Latest news with #CiaranO'Sullivan
Khaleej Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Travelling through Dubai airport? Soon, check in your luggage from anywhere in UAE
You could soon be checking in your baggage from anywhere in the city to travel from Dubai Airport (DXB). That is because DXB wants to make sure that at least 25 per cent of luggage is checked in from outside the airport facility. 'We handled 24 million bags this quarter, so we're going to exceed 100 million bags in Dubai this year,' said Ciaran O'Sullivan, DVP Airline Services UAE Airport Operations at Dnata. 'If we could have 20 per cent of them, that is one in five bags, to be checked in off-site here in Dubai, the impact on customer service experience at the airport would be tenfold.' Ciaran was speaking during a panel discussion at The Airport Show, which began in Dubai on Tuesday. He added that the airport was hoping to scale their partnership with the company Dubz — which allows travellers to check in and receive their boarding pass from a home or a hotel — to achieve this. 'They satisfy thousands of customers a year but we need to get scale so that we can bring the unit price down,' he said. 'By working with the RTA, the metro system, Dubai Airport, holiday companies, hotels and the masses, we can do a lot.' Launched in 2016, Dubz provides a baggage collection and delivery service that can be booked online at any time. After being selected the winner of an aviation and travel incubator program co-founded by the Emirates Group, GE, and Dubai Tourism, the company was acquired by Dnata. Passenger perception According to John Dyett, Vice President of Baggage Service Delivery at DXB, ensuring proper handling of baggage is of utmost importance for the airport. 'Baggage handling often defines a passenger's perception of an airport,' he said. 'We need to think what steps can airports take to minimise mishandling while enhancing speed and predictability?' He added that the airport handles approximately 250,000 bags every day, going up to 300,000 on busy days in the first quarter of this year. Several airports in the world have been using AI to ensure timely delivery of baggage, Dr Heba Kurdi, research affiliate of Artificial Intelligence at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), added. 'There are already some airports who are utilising semi-smart sorting systems for their baggage,' she said. 'We also have AI-powered simulation and digital twins that help airports to do and test operations before, like having them in real-life scenarios.' Another expert at the event, Amel Chadli, president of Gulf Countries, Schneider Electric, called the vision of Dubai Airport 'forward thinking' and something that will improve the experience of passengers. 'Dubai Airport's push for off-terminal baggage check-in is a forward-thinking move that can ease terminal congestion, boost operational efficiency, and elevate the passenger journey,' she said. 'Across the international airports we support, we've seen that smart automation, energy-efficient systems, and advanced distribution management are key to streamlining ground handling and enabling a seamless travel experience."
Hi Dubai
08-05-2025
- Business
- Hi Dubai
Dubai Airport Aims for 25% Off-Site Baggage Check-In to Improve Passenger Experience
Dubai International Airport (DXB) is pushing forward with plans to check in 25% of passenger baggage outside the airport, a move set to significantly reduce congestion and enhance customer service. The ambitious goal follows a panel discussion at The Airport Show, where airport officials outlined their strategy to improve baggage handling through off-site check-in services. Ciaran O'Sullivan, DVP of Airline Services at Dnata, revealed that DXB handles an estimated 24 million bags this quarter, with projections to exceed 100 million bags this year. "If 20% of these bags could be checked in off-site, the impact on the customer experience would be tenfold," he said. The airport is keen to expand its partnership with Dubz, a baggage collection and delivery service, to make this possible. Launched in 2016, Dubz allows travelers to check in their luggage and receive boarding passes from their homes or hotels. Currently, Dubz caters to thousands of customers annually, but O'Sullivan highlighted the need for scaling the service to make it more affordable. By collaborating with entities such as the RTA, metro system, hotels, and holiday companies, DXB aims to broaden its reach and streamline operations. John Dyett, Vice President of Baggage Service Delivery at DXB, emphasized the importance of efficient baggage handling in shaping passengers' perceptions of the airport. With an average of 250,000 bags processed daily, improving speed and reducing mishandling is critical. Experts at the event, including Dr. Heba Kurdi from MIT, also discussed how AI is being leveraged globally to enhance baggage management. Dubai Airport's initiative, praised for its forward-thinking approach, aims to alleviate terminal congestion and boost overall efficiency. News Source: Khaleej Times
