project will bring a slew of innovative features to gates T1, T2 and T3, including mobile agent pods, boarding pillars and E-gates.

The mobile agent pods are essentially modernized podiums that open up more space for customer seating and allow for more efficient boarding. The agents will also utilize handheld Nomad devices that allow them to do things like make seat changes and check bag status without being behind a traditional gate counter.

New boarding pillars will create four lanes for better organization and traffic flow.

Lastly, E-gates will enable passengers to self-board by scanning their smartphone or boarding pass.

"This project marks a milestone as it will ultimately allow us to realize the collective impact of several boarding innovations on the overall travel experience," Delta's Chief Operating Officer Gil West said in a statement. "These developments will also accelerate the culture of hospitality by minimizing barriers between agents and customers, driving even more personal engagements and exceptional customer service."

[READMORE]READ MORE: Delta Releases Upgraded Mobile App with Airport Wayfinding Maps[/READMORE]

Delta rolled out similar features at the Atlanta airport's Concourse B back in March and said that phase two of the current project at Concourse T will include experimentation with biometric boarding.

The airline is currently testing that technology-which includes fingerprint scanning-at Ronald Reagan Washington International Airport.

The upgrades in Atlanta are part of a $400 million terminal and concourse renovation. The airline has stated in the past that if customer feedback remains positive it will look to implement the new systems at other airports.


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Patrick Clarke

Patrick Clarke

Senior Editor

A Maryland native and wanderer who has lived across the U.S. from North Carolina to SoCal, Patrick Clarke graduated from Towson University with a B.S. in journalism. He previously worked for Bleacher

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