Air France has become the first airline to trial mobile phone-based boarding passes using near-field communications (NFC) technology.

Members of the company’s frequent-flyer programme travelling between Nice and Paris Orly airports are part of a six-month pilot of the scheme. Passengers can simply swipe their phone over a reader after checking in, and the system will load an electronic boarding pass on to the device, as well as crediting any loyalty programme bonuses.

Unlike mobile phones that receive a two-dimensional image of a bar code, a scheme that has been used by some airlines, an NFC-enabled device does not even need to be switched on.

At security control, a second reader allows airport staff to verify the boarding pass, and a final reader completes the last check at the boarding gate.

The Pass and Fly system has been developed in a partnership between Nice Côte d’Azur Airport and Air France with suppliers Amadeus and IER.

NFC-based mobile boarding benefits the airport and the passenger, said Agnes Henry Scalliet, Grand Riviera department manager at Nice Côte d’Azur Airport.

“NFC mobile boarding passes bring more efficiency to the airport traveller experience by replacing traditional desk visits with time-saving self-service options and getting rid of paper boarding passes that drive up costs,” she said.

Air France regional director Michel Pognonec said the trial is an industry first.

“The NFC chip and a restructured information flow speeds up the traveller’s airport journey. This experiment will help to progressively build the ideal airport journey for travellers of tomorrow,” he said.