Terminal Transformations

How the pandemic is reshaping the airport experience

- Seher ASAF

Cleaning robots, sanitising booths, rapid blood tests and contactless kiosks – the coronavirus pandemic is transforming the airport experience worldwide.

As border restrictions begin to ease, airports and airlines are looking to restore confidence in travel by redesigning the passenger journey.

Airports have adopted a slew of procedures to deal with new customer expectations, according to Stefano Baronci, Director General, Airports Council International (ACI), Asia Pacific.

“There are a number of measures airports are considering or have already implemented to create what we call the ‘healthy passenger experience’, which focuses on preventing the risk of [COVID-19] transmission from passenger to passenger,” he explains.

“Passengers now expect sanitation measures, contactless journeys, physical distance with other travellers and clear instructions on how to stay safe.”

Here, Business Traveller takes a closer look at how the COVID-19 crisis is changing airport experiences around the world.

CONTACTLESS TRAVEL

The coronavirus crisis could speed up the adoption of technology that offers a low-touch or even touch-less travel experience at airports.

In May, Malaysian low-cost airline Air Asia introduced contactless kiosks and payment options at airports in Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia and Japan where it operates air services. Passengers can check-in and make payments using airport systems without having to actually touch them, according to the carrier.