Departure Control System
Encyclopedia
A Departure Control System (DCS) automates processing an Airlines' Airport management operation. This includes managing the information required for Airport Check-in
and printing Boarding card, cargo load control and aircraft checks.
Today DCS mostly (98%) manage Electronic tickets via interfaces from range of devices from Check-in kiosk, Online Check-in, mobile boarding cards and baggage handling. DCS are able to identify, capture and update reservations from an airlines Computer Reservation System for passengers stored in a so-called Passenger Name Record
(PNR). A DCS is used to update reservations, typically as checked-in, boarded, flown or another status.
DCS systems interface directly or indirectly with Global Distribution System (GDS), Load Control systems and an airlines inventory management. Additionally and increasingly a DCS for some city-pair sectors may also be connected with immigration control for visa, immigration and passenger no-fly watchlists.
Larger international airports will have a range of DCS or a single DCS which each particular airline carrier can integrate with for streamlined operations.
Airport check-in
Airport check-in uses service counters found at commercial airports handling commercial air travel. The check-in is normally handled by an airline itself or a handling agent working on behalf of an airline...
and printing Boarding card, cargo load control and aircraft checks.
Today DCS mostly (98%) manage Electronic tickets via interfaces from range of devices from Check-in kiosk, Online Check-in, mobile boarding cards and baggage handling. DCS are able to identify, capture and update reservations from an airlines Computer Reservation System for passengers stored in a so-called Passenger Name Record
Passenger Name Record
In the travel industry, a passenger name record is a record in the database of a computer reservation system that contains the itinerary for a passenger, or a group of passengers traveling together...
(PNR). A DCS is used to update reservations, typically as checked-in, boarded, flown or another status.
DCS systems interface directly or indirectly with Global Distribution System (GDS), Load Control systems and an airlines inventory management. Additionally and increasingly a DCS for some city-pair sectors may also be connected with immigration control for visa, immigration and passenger no-fly watchlists.
Larger international airports will have a range of DCS or a single DCS which each particular airline carrier can integrate with for streamlined operations.