The Federal Aviation Administration forecasts that air travel in the U.S. will increase by about 50% in the next 20 years. Are airports ready for that surge? More important, can airports provide the kind of frictionless experience that passengers will expect and demand?
To explore these questions, last February engineering giant Arup conducted a “salon” in San Francisco on the future of aviation. Invitees were a diverse mix of 22 experts representing airport operators, planners, developers, engineers, and manufacturers, including some—like representatives from Autodesk, Intel, and Visa—who offered a broader context.
Arup let BD+C take a peek at a draft of its report on the salon’s key points. The report identifies core themes for three primary stakeholders—the airlines, passengers, and airports—that revolve around “choreographed seamlessness,” “connected and predictable” service, and productive systems. Design can drive airport efficiency, but only when there’s positive cooperation among stakeholders.
Passenger satisfaction often begins with “technological convergence” that facilitates easier mobility and processing. “Touchless screening, automated check-in, tailored retail services, and real-time operational information could stimulate the seamless experience,” the draft stated.
However, technology is developing faster than the aviation industry can devise purposes for it. On the other hand, “no tech trumps high tech,” meaning that passengers still prefer a humanistic, natural environment. “The future of technology will always be about the people who use it.”
Other lessons learned:
• Technology shrinks future airport concrete. Huge spaces once allocated for check-in and security should be reconsidered as passengers adapt to self-service options.
• Collaboration frees technology. Barriers between airlines, airports, regulators, and technology providers will only thwart process enhancements.
• Your bag will have its own identity. Renovation and new construction of airport terminals often focuses on streamlining baggage-handling systems. While paper bag tags aren’t going away, it’s only a matter of time before luggage that’s traceable via bar codes or RFID chips becomes available for purchase in stores.
• The future of retail is at the airport. Retail, food, and beverage are big revenue streams for airports. That might explain why some large hubs have turned their terminals into shopping malls.
• Your journey will be branded. Airlines currently control the traveler’s experience, but the salon’s participants see opportunities for other entities—including airports themselves—“to occupy the passenger’s cognitive space.”
Another theme from the salon: the need for “intelligent” ground transportation that “allows riders comfort in knowing their entire journey is accounted for before boarding.” Technology could help passengers pre-plan and customize their trip along all journey touch points, like scheduling and predicting arrival times for door-to-hotel transport, or tracking luggage in real time.
Many of the salon’s attendees highlighted the need to ensure that regulatory actions—especially those relating to security, customs, and immigration—are enforced in ways that minimize passenger delays.
Related Stories
Airports | Aug 13, 2021
Kansas City International Airport’s new terminal breaks ground
SOM designed the project.
Airports | Jul 26, 2021
NORR designs the UK’s first satellite launch Space Hub
The project will be located in Sutherland, Scotland.
Wood | Jul 16, 2021
The future of mass timber construction, with Swinerton's Timberlab
In this exclusive for HorizonTV, BD+C's John Caulfield sat down with three Timberlab leaders to discuss the launch of the firm and what factors will lead to greater mass timber demand.
Resiliency | Jun 24, 2021
Oceanographer John Englander talks resiliency and buildings [new on HorizonTV]
New on HorizonTV, oceanographer John Englander discusses his latest book, which warns that, regardless of resilience efforts, sea levels will rise by meters in the coming decades. Adaptation, he says, is the key to future building design and construction.
Airports | Jun 9, 2021
ZGF unveils latest renderings of Portland International Airport’s main terminal
An undulating wooden roof highlights the project.
Airports | May 27, 2021
Grimshaw wins competition to design Shenzhen Airport East Integrated Transport Hub
The competition sought to find a design that created an integrated intermodal transport hub that could act as a new urban gateway.
Digital Twin | May 24, 2021
Digital twin’s value propositions for the built environment, explained
Ernst & Young’s white paper makes its cases for the technology’s myriad benefits.
Multifamily Housing | Mar 28, 2021
Smart home technology 101 for multifamily housing communities
Bulk-services Wi-Fi leads to better connectivity, products, and services to help multifamily developers create greater value for residents–and their own bottom line.
Market Data | Feb 24, 2021
2021 won’t be a growth year for construction spending, says latest JLL forecast
Predicts second-half improvement toward normalization next year.
Airports | Jan 26, 2021
Security concerns will drive demand for airport technology over the next five years
A new report explores where and what spending for “smart” airports is likely to focus on.