Passenger’s mobiles and smartphones provide accurate statistics

Efficient airport operations need accurate planning tools. For many years, measuring passenger behavior has been crucial to schedule correct numbers of staff at specific locations, at specific times.

How many security agents will be needed on March 19 at the security screening platform of pier A between 10 and 11 am? How many employees should staff the coffee counter in the departures hall at midnight? How many airport trolleys are needed in the baggage reclaim area on an average Friday night between 8 and 10 pm? What are the waiting times at the security screening at this exact moment, measured in minutes per passenger? This sort of information is vital to provide correct staff scheduling for many sorts of airport jobs, and to warn passengers about their waiting times at specific areas. It allows airport shops, bars and restaurants to place their orders and replenish their shelves for the coming days and hours.

For decades, airports have discretely measured passenger's behavior. With chronograph and counter in hand, walking patterns of specific anonymous passengers are measured to chart typical behavior patterns at each time of day. Passengers are counted and recounted, per hour, per minute, per second, per season, per time of day.

At Brussels Airport, new technology has stepped in to take over this counting job. Antennas are installed at specific locations in the airport terminal to capture the presence of Bluetooth devices. Each Smartphone and almost all phones are equipped with Bluetooth technology. Bluetooth enables a wireless connection with other mobile phones, car speaker kits or earphones. Therefore they all have an individual, unique identity that can be recognized.

The presence of each Bluetooth device with specific ID-number can be captured in de neighborhood of each antenna. This allows the airport company to automatically measure how much time is needed for an average Bluetooth device to move from one antenna to the next. Place an antenna before the security screening platform, another behind it, and a computer can work out exactly how many seconds are needed for an average Bluetooth device to move through the security area. As approx. 15% of the passengers carry a Bluetooth signature in their mobile phone or Smartphone, this is a statistically reliable source of information to publish exact passenger waiting times.

Important note: a Bluetooth ID only shows the presence of an individual Bluetooth device, but this ID can not be matched with the identity of the owner. All information is strictly anonymous. It would be like counting all the passengers wearing blue shoes: You see that some passengers wear blue shoes, but that doesn't mean you know who they are.

The current trial setup is only one of many possible applications for Bluetooth monitoring. The information can be shown as a set of graphics, spreadsheets or tables. Or in the case of Brussels: as a precise figure on information screens that show the actual exact waiting time at security screening. This information can easily be shown on the airport website, and that is exactly what passengers will find on the Brussels Airport website in the near future. This new information available means that the passengers of Brussels Airport can ease up and not stress their way to and through security, but keep themselves informed before and during the journey about the waiting time.

The idea is not new, but the Danish company BLIP Systems is now specializing in such hi-tech measuring services. Ward Decaluwé, Head of Passenger and Customer Services at Brussels Airport, is thrilled with the new development. "Even if an airport could afford to have someone at each of these locations to measure, all the time, this could never provide us with the fast, transparent and accurate information the BLIP system does. The received information is strictly anonymous. We measure the number of individual Bluetooth devices that pass through the airport building, but we are not able to match these devices with the identity of a passenger. We can only track the number electronic ID numbers of Bluetooth pairing devices, not people, not names. Very soon, this technology will be able to provide our passengers with a faster, more accurate information about waiting times, and a better service".

Brussels Airport Company press release, Brussels Airport, March 15, 2010

Munich Airport's new summer timetable features flights to a total of 213 destinations in 68 countries around the world, including 44 long-haul routes, 149 continental destinations and 20 connections within Germany. For the new timetable period – from March 28 to October 30 – the airlines operating at Bavaria's international hub have booked slots for a total of 247,000 take-offs and landings.

Five exciting new long-haul destinations will be launched this summer. With this development, the Star Alliance partner airlines in particular are underscoring the excellence of Munich Airport and its importance for Bavaria's economic competitiveness. Lufthansa, a Star Alliance partner and the largest airline at Munich Airport, will be operating three weekly flights to both Miami and Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, in this year's summer period.

