airrail NEWS were delighted to hear that a whole session of the conference was devoted to Airport Railways with speakers including Thomas Baake, CEO of Kuala Lumpur’s Airport Express, K.Y. Leung, Operations Manager for MTR Hong Kong and Pankaj Gupta, General Manager of the Delhi Airport Metro Express.

The session was chaired by Richard Brown, Director of the leading global consultancy on Air-Rail Links, northstarconsultancy.com.

He explained that Air-rail links are distinct from other railways because the customer is different and has different needs. “The airport railway passengers are prepared to spend more and can provide profitable returns in a way that other railway passengers do not”, said Brown.

Brown updated the conference delegates on new ways how airport railways are handling sales and ticket distribution – some choosing the “pay as you fly” principle, others are trying global distribution systems through agents. “This is an interesting dichotomy and only time will tell which one is right”, - Brown added.

KY Leung updated on the latest activities from Hong Kong Airport Express and the fierce competition he is facing from alternative forms of transport. “Our competitive advantage is the in-town check in facilities as well as the free provision on onward travel from downtown stations to hotels.

Thomas Baake described an equally competitive situation in Kuala Lumpur (KL), where ‘check-out’ facilities are being investigated. Like in Hong Kong, KL has in-town check in facilities but they also are planning to deliver baggage from airoplane into town where the passenger can collect it.

It seems that in-town check in is very popular and rather successful in Asia, while European airport railways, apart from the Vienna airport express, are turning their heads form this service, saying it has no ‘commercial grounds’. We would like to invite airrail NEWS readers to share their views on in-town check in, do you think it is a vital service of airport railways or just a waste of time and money?

Sign in with a social network: