Finnair and airport operator Finavia, together with digital developer Futurice, are testing the use of face recognition technology for the check-in process of Finnair flights at Helsinki Airport this month. During the test period, the companies will gather information on the applicability of face recognition technology to the airport environment and the systems and processes used by the airline. Finnair has invited a group of 1,000 frequent flyers to take part in the test. Finnair customers taking part in the test use a test application to send their face portraits to the test system. When checking in, customers will use a designated check-in desk, where the face recognition technology will be installed. A customer service agent will then check the customer’s travel information and indicate in the test system if the face recognition was successful. <br/>
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Finnair is preparing for a double-digit capacity growth spurt through Q1 of 2017, which will see several new aircraft arrivals. “Our accelerated growth is about to start. Our fleet is getting larger, personnel are increasing, and we are opening new routes and frequencies. This summer will be busier than ever. Finnair will fly to Asia 87 times a week. More and more of our routes will be operated with larger aircraft. We expect to reach 40,000 daily passengers at Helsinki Airport during this quarter. The launch of the new terminal wing at our hub in the summer will smooth our passenger journeys and improve the customer experience,” Finnair CE Pekka Vauramo said. Vauramo said Finnair did not grow much during Q1, but during the second, third and fourth quarter, and into Q1 of 2018, there will be double-digit capacity growth. <br/>
Qantas is flying higher than ever. The airline has posted a Q3 trading update with the forecast that it will post its second highest-ever profit at A$1.4b. Under the guidance of CE Alan Joyce, the airline has enjoyed renewed success with their focus on domestic services. "It shows we’re able to keep performing in a mixed global environment," said Joyce. The CE believes that the airline's biggest wins include the rollout of Wi-Fi on domestic services, new customer lounges in Australian capital cities and the world's first Perth to London service. "These are all things that improve our position in a competitive market and encourage more people to choose Qantas," added Joyce. In March this year Joyce was voted the nation's top CE by a survey of more than 1000 employees. <br/>