A major debut at Munich Airport is the arrival of Singapore Airlines. This renowned carrier will be serving the route Manchester-Munich-Singapore five times a week with a Boeing 777. From its home airport the airline has a tightly-woven network of connecting flights to destinations in the Asian-Pacific region. This new service doubles the capacity available to take business travelers and tourists to Singapore. Along with Lufthansa's flights, there will now be 10 weekly departures from Munich to Singapore.

All Nippon Airways will also be flying a Boeing 777 on its daily flights to Tokyo. Continental Airlines will be departing every day from Munich to Newark, near New York, with a Boeing 767. Lufthansa will continue to serve both of these destinations as well. According to current scheduling, the number of intercontinental flights will increase by about 7 percent to approximately 260 connections per week.

Lufthansa is introducing adding some new European destinations as well this summer, for example with seven weekly flights to Bari in Southern Italy, one flight to Faro, Portugal, seven flights to Tallinn, Estonia and two flights to Rostock, Germany. Lufthansa will also be offering more frequent services to Dubrovnik and Split in Croatia and Larnaca in Cyprus during the summer timetable period. Norwegian will depart three times a week to the Swedish capital, Stockholm.

Munich Airport will be welcoming another new airline this summer: Kuban Airlines will be flying twice a week from July until early September to Sochi on the Black Sea. Royal Air Maroc will serve the route Munich-Marakesh twice a week until mid-June and then again as of mid-September. Air Lingus will stop operating its flights to London-Gatwick and Belfast this summer, however.

The foreign destination served most frequently from Munich Airport is London, with a total of about 4,100 departures in the coming summer season. Among German destinations, Berlin is number one with more than 4,700 flights, followed by Düsseldorf, with nearly 4,400 departures.

Munich Airport press release 9/02/2010

FLYBE OPENS UP GARDEN OF ENGLAND

Leading regional airline announces brand-new Manston to Edinburgh route with first scheduled daily service from Kent airport.

Flybe, the UK’s Number One Domestic Airline, has today (Feb 15) announced another brand-new route - namely a daily Edinburgh to Manston service that, apart from opening up the Garden of England to the Scottish market also offers regional travellers the only scheduled flight to be currently operated out of Kent International Airport.

Tickets are on sale now at www.flybe.com from £24.99 one way including taxes and charges for travel effective May 27 through to 30 October. The new route, with a flight time of just 80 minutes, will be operated by Flybe’s fuel efficient 78-seat Bombardier Q-400 turboprop aircraft.

The announcement further reinforces Flybe’s commitment to offering an extensive choice of convenient, affordable regional travel.

Mike Rutter, Flybe’s Chief Commercial Officer, says: “We’re delighted to be adding this new service to the South-East from Edinburgh and also to being the first carrier to offer Kent travellers a scheduled service out of Kent International. It also reflects our commitment to continued growth from our Edinburgh base and also to our development into new regions.”

Edinburgh Airport has welcomed the news with Gordon Dewar, Managing Director, commenting: "The creation of this route underlines Edinburgh's attraction as a destination in the domestic UK market and we're excited that Flybe has picked up on the demand to create a link between Scotland's Capital and the South of England.

"Flybe is one of the largest carriers at Edinburgh and has assisted us in becoming the UK's fastest-growing airport. We value that relationship and look forward to working with them on further routes and other mutual development."

Kent International Airport is located in East Kent, just a couple of miles from the popular seaside destinations of Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate and within easy reach of picturesque Whitstable, historic Canterbury with its world-famous cathedral and, of course, Dover’s iconic White Cliffs.

Matt Clarke, Chief Executive of Kent International Airport, adds: “I’m sure this route will be hugely popular with people in Kent because Edinburgh is such a great place to visit with its history, culture and, of course, its world-famous festivals.”

Looking forward to welcoming Scottish visitors to Kent, he added: “Flying to Kent International is a hassle-free way to arrive in south-east England. Our airport is easy to get to, easy to find your way around and allows passengers to enjoy flying the way it’s meant to be – boarding an aircraft merely metres from where you have parked your car!”

Flybe offers passengers a quality range of benefits that includes pre-assigned seating, Premium Economy travel with dedicated Executive Lounges, a generous Rewards4all loyalty programme as well as onward travel to an attractive choice of destinations from Edinburgh with flights operated by its franchise partner, Loganair.

