All Skywards customers travelling with just hand baggage can now check themselves in for a flight using the new Self Check-in Kiosks at Dubai International Airport.

The Chairman of Emirates, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, accompanied by Maurice Flanagan, Emirates' Vice-Chairman & Group President, and Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline, unveiled the kiosks today in the Departures Hall for Emirates' First and Business Class customers.

Kiosks are also located in the airport's main Departures Hall for Skywards members travelling in Economy Class.

Sheikh Ahmed commented: "The Dubai government is committed to a strategy of developing e-commerce to foster greater efficiency and transparency between its business processes and the business community, both within the emirate and the wider international business community.

"Emirates is proud to support this initiative and I am very pleased to launch these Self Check-in Kiosks for our frequent travellers."

Members of Skywards, the frequent flyer programme of Emirates and SriLankan Airlines, who are carrying just hand baggage, can check themselves in for a flight using their membership card.

The facility is also available to customers who are members of Skywards' partner airlines - British Airways, Continental Airlines, Delta, Japan Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways and United Airlines.

Customers insert their membership card and their booking is displayed on the kiosk screen, following verification of the card's number which is given at the time of booking the flight.

They can then confirm or change their assigned seat, register their Skywards or partner frequent flyer Miles, and print their boarding cards, which include the First or Business Class Lounge invitation.

The Self Check-in Kiosks will soon accept larger baggage that can be checked into the aircraft's hold.

But the speedy departure process doesn't stop there. Customers travelling in First, Business or Economy Class can also use their e-cards to pass through the electronically-controlled gates (e-gates) at Immigration, giving them more time before their flight to enjoy the numerous facilities of Sheikh Rashid Terminal, including the award-winning Emirates First and Business Class Lounges.

Six e-gates have so far been installed at the airport; two for Arrivals, two for Economy Class Departures and two for First and Business Class Departures, allowing customers to bypass manual Immigration checks.

Dubai International Airport is the first in the Middle East and only the third in the world (after Singapore and Kuala Lumpur) to install the e-gates for arrival and departure. They provide a hi-tech passenger clearance system that screens passengers via a smart card containing all their details.

Skywards customers can use the speedy departure process before leaving their home, too, by using Emirates' additional e-commerce initiative: online booking. From now until 31st December 2003, Skywards members will receive double the number of Miles when booking online.

In addition to the UAE, the online booking facility is available in 21 countries on Emirates' network: Australia, Bahrain, Egypt, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.