Tech-Savvy Airports
More than just Wi-Fi, these airports provide connected amenities to make travel easy.
Simply providing easy access to Wi-Fi no longer qualifies an airport as tech savvy. Airports around the world are using advances in technology to find new and better ways to connect with travelers to enhance their travel experiences. From luggage-carrying robots to touch-screen concierge service, airports are “upping their technology game” with apps, complimentary devices and, yes, robots.
The Munich Airport – consistently rated one of the best airports in the world based on its tech-friendly features – offers free Wi-Fi, complimentary computer stations and interactive InfoGate counters that allow fliers to chat with airport staff on a video conference system to access hotel and destination information.
If you’re visiting Tokyo’s Haneda International Airport soon, you can turn to its 90-cm-tall “humanoid” robot featuring a “remote brain” in which built-in sensors work with external monitoring technology to access basic airport information. It switches effortlessly between English and Japanese, responding accurately and naturally to each inquiry.
On the home front, our very own Indianapolis International Airport offers access to free Wi-Fi and boasts touch-screen kiosks allowing travelers to connect with hotels, transportation and local attractions. It also recently launched a customer service robot to help answer passenger questions. This airport’s technology also benefits the local community as it houses a 75-acre solar farm providing energy to several thousand houses.
Meanwhile, at the Auckland Airport, Air New Zealand customers can drop their bags at a biometric-enabled, self-service bag drop unit that employs facial recognition technology. The bag drop unit features an embedded camera to capture an image of the passenger’s face.
As technology advances, expect airports around the globe to continue taking the travelling experience to the next level. Visit our Facebook page and let us know if you’ve recently come across any high-tech gadgets at the airport that will have our Fast Park guests saying, “Layover, please!”