Business Traveller (Middle East)
NEW AGE TERMINALS
From entertainment hubs to wellness havens, airports are becoming experiential destinations in their own right
Modern airports are morphing into technology-led lifestyle destinations
When Viktor Navorski got stranded at an airport in Steven Spielberg’s 2004 movie The Terminal, I sympathised with him. Those unending hours spent living out of a suitcase didn’t seem very appealing. However, if the movie was remade today, I’m sure it would provide another perspective on airport life. Perhaps Viktor would be seen enjoying therapeutic treatments at an airport spa after an indulgent meal at Wagamama? He might then check into a chic airport hotel, living his best life, far from upset about missing a flight.
The airport experience has evolved beyond recognition over the last decade. Layovers no longer involve pointless hours spent mastering the art of doing nothing or mindlessly browsing the duty free section for tacky souvenirs you don’t need.
Airports are transitioning into exciting and multi-dimensional facilities where travellers can relax and have fun. Many are going the extra mile to ensure passengers make the most of their time in the terminal, immersing them in futuristic technology, music performances, spa treatments, art exhibitions and much more. From entertainment hubs to wellness havens, international airports are becoming experiential destinations in their own right.
ENTERTAINMENT HUBS
If you’re flying out of Frankfurt airport anytime soon, catching a flick before your flight should be on your list. That’s because the two Movie Worlds in Piers A and Z are inviting passengers in transit to watch the latest blockbusters for free. Comfortable couches for up to three people are arranged in front of TV screens, just like at home. Singapore’s Changi airport also caters to the film buff with its 24-hour movie theatres in Terminals 2 and 3. Screenings are available free of charge and I reckon there isn’t a better way to spend your time waiting for your flight! But if you disagree, Singapore’s airport has a host of other entertainment options that ought to keep you more than just occupied. From Jewel Changi airport’s 14,000 sqm Canopy Park that features attractions and gardens to the Changi Experience Studio — a unique space with immersions across 20 different touch-points, there’s something for everyone here. The latter is home to interactive games, projection storytelling, experiential shows and gallery exhibits.
A SENSE OF PLACE
Airports are emblematic of their home country’s heritage as
South Korea’s Incheon airport demonstrates through its showcase of Korean music and culture. The airport is home to a fully-fledged event space called Millennium Hall at Terminal 1 that hosts cultural performances every day of the year, as well as concerts
Singapore’s Changi airport also caters to the film buff with its 24-hour movie theatres in Terminals 2 and 3
that range from semi-classical to K-pop. Similarly, Dubai airport (DXB) has been staging its ground-breaking concert series #musicDXB since 2015, entertaining millions of global travellers with music concerts performed by local and international artists. Former regional acts have included X Factor Arabia winner, singer-songwriter Hamza Hawsawi, while global talent taking to the “world’s largest stage” has ranged from Australian soul singer
Grace, who recorded her album with Quincy Jones, to the cast of London West End musical Cats.
FUTURE TECHNOLOGY
But at the end of the day, it is seamless technology and digital effortlessness that truly sets an airport apart, placing it in another league. A few international airports have introduced awe-inspiring tech innovations that seem like they’re right out of an episode of Black Mirror (a Netflix show based in the future). Istanbul airport has introduced a fleet of child-size humanoid robots to make sure no one gets lost. Passengers can approach the robots and scan their tickets to see their flight status, get directions and view other flight information in English or Turkish. The ‘humanoid’ (aka human-like) robots move on wheels, and can perform expressions through their arms and onscreen faces.
In Frankfurt airport too, self-driving guide robots called YAPE ( Your Autonomous Pony Express) accompany passengers to their gates and help them to transport their small luggage. YAPE can carry up to 30 kg at a speed of about six km/h indoors. Since the self-driving electric robot senses its surroundings, it is able to circumvent obstacles.
Another technology that’s becoming increasingly omnipresent in airports across the globe is facial recognition. Flying out of Beijing airport resembles a Minority Report- like experience as facial recognition scanners are everywhere, from the boarding pass turnstiles to buying a duty-free perfume. The technology, which links a passenger’s face to their passport at check-in, is designed to speed up the whole process of moving through the airport.
A new biometric system is also planned at Dubai International in collaboration with Emirates Airline. Under the ‘Biometric Passenger Journey scheme’, prescreened passengers will no longer be required to show a passport or boarding pass when travelling to travel to and from Dubai, thanks to new facial recognition technology. Changi airport’s Terminal 4 also offers a fully automated departure process from check-in to boarding. Integrating facial recognition, FAST (Fast and Seamless Travel) — a suite of self-service options, allows passengers
Airports are emblematic of their home country’s heritage
to breeze through the airport with minimal effort.
ARTSY DESTINATIONS
As hallmarks of the respective countries, airports are literally gateways to the destinations of the world. Public art takes another dimension when it’s situated at an airport. Perhaps there isn’t a more apt place for a country to display its local culture and history than an airport — and this has been extensively observed in recent times.
Walking into Terminal 2 of Mumbai airport is always a personal delight. Drawing inspiration from the white peacock (the peacock is India’s national bird), the 50-feet-tall glazed walls are dauntingly beautiful.
The airport showcases a unique collection of Indian art and handicrafts in one of the largest Indian public art initiatives called Jaya He Museum.
The four levels of Terminal 2 teem with more than 5,500 pieces of Indian art and handicrafts, including tribal totem poles and a 3D map of Mumbai built from recycled chips and circuit boards. For those keenly interested in Indian heritage, there is a Jaya He Safari that takes travellers across the featured artwork.
Public art takes another dimension when it’s situated at an airport