Self-Service Check-In Solutions for Airports: Complete Equipment Guide
- Jun 12
- 5 min read
Passenger expectations have changed. Travellers want to check in, drop their bags, and pass through security with minimal queueing and minimal interaction with staff — while airports need to process more passengers without proportionally increasing headcount.
Self-service check-in solutions are the answer to both. From the moment a passenger enters the terminal to the moment they reach the security checkpoint, a well-designed self-service ecosystem can move them through faster, with fewer touchpoints, while giving airport staff more time to handle exceptions.
This guide covers the core equipment that makes up a modern self-service check-in solution: check-in desks with weigh-in conveyors, self-service bag drop units, self-check-in kiosks, automatic tray return systems for security checkpoints, and the passport control booths that complete the passenger journey.
Check-In Desks with Integrated Weigh-In Conveyors
The check-in desk remains the starting point for many passengers, even in highly automated terminals. Modern check-in desks are designed around the operator's workflow — not the other way around.
CITCOnveyors check-in desks feature integrated weigh-in conveyors that automatically register baggage weight as the bag is placed on the belt, removing the need for separate scales. Ergonomic workstation design gives agents dedicated space for label printers, monitors, and documents, reducing repetitive strain and speeding up each transaction.
Custom finishes allow each desk to match the terminal's interior design — a detail that matters increasingly as airports invest in passenger experience alongside operational efficiency. Desks are available in single and dual configurations, allowing airports to scale check-in capacity up or down based on time-of-day traffic patterns without redesigning the collecting conveyor system behind them.
Why it matters for airports: Faster, more comfortable check-in transactions reduce queue times at peak hours and improve the working conditions for ground staff — directly affecting both passenger satisfaction scores and staff retention.
Advanced Self-Service Bag Drop (ABD+)
For passengers who have already checked in online or at a kiosk, self-service bag drop removes the need to queue at a desk at all.
The CITCOnveyors Advanced Self-Service Bag Drop processes luggage in as fast as 3 seconds. Weighing, dimensioning, tag validation, and baggage image capture all happen automatically as the bag moves through the unit. The side-loading design lets passengers approach naturally from the front, improving flow at busy bag drop islands.
Built in partnership with Objective, the ABD+ is IATA CUSS+ and CUWS+ certified and compatible with 60+ airlines — meaning a single unit can serve multiple carriers without dedicated infrastructure per airline.
Why it matters for airports: Self-service bag drop is the single highest-impact automation investment for reducing check-in queues without adding desks or staff. It also generates real-time operational data — processing times, bag volumes, and system status — through built-in cloud monitoring.
Self-Check-In Kiosks
Before a passenger reaches the bag drop, they often need to retrieve their booking, select a seat, and print a boarding pass and bag tag. This is where self-check-in kiosks come in.
CITCOnveyors Self-Check-In Kiosks, delivered with Objective, support over 90 airlines on a shared CUSS+ platform — a single kiosk can serve multiple carriers throughout the day, maximising terminal space utilisation. Kiosks are available in multiple screen sizes to match different operational requirements, from compact check-in-only units to full-service kiosks with passport scanning and payment.
The combination of self-check-in kiosks and self-service bag drop creates a complete, staff-free check-in journey — passengers check in, print their documents, and drop their bags entirely on their own.
Why it matters for airports: A shared-use kiosk platform means airports do not need to dedicate counter space to individual airlines, freeing up terminal real estate and simplifying operations during schedule changes or new airline onboarding.
Automatic Tray Return Systems (ATRS) for Security Checkpoints
Self-service does not end at check-in. At the security checkpoint, Automatic Tray Return Systems address one of the most visible bottlenecks in any terminal: passengers manually stacking and returning trays after screening.
CITCOnveyors ATRS units automatically return empty trays from the unloading area back to the loading position, eliminating manual tray handling entirely. The modular, configurable design adapts to any checkpoint layout, and integration with X-ray and scanning systems allows trays to be tracked and managed as part of the overall security workflow. A dedicated line for manual inspection ensures flagged items are handled without disrupting the main flow.
Why it matters for airports: ATRS directly increases checkpoint throughput — the same lane processes more passengers per hour simply because trays are always available at the loading position, without staff needing to manually return them.
Passport Control Booths
Self-service equipment speeds up check-in and security, but immigration and customs remain a manual, staffed process at most airports — and the booths officers work from affect both processing speed and the overall impression passengers form of the terminal.
CITCOnveyors designs and manufactures Passport Control Booths in-house, custom-built to match each airport's architectural style and operational layout. Each booth features a visible stainless steel structure, an access door combining a wooden lower section with 8mm duplex safety glass for visibility and security, and side windows in sandblasted duplex glass with privacy stripes. Interior workstations use Corian® countertops on a durable wood base, with an integrated front shelf for document handling and all electrical wiring concealed within the structure.
Beyond passport control, the same modular booth system covers customs desks, information points, immigration gates, gate counters, ticketing desks, and transfer desks — allowing airports to standardise the look and build quality of every staffed counter in the terminal under one custom design.
Why it matters for airports: Passport control is often the first and last staffed interaction a passenger has with the airport. A durable, well-finished booth that matches the terminal's architecture reinforces the overall passenger experience, while the standardised internal layout makes it easier to train staff and maintain consistency across multiple checkpoints.
Building a Complete Self-Service Check-In Solution
Each of these systems delivers value individually, but the real impact comes from how they work together. A passenger who checks in via kiosk, drops their bag at an ABD+ unit, and moves through a security lane equipped with ATRS experiences a journey with almost no queuing and no required staff interaction — unless they need help.
For airports, this means:
Check-in and security throughput increases without proportional staffing increases
Terminal space is used more efficiently, with shared-use kiosks and bag drop units serving multiple airlines
Operational data from connected systems supports ongoing capacity planning
Passenger satisfaction improves through shorter queues, smoother transitions between each step, and a consistent, professional look across both self-service and staffed touchpoints
CITCOnveyors — Self-Service Equipment Manufactured In-House
CITCOnveyors designs and manufactures check-in desks, weigh-in conveyors, and ATRS units in-house at our factory in Romania, and delivers Self-Service Bag Drop and Self-Check-In Kiosk solutions in partnership with Objective — combining hardware manufacturing with proven self-service software.
Every project, from a single check-in desk to a complete self-service terminal upgrade, includes engineering, installation, and commissioning support, with equipment delivered to airports across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and the Americas.
If you are planning a self-service upgrade for check-in or security, we can help you design a solution that fits your terminal.
