United Airlines to Use Technology to Hold More Flights for Connecting Passengers

United Airlines says it is piloting a new technology that will allow gate agents to determine if they should hold a flight for passengers who would miss their flight were the aircraft door to close on time.

The technology, called dynamic departure, is being tested at Denver International Airport. It will work by first identifying those flights where connecting passengers will arrive a little late and where the opportunity exists to make up the wait time in flight without compromising on-time arrival.

“We’re pioneering the implementation of new technology called dynamic departure, which empowers frontline employees,” said Scott Kirby, the airline’s president, on its first-quarter earnings call Thursday. The system will provide “real-time data they need to make an informed decision on whether to hold a flight.”

The airline says it expects to use dynamic departure to get hundreds of connecting passengers each day onto their flights.

(Photo: Accura Media Group)