RuAviation

Russia Airlines has introduced a system for electronic transfer of passenger data to crews on flights from Sheremetyevo Airport in 2024. The information is transferred via a specialised application installed on flight attendants’ tablets. The data includes personal information about passengers, seat numbers, information about services and participation in bonus programmes.

Before the introduction of the electronic system, the information was transmitted in printed form on paper. For aircraft of Superjet 100 type, manifests consisting of four A4 sheets were used. Larger capacity aircraft required seven sheets of writing paper. Passenger manifests were printed on a dot matrix printer installed in the boarding area. The printing process took about five minutes and could be repeated in case of operational changes in the passenger list.

In 2024, Rossiya Airlines operated 24,135 flights from Sheremetyevo Airport. Given the traffic volumes, the annual paper savings totalled 133,748 sheets, equivalent to 267 reams of standard office paper. The elimination of paper manifests reduced flight preparation time, especially on long-haul routes, where finding the required information in hard copy took considerable time.

Paper manufacturing has a tangible impact on the environment. It takes approximately 8kg of wood to produce one ream of A4 office paper. The production of wood pulp involves the use of chlorine dioxide for bleaching and significant water consumption. The switch to electronic document management at Sheremetyevo has avoided cutting more than 2 tonnes of wood during the year, said Rossiya Airlines.

The system of electronic transfer of passenger data is a customised development for Rossiya. The application provides quick access to information, user-friendly interface and search functions. The airline representative emphasised that passenger data is encrypted and protected in accordance with current regulations, and in case of software or equipment malfunctions, the possibility of printing paper manifests is also preserved. Keeping the old technology operational serves as a backup measure to ensure operational continuity.