Passenger-centric airport management via new terminal interior design concepts

Abstract

Meeting the needs of passengers will increasingly become a competitive factor for airports. Information is one of the most valued services for passengers. Therefore, timely providing of real-time data to the passengers is high on the list of airlines and airports. Since not every passenger has a mobile device at hand, relevant information need also be disseminated offline. Static and dynamic signs cover the above mentioned issues, but the place, where such signs are installed is crucial. The goal of our new design concept for terminals is providing information to passengers, where and when they need it. Each service point --- from check-in through security check to boarding --- has been designed using curved layout design and furniture along with large displays for information. The size of the displays is chosen such that passengers are able to recognize important information with respect to the specific service point at one glance. Waiting seats are surrounding the service point to provide an unhindered view to the displays and to promote communication. We implemented our design ideas in our artificial terminal building of an international airport. The impact of information displays is modeled by a microscopic simulation. Adopting the assumption that the information displays make it easier for the passengers to figure out the way through the terminal we simulate a whole day at the artificial terminal.