Virgin Atlantic has introduced its first self-service check-in kiosks for passengers, responding to similar moves by rivals over the past 18 months.

The airline has installed eight kiosks at airports around the world allowing travellers to check in for flights without queuing for an available check-in desk - a growing trend in the industry.

Virgin Atlantic chairman Sir Richard Branson predicts that half of the airline's customers will be using self-service check-in by 2006.

'Virgin Atlantic has pioneered a self service check in method that allows any passenger to check in online inside 24 hours of departure and allows groups of up to 9 people check in at a kiosk at any one time,' he said.

The airline will introduce kiosks in two phases, starting with initial units at London Heathrow's Terminal 3 and followed by London Gatwick, Los Angeles and JFK in New York, over the rest of the year.

The airline has been working with web development agency Conchango to design the kiosk interface, as well as its revamped web site, which went live in the summer.

Last spring, airport operator BAA started testing self-service check-in kiosks in Heathrow, which it hopes to lease to various airlines as a means of reducing passenger congestion at check-in desks.