Airport Authority Hong Kong recognised at Hong Kong Business Technology Excellence Awards 2025

The statutory body was given an award for its smartphone express bag drop, the first of its kind in the world.

Airport Authority Hong Kong was lauded with the Smart Technology - Aviation accolade at the Hong Kong Business Technology Excellence Awards 2025, which highlighted its Smartphone Express Bag Drop.

The organisation soft-launched the world’s first Smartphone Express Bag Drop service at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) in October 2023. Building on the success of its Flight Token system, introduced in 2022, this initiative marks another step forward in digitising the passenger experience at the airport.

The core idea of this breakthrough is transforming a smartphone into a personal check-in and bag drop assistant, allowing passengers to complete essential pre-flight procedures before even arriving at HKIA.

Through the new Smartphone Token Enrolment module, which is freely available to airlines for integration into their mobile apps, passengers can remotely enrol their digital identity during or after mobile check-in. The module securely captures passport information and facial images using the smartphone’s built-in NFC. 

Upon arrival at HKIA, passengers can proceed directly to the Express Bag Drop counters without needing to visit a manual counter or check-in kiosk. The bag drop process is initiated using facial recognition, enabling passengers to complete it in just 45 seconds by simply following the steps on the airline’s mobile app.

Designed with convenience in mind, the Smartphone Express Bag Drop system integrates seamlessly with key airport systems, including the Airline Departure Control Systems (DCS), HKIA’s Facial Recognition System (FRS), and check-in counter peripherals.

Crucially, this new service requires no extra development effort from airlines, as AAHK’s application and platform are built for easy plug-and-play integration.

This launch reinforces HKIA’s position as a global leader in smart travel technology. By providing a smooth, secure, and touchless mobile process that replaces traditional steps, AAHK is redefining how airports offer simpler, faster and more personalised journeys.

The Hong Kong Business Technology Excellence Awards honours companies and organisations that are driving innovation, transforming industries, and setting new benchmarks for excellence in Hong Kong’s tech landscape.

The Hong Kong Business Technology Excellence Awards is presented by Hong Kong Business Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2026 awards programme and be acclaimed for your company's outstanding contributions in pursuit of technological innovation, please contact Julie Anne Nuñez-Difuntorum at [email protected].