SYDNEY: CEmirates passengers in Australia will soon be able to print out new e-boarding passes (eBP) at home or in the office and go straight to the departure gate.

The new technology will be in place in January 2009 for passengers departing Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, just as the airline prepares to increase capacity and flights into the Australian market. From February 1, Emirates will launch the A380 into Sydney; introduce a third-daily flight into Melbourne and a second-daily flight into Brisbane.

The e-boarding pass is being introduced to Emirates' Australian passengers after it proved successful at the award-winning carrier's Dubai International Airport hub.

Once the eBP system is implemented, Emirates passengers who have successfully checked-in online at www.emirates.com/au, and are carrying only hand luggage, can print their boarding pass at home and bypass airport check-in counters, proceed directly through passport control and security to their boarding gate. Passengers with check-in
baggage may also use the eBP, in conjunction with the "Online Check in" counters.

Stephen Pearse, Emirates' ViP Australia, said: "Emirates was one of the first airlines in the Middle East to launch eBPs and now that the process has proven such a success we are rolling out the system to our Australian passengers. The objective of this initiative is to provide customers with more control of their trip, more flexibility and value-added services to enhance their journey.

"By printing an eBP at home or in the office, customers reduce the time spent at airport check-in. By automating processes we are able to bring about efficiencies that will provide a seamless customer passage starting at home, continuing through the airport, and all the way to the aircraft."