How can Regional Airports Optimise Passenger Experience?

Optimising passenger experience in regional airports can sometimes be a challenge, but reaching IATA standards should never be beyond an airport’s capability. Even with limited capacity, a smaller support network and fewer stakeholders and suppliers; regional airports can still achieve optimum passenger standards

AiQ have been working with regional airports over many years to assist them in improving passenger experience, both through best practice, simulation modeling and stakeholder management. This has lead us to work with regional airports such as Leeds Bradford and Manchester, enabling them to work within the restrictions posed by their status to create the optimum passenger experience.

Leeds Bradford Airport

For Leeds Bradford Airport , who recorded their busiest ever week in June 2017 , we were asked to undertake a whole Airport Terminal Capacity Assessment. The aim was to augment capacity at the airport while utilising their existing Terminal footprint. Our solutions improved passenger flows and reduced crowds at check in, decreasing the security risk and queuing. These measures reduced passenger stress and increased passenger experience. We were also able to ensure that maximum dwell time in retail shopping was considered. 70% of retail shopping is in the departure lounge, this was a great benefit to the airport.

Manchester Airport

We also worked with Manchester Airport with their capacity restrictions before their ambitious £1 billion Manchester Airport Transformation Programme begins over the next ten years. We were asked to look at how to improve capacity between now and 2018. There was a need to reduce investment costs and provide cost-efficient options for how Manchester Airport can manage growth, new entrants and expansion of airlines.

The solutions we presented included relocation of their Make Up Points (MUPs) and Early Bag Storage, as well as improving stakeholder management allowing all suppliers and contractors to be engaged in new methods of working.  These efficiencies can all impact on passenger experience, decreasing wait times, queues and issues at Check In.

ADRM Standards

Defined by IATA over 40 years with their the Airport Development Reference Manual (ADRM), reaching the optimum passenger Levels of Service (LoS) can be hard to achieve. Without the large support network, stakeholders and suppliers that a hub airport possesses, regional airports may find it difficult to know how large their check in area should be, whether their passengers are travelling through departures in an acceptable amount of time, and if their arrivals procedure is up to scratch.

Our software, experience and knowledge of airports, passengers flows and baggage handling systems allows us to be able to assist regional airports in reaching these gold standards. Leeds Bradford Airport and Manchester Airport were able to benefit from a number of options to increase the capacity of their airport, allowing them to grow with demand without putting security or their passenger experience at risk.

To find out more about ADRM standards , and how to reach optimum passenger LoS for your airport, contact us today.