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Japan Airlines is set to introduce Near Field Communication (NFC)-based mobile boarding passes later this year.
The service will be offered in partnership with Japanese mobile operator KDDI and could become a reality by this summer. KDDI will initially offer the NFC service on the Samsung Galaxy S II, but plans are in place to extend it to other handsets.
NFC has long been highlighted as potentially having a key role to play in the future travel process – from check-in and boarding, to payment and passenger tracking. Last year, SAS Scandinavian Airlines trialled the NFC-based Smart Pass to act as a wireless transmitter at self-service kiosks, security, fast track lanes, lounges, and gate facilities. The contactless technology has also been trialled by Air France KLM, Amadeus, IER and Nice Côte d’Azur Airport.
