The US airline, NorthWest Airlines, has become the first to introduce a new innovative system.  The paperless system sends the traveller’s boarding pass to their mobile phone, making travel even more convenient.

The new mobile phone boarding passes are being used on the non-stop flights from Indianopolis to American cities.  The new technology was developed by UK company, Mobiqa.

Passengers will be able to check in online and they will receive their boarding passes on their mobile or other handheld device and the incorporated barcode can then be scanned at the airport security points.  The barcode will include certain passenger details and is sent in the form of an email, MMS or WAP push message.  There is no need to print the boarding pass, making the system totally paperless.

Nick Rankin, chief executive of Mobiqa, said that the system “will make for a more convenient, environmentally friendly means of checking-in and boarding a flight.”

The new system is being trialled on these first few flights and if successful, will be rolled out to all of NorthWest airline flights in the US.