NFC technology is to be trialled at Toulouse-Blagnac airport in France, allowing passengers to move through the various parts of the airport using just their mobile phones. France Telecom (Orange), RIM and aviation technology company SITA have joined forces with the airport for the trial which will see 50 frequent flyers use the SIM card-based safety protocol to test the service on BlackBerry devices.

The NFC technology will allow travellers to validate flight tickets, pay for goods and receive relevant information, such as departure gates and flight changes, just by tapping their phone.

The NFC-enabled phones will also act as security passes for the trial participants, giving them a priority path through the airport, including access to the P1 car park. The NFC users will then be given access to the departure area through the Premium Access Zone and be able to use the private lounge without needing to provide additional credentials.

According to Orange, NFC technology is extremely secure, and is convenient as it doesn’t require an app to be loaded on devices and enables a more efficient boarding process.

"With NFC technology, the mobile phone simplifies the passenger’s journey through the airport. It now becomes a personalized tool displaying the right information at the right time," said Toulouse-Blagnac airport CEO Jean-Michel Vernhes.

The partnership is also planning to incorporate the NFC functionality into a smartphone app for the airport, planned for introduction in 2013 or 2014.