John Wayne Airport officials are counting on new technology that’s part of its $543 million expansion and renovation to improve ticketing, baggage handling and parking.
A new computer system will eventually al-low passengers to print a boarding pass for any airline at any self-service kiosk in the airport.
Currently, passengers have to get their boarding passes at their respective airline’s kiosks.
Passengers also will be able to get flight and baggage information at any gate. And there will also be larger and more readable flat-screen monitors throughout the airport.
Kansas City, Mo.-based Ultra Electronics Airport Systems, part of Ultra Electronics in the U.K., is putting in the “common use passenger processing system,” or CUPPS.
Ultra Electronics Airport Systems is teaming with Irvine-based Snyder Langston LP, which will oversee and manage the project.
The new system is expected to be fully in place next year, when all of the airport improvements are expected to be done.
CUPPS is expected to help improve the airport’s efficiency by allowing airlines to use any gate at the airport.
“When this new system is complete, any carrier will be able to use any gate, which helps in terms of flexibility,” said Courtney Wiercioch, deputy airport director of public affairs.
A new baggage system is intended to help the airport to better balance the amount of baggage going through each terminal.
Technology will improve parking at the airport by showing how many parking spaces are left on a particular level in structures.
Terminal C parking will allow users to pay for parking at a kiosk on their way out of the airport, allowing for a faster exit.
In the passenger waiting areas, there will be new work stations for laptop computers and plug-in gadgets.
