Virgin Atlantic using Google Glass for faster check-ins, to improve customer experience

The staff can also offer updates to passengers on latest flight information, weather and local events at their destination and translate any foreign language information, using the smartwatch or the glass.

In future, the technology could also tell Virgin staff the passengers' dietary and refreshment preferences and provide a more personalised service.

The benefits to consumers and the business from this pilot project would be evaluated ahead of a potential wider roll-out in future, the Virgin spokesperson said.

Both Virgin Atlantic and SITA (Societe Internationale de Telecommunications), which are testing other similar technologies, have also won a prestigious global award for this project to test how Google Glass and Sony Smartwatches could enhance passenger experience.

Last year, SITA began testing and comparing wearable technology devices and developing applications for airlines and airports.

The cutting-edge technology was introduced after Virgin published the results of a major study of 10,000 airline passengers from across the world on the future of air travel.

Virgin Atlantic is calling on the industry to introduce more innovations and radical fresh thinking to meet sky-high consumer expectations, the spokesperson said.