Harrods Aviation is exhibiting at EBACE 2018 next week (stand A67) having recently gone 'live' with a new automated check in system for its VIP and group charter flights at its London Luton and London Stansted FBOs.

The system, from privately-owned British company, London based Flight Solutions, will help improve efficiency weekly speeding up passenger and ground handling (hitherto a manual process) through the fast capture of passport or other identity documents, automated generation of flight manifest and the issuing of baggage tags for tracking and baggage reconciliation.

The flexible (eDCS) system, designed specifically for FBOs, was installed in late February. Training was carried out in April and 'it is up and running really well,' said Harrods Aviation Sales and Marketing Director, Will Holroyd.

'With this investment, we are well prepared for the stepped up requirements of electronic passenger and crew manifest data for Border Force that are being introduced and for UK Department for Transport (DfT) security compliance to the baggage process.'

This summer both FBOs are seeing bigger groups (music tours, sports charters, including World Cup movements) pass through its FBOs.

'The eDCS solution is a simple but effective, off the shelf solution which is great for support out on the ramp too, enabling ground handlers to quickly deal with any bag changes required. It is competitively priced, fit for purpose and tried and proven, which is why we chose it,' added Harrods Aviation Kerry Besgrove, Operations Director.

'We're delighted to be expanding our business aviation activity with the prestigious and busy Harrods Aviation's FBOs at Luton and Stansted,' said Paul Secker, founder and CEO of Flight Solutions. 'Our technology will help them to be more efficient and give them time to focus on what they are so skilled at; excellent customer service.'

Flight Solutions' CEO Paul Secker will be in Geneva for EBACE (28 to 31 May 2018) and is looking forward to meeting with expanding business aviation FBOs in Europe.

Their solutions have been operational at other FBOs including at TAG Farnborough Airport for three years and since 2012 at the Inflite Jet Centre at London Stansted.

Falcon Aviation at Al Bateen Executive Airport, Abu Dhabi, introduced the system in 2016 (when it was white labelled as LocalCheck). It has helped the operator achieve regular on time performance with its 12 daily flights between Al Bateen to Zurku Island transporting 700 passengers a day. The operation, using Bombardier Q400 turboprops, supported 215,000 passengers in 2017.

Contributed by Harrods Aviation