Published 08 September 2022

Author
Estella Shardlow
18 min read

As the demand for air travel surges again post-pandemic, airports need to overhaul their servicescapes, design and infrastructure to enhance the passenger experience, in addition to foregrounding sustainability, accessibility and wellness. We survey the standout new concepts showing how these global hubs can become both edifying and more efficient.

High-Tech Terminals

Wellbeing Worlds: Stress, Sleep & Accessibility

Crafting a Sense of Place

Keeping Up with Climate Change

A summer of travel chaos has underscored the urgency of digital innovations that streamline and speed up the airport journey, from check-in to boarding and beyond. Operators are investing in artificial-intelligence-enabled (AI) biometrics, intuitive digital wayfinding and virtual queuing systems to minimise future disruption.

A summer of travel chaos has underscored the urgency of digital innovations that streamline and speed up the airport journey, from check-in to boarding and beyond. Operators are investing in artificial-intelligence-enabled (AI) biometrics, intuitive digital wayfinding and virtual queuing systems to minimise future disruption.

Summary

High-Tech Terminals

A summer of travel chaos has underscored the urgency of digital innovations that streamline and speed up the airport journey, from check-in to boarding and beyond. Operators are investing in artificial-intelligence-enabled (AI) biometrics, intuitive digital wayfinding and virtual queuing systems to minimise future disruption.

Wellbeing Worlds: Stress, Sleep & Accessibility

While hygiene protocols continue to be important, leading airports are attending to numerous holistic health concerns – from reducing anxiety and supporting sleep, to improving accessibility for people with disabilities. With 87% of global travellers wanting private relaxation spaces in terminals, wellness-centric lounges are flourishing (Collinson, 2021).

Crafting a Sense of Place

Airports can serve as a compelling window into regional or national cultures for experience-hungry travellers. Recognising this, several recent launches diverge from a homogenous, sterile aesthetic in favour of bespoke, localised décor. Food and beverage propositions focusing on locally sourced produce similarly help kickstart or extend the tourism experience.

Keeping Up with Climate Change

While the race is on to develop cleaner aviation fuels – and architects feud over the ethics of participating in airport projects – tomorrow’s terminal buildings must recentre sustainability. Embodied carbon architecture, rainfall harvesting and renewable energy microgrids are among the features aiming to cut environmental footprints.

Evolving the Airport

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?

Topics

Want to see the full report?

Offering access to over 350 consumer and cross-industry reports annually, Stylus Membership is your window to tomorrow’s most exciting opportunities.

We already arm more than 500 of the world’s most forward-thinking brands and agencies with the creative insights they need to make transformative business decisions.

We’d love to do the same for you.

Book a demo with us today to discover more.

Want to see the full report?

Offering access to over 350 consumer and cross-industry reports annually, Stylus Membership is your window to tomorrow’s most exciting opportunities.

We already arm more than 500 of the world’s most forward-thinking brands and agencies with the creative insights they need to make transformative business decisions.

We’d love to do the same for you.

Book a demo with us today to discover more.