Pilot project aims to accelerate entry and simplify bid purchases
AirLiner passengers will soon be able to pay the airport surcharge more easily and quickly. HEAG mobilo, together with IVU Traffic Technologies AG and the Rhine-Main Transport Association (RMV), is launching a one-year pilot project for so-called ID-based ticketing. After boarding, passengers simply need to hold their bank card, smartphone, or smartwatch to a reader to pay the required surcharge digitally.
The new system is aimed particularly at passengers who already have a Germany Ticket, a season ticket, or a job ticket and only need the surcharge for the journey between Darmstadt and Frankfurt Airport. They can now pay this directly after boarding at the rear door and no longer need to queue for the driver.
“Over 80 percent of our AirLiner passengers already have tickets that cover the basic fare and therefore only need to purchase the surcharge. Our pilot project thus pursues two goals: to test new, modern forms of ticketing and at the same time to speed up the payment process on the AirLiner,” explains Arne Rath, Managing Director of HEAG mobilo.
Since last year, all payments on AirLiner have been cashless. This has accelerated the onboarding process and is particularly beneficial for international passengers.
With the new system, the payment method used – for example, a debit or credit card or a smartphone – is held against a validator upon entry. The ticket is then stored in the background system. During a ticket check, it is sufficient to hold the same payment method against the validator again.
“Our focus is on making ticket purchasing as simple and intuitive as possible for passengers,” says RMV Managing Director Prof. Knut Ringat. The AirLiner, with its diverse user groups – from commuters to international air travelers – is particularly well-suited for testing the new sales system under real-world conditions.
A preliminary survey conducted by RMV subsidiary rms among more than 500 passengers revealed that over 70 percent currently purchase the AirLiner surcharge directly from the driver. The new procedure is intended to significantly speed up this process and simultaneously provide valuable insights for the future implementation of digital ticketing systems throughout the RMV network.
The pilot project is initially planned for one year .
(RED/PM/HMOBILO)
