i-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operators of Murtala Mohammed Airport Terminal 2 (MMA2) Lagos, says it will soon ensure self-check-in of passengers and upgrade other facilities to reduce travel hassle.
An event is being planned around the initiative to encourage other airports to install similar systems, according to BASL Chief Executive Officer, Christophe Pennick.
He told customers and stakeholders at a dinner organised for them in Lagos that MMA2, Nigeria’s first and only privately-run terminal, is about to complete the implementation of the latest version of the Common User Passenger Processing System (CUPPS).
He said the International Air Transport Association (IATA) compliant system, “makes it easier and more efficient to process passengers, and increases the dwelling time in the terminal.”
BASL has installed new automatic gates, which, when operational, will ensure that only passengers with valid boarding pass can enter secure zones.
In the past few months, Pennick added, BASL has invested heavily in infrastructure in the terminal, including software and hardware upgrades of passenger processing equipment and 14 new check-in counters.
“As promised last year,” he recalled, “we increased the capacity of the check-in area. We installed a full Baggage Reconciliation System (BRS), which will soon go live together with the CUPPS and e-gates. This will make it possible to finally stop using manual bingo sheet and avoid baggage fraud.
“We installed two new escalators and a panoramic lift. We also replaced a lot of air conditioners throughout the terminal and hired a dedicated AC team to make sure the maintenance is constant.
“We also ordered five additional elevators and an escalator, all of which have already been delivered. The installation is on-going and when this is completed, the car park will finally have two functioning lifts. We also plan to acquire two additional power generators.
“To bring the terminal up to par with international airport terminals, we embarked on an extensive training of our staff. All security personnel of Bi-Courtney have received two-week ICAO-certified AVSEC training with the support of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
“The other support and commercial staff have also undergone IATA’s Airport Customer Service training. This was also one of the things we promised to do last year.
“The IATA training is important for us to understand the demands of the airlines and to be in sync with the industry we’re operating in.”
Pennick listed the Ebola virus outbreak and the strike by Customs agents among external factors that impacted negatively on the company’s activities in 2014.
He said the World Health Organisation (WHO) commended MMA2 for cooperating to ensure the screening of passengers and visitors from the entrance to the terminal to the final exit during the outbreak.
