In the era of digital mobility, airports are no longer just physical infrastructures but true technological hubs that must provide passengers with optimized services and experiences across different platforms. While an airport’s website plays a vital role in the initial planning phase, native iOS and Android apps have become indispensable tools for passengers during their journey. In this article, we will explore how these two platforms complement each other, benefiting both the user and the airport.
User Experience: Planning vs. Real-Time
When passengers are at home, they typically use the airport’s website to plan their trip. They check flight information, reserve parking spots or lounges, and explore available services. The website is ideal for detailed planning, thanks to its larger interface and the ease of comparing options.
However, once passengers arrive at the airport, the need for real-time information becomes more immediate and dynamic. This is where iOS and Android mobile apps play a key role. Through these apps, users can:
- Access real-time information: Check flight status, gate changes, wait times at security, and other critical updates.
- Receive push notifications: Apps can send personalized alerts about flight updates, last-minute changes, or important reminders like gate openings or delays.
- Navigate the airport with interactive maps and wayfinding: This is where apps truly shine. Airports can often be overwhelming for passengers, especially large or complex terminals. Mobile apps, with interactive maps and wayfinding technology, help users:
- Quickly find their gate or other key locations like shops, restaurants, bathrooms, or rest areas.
- Optimize their route within the airport, showing the shortest or least congested path.
- Track their real-time location, ensuring they are on the right path and reducing the stress of getting lost or being late.
The integration of interactive maps and wayfinding not only improves the passenger experience but also reduces time spent searching for information or physical locations within the terminals.
Planned vs. On-the-Go Purchases
Another area where the website and mobile apps complement each other is in passenger purchasing behavior. From home, travelers often make advanced reservations for services they know they will need, such as:
- Parking: Long-term parking reservations.
- Lounge access: To secure a comfortable place to relax before their flight.
However, once at the airport, purchasing behavior can shift drastically. In the fast-paced airport environment, passengers face unplanned situations where “on-the-go” purchases through the app become essential. For example:
- Fast-Track: If the passenger encounters long lines at security or passport control, the app allows them to purchase a fast-track pass instantly, avoiding the stress of waiting.
- Last-minute offers: Many airport shops and restaurants offer exclusive promotions that can be notified through the app, encouraging impulse purchases and enhancing the user experience.
By integrating both channels, the airport maximizes monetization opportunities, allowing passengers to make both planned and spontaneous purchases as needed.
Benefits for Airports: Revenue and Valuable Data
Mobile apps not only benefit users but also provide airports with valuable insights that would be difficult to collect otherwise. Through mobile apps, airports can:
- Monetize non-aeronautical services: By facilitating in-the-moment purchases like Fast-Track, lounge upgrades, or shop discounts, airports can significantly increase their non-aeronautical revenue.
- Gather passenger data: Apps allow airports to collect real-time data on passenger behavior. Which flights are they registering for updates? Where are they moving within the terminal? These insights are invaluable for improving the user experience and optimizing airport services.
- Segmentation and personalization: With access to passenger behavior data, airports can further personalize their offerings. For instance, they can send notifications about exclusive deals in shops near the passenger’s gate or tailor advertisements based on the passenger’s destination or profile.
Why add apps to the digital passenger experience?
The complementarity between the airport website and native iOS and Android apps is key to providing passengers with a seamless and comprehensive experience. While the website facilitates pre-trip planning, mobile apps excel in real-time service and spontaneous purchases, offering passengers a useful tool both at home and in the airport.
For airports, these platforms represent an opportunity to increase non-aeronautical revenue while gaining access to valuable passenger data that can be used to improve services and create personalized experiences. The use of interactive maps and wayfinding technology through mobile apps adds another layer of convenience, helping passengers quickly navigate the airport, saving time, and reducing stress. Thus, the combination of web and app ensures a smooth experience tailored to each stage of the passenger’s journey.
If you’re ready to enhance your airport’s digital experience and provide passengers with seamless, real-time services, schedule a demo with Appssenger today! Discover how our platform can help you integrate native mobile apps with your airport’s website to elevate both passenger satisfaction and airport efficiency.