Billund Airport, Denmark, has installed a passenger flow system from Danish IoT company Blip Systems to improve the airport experience for commuters and holidaymakers.
Previously, Denmark’s second largest airport used the BlipTrack queue measurement system to measure queue and dwell times, and ensure crowds are moving seamlessly.
However, the open platform only covered security processes. Now, Billund has expanded the platform to include information on how passengers move through the airport, providing insights into their behavior during that time. The idea is that management will be able to form a clear, cohesive picture of passenger experiences, from entering the carpark, to departure, and everywhere in between.
The data will be collected in real-time, allowing staff to also make proactive decisions to improve the passenger flow. Billund Airport suggests that it will be able to use the data to encourage passengers to spend more time in the concession areas, for example. Doing so would effectively maximize non-aviation revenue, and minimize the impact of operational changes to the passenger flow, while boosting the passenger experience.
The patterns can also be averaged over a day, a week, a month, as well as a specific time of day, or a specific holiday period, which will enhance the airport’s understanding of how disruptions or changes affect the standard behavior of passengers. In theory, this kind of data could determine the future layout of the airport, and will help staff to identify potential areas of new business.
Ultimately, however, the system aims to improve and streamline airport processes, such as check-in, security and immigration.
Read more: Birmingham Airport uses IoT to monitor queues and keep passengers happy
Happy passengers better for business
“The basic requirements for happy passengers are easy parking and check-in, speedy security processing, and comfort while waiting in airport terminals,” said Preben Fugl Andersen, sales manager at Blip Systems. “These factors can make or break a passenger’s airport experience and strongly influence how much money they spend in the concession areas.”
“Handling passenger flow smoothly and efficiently is key to the success of an airport and its image. To understand and improve individual areas of airport operations, it is important to understand that each area influences another and that the passenger’s journey is seen as a single process, rather than as a string of isolated events, and is key to unlocking potential gains.”
Billund Airport joins a host of other airports, including Amsterdam, Auckland and Bristol that are using the platform for passenger flow analytics. BlipTrack is employed in more than 25 airports, including JFK Airport in New York, Copenhagen, Oslo, Geneva, Milano, Birmingham, Brussels, Cincinnati and Keflavik.
Blip Systems’ bluetooth sensor technology is also in use in the Danish city of Aarhus, where it is used to improve the flow of traffic.
Read more: New Zealand Air Force recruits Blip Systems for traffic management project