German airline Lufthansa has announced a new service that allows passengers to use their mobile phones to access electronic boarding passes.

While the scheme is currently only available for those travelling from Hamburg to Munich or Frankfurt, it is hoped that it will be rolled out further if it proves successful.

The service sees flyers who check in online and select the option to do so being sent a boarding pass via email or SMS to their internet-enabled handsets. These passes include information such as passenger name, flight number and a 2D barcode.

Those travelling with just hand luggage will be able to go straight to security and board the plane without using a paper document.

Lufthansa also said that further enhancements to its online check-in system, such as the ability to enter passport and visa details, will be introduced at the start of May.

Earlier this year, a spokesperson for British Airways told the Telegraph that the carrier was following mobile developments closely and that it was "interested in any technology which will make our passengers' lives easier", potentially signifying the introduction of mobile boarding passes in the UK in the future.

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