Currently 18* Star Alliance member carriers serve Narita, providing passengers the choice of 1,300 weekly flights to 61 destinations in 24 countries.
The changes implemented at Narita were driven by a combination of reasons. In terms of capacity, with both the number of Star Alliance carriers serving Narita and the passenger volume increasing, additional check-in space would have been needed. This made the airport an ideal location for implementing a new concept based on the experience obtained during the London Heathrow Terminal 2 project. There, the Alliance has succeeded in reducing the required check-in space by 20% as a result of the new check-in concept.
In addition to Narita, Star Alliance has made changes to the check-in concept at São Paulo – Guarulhos and Los Angeles Tom Bradley International Terminal based on the experience the Alliance made during the Terminal 2 project at London – Heathrow Airport, where a completely new check-in concept was put into place. There, all Star Alliance member airlines use the same check-in kiosks, make use of common bag-drop counters and even share Economy Class check-in desks. Using the success of the Terminal 2 project as a base, the Alliance is enhancing the customer experience at other airports around the globe, implementing various technological advances made in London. In addition, at a Chief Executive Board Meeting held earlier this month in Zurich, the member carrier CEOs agreed to develop standardised processes for airport passenger services, covering off-airport and self-service check-in, fast bag drop technology at airports, baggage self-tagging and automated travel document validation. As these standards are implemented, these will not only provide smoother service to the Alliance’s customers but also reduce infrastructure requirements and handling costs at all of the 1,300 airports the Alliance is presently serving