Mr Rutter concludes: “We expect our new route to be popular both with business travellers and with those planning their holidays or weekends away and wanting their budgets to go as far as possible and we’d advise people to book early to take advantage of the lowest possible fares.”

DAILY SCHEDULE:
Sundays and Monday – Friday
• Flight departs Edinburgh 1050 arr Manston 1220
• Flight departs Manston 1245 arr Edinburgh 1415
Saturday
• Flight departs Edinburgh 1450 arr Manston 1620
• Flight departs Manston 1645 arr Edinburgh 1815

Flybe press release 15/02/2010

Fraport AG and airline representatives have agreed on the development of airport charges at Frankfurt Airport (FRA) during the years 2012 to 2015. A corresponding agreement was signed today by representatives of Fraport AG, the airlines and airline associations.

"We have reached an agreement which will provide planning security on both sides for the next six years. The airlines need this security for their fleet planning and deployment, just as we need it to shoulder the enormous billion euro investments being realized by Fraport at Frankfurt Airport in the coming years," explained Fraport executive board chairman Dr. Stefan Schulte.

At the beginning of December 2009, Fraport and airline representatives already reached agreement on revising airport charges for the years 2010 and 2011. During the years 2012 to 2015 charges will rise by 2.9 percent annually under the latest agreement. Fraport CEO Schulte emphasized the need for raising charges. "The increase in airport charges is an essential element for financing the immense capital expenditures for FRA's future viability and competitiveness. With the charges agreed for 2010 and 2011 we have already taken into account the difficult economic situation currently facing the airlines, by staggering the increase well into 2010," said Schulte. A further result of the negotiations: If passenger figures at Frankfurt Airport develop faster than expected, the airlines will be reimbursed one third of the additional revenue.

Fraport is currently investing about €1 billion annually in the modernization and expansion of FRA's airside facilities – including the Airport Expansion Program. "The additional capacities thus created will ultimately benefit the airlines and their customers as much as they strengthen the competitiveness of Germany as an aviation base. However, it is important to note that each billion euro Fraport is spending requires about €100 million in additional expenditures per year for interest and depreciation. These expenditures must first be earned via the expected traffic growth, additional airport charges, and increasing proceeds from retailing," Schulte stressed.

Fraport's CEO thanked the Hesse economics minister Dieter Posch and the staff of his ministry for their dedicated commitment and for mediating a long-term solution acceptable for both parties. Today's agreement is subject to approval to be obtained next week from the individual airline association members.

Fraport press release 19.02.2010

Latest Skytrax Airport Rankings: Frankfurt Is Official Four Star World Airport

U.K. consulting company Skytrax has awarded Frankfurt Airport (FRA) four stars in its latest Official World Airport Star Ranking – out of a possible five stars. "We are pleased with this first-time star rating by the Skytrax audit team and will be striving to build further on this success in the near future," stated Fraport AG executive board chairman Dr. Stefan Schulte. The goal is to continue advancing Frankfurt Airport in the area of customer service. "Thus, this spring we will be launching a new service initiative aimed at optimizing and expanding service offerings for our passengers," explained Schulte. "The latest research results from the Skytrax experts will certainly provide us with important details for achieving this."

In particular, the Skytrax rating focuses on customer satisfaction at FRA, passing through security control, waiting times at the baggage claim belts, amenities and services offered in the terminals, baggage carts, information boards for connecting flights and services for mobility-impaired travelers.

Skytrax passenger surveys on service quality have also shown a steady gain for Frankfurt Airport over the past three years. In the overall ranking of international airports worldwide FRA climbed the charts from only 94 in 2007 to 44 in 2008, then rising to 21 in 2009. "Compared to the other European aviation hubs, Frankfurt has made the greatest improvement since 2007," said Schulte. He also stressed: "We are reaping the results of our efforts and are gaining positive recognition. Therefore, we will continue on this service path with determination."

Skytrax describes its Airport Star Ranking as "the quality rating of standards applied to an airport's front-line product and service". Further details about the latest Skytrax airport and passenger ratings are available on the Internet at:

www.skytraxresearch.com/Airports/apt_ranking.htm

Fraport press release 22.01.2010