Airports spending $3bn to be tech high fliers

Airport operators are shelling out on technology in an effort to attract more passengers, according to an investment survey which predicts airports will spend around $3bn on IT this year.

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The fifth annual Airport IT trends survey, conducted by airport tech supplier Sita, also found one of the main drivers for investment is boosting customer service and satisfaction, with 80 per cent of airport operators saying their spending is motivated by improving the customer's lot.

Airport operators are also aiming to increase the self service options to passengers, with 35 per cent of operators looking to add passenger self boarding, 32 per cent aiming to introduce off-site baggage and passenger processing and 33 per cent to bring in self-service common bag drop locations.

Around half of airports said self service could become the main way for passengers to check-in within the next two to five years, while only two per cent of respondents said they aren't planning to install any self-service kiosks at all.

Despite the thirst for investment, airport operators are already figuring the credit crunch into their spending plans. Reflecting the economic downturn, 26 per cent of respondents said their main obstacle to implementing tech is a lack of investment or budget cuts.

Many said IT could also play an important role in becoming greener with 56 per cent saying they are already or are planning to improve the eco-credentials of their IT.

Bruno Frentzel, Sita senior VP of application services, said the survey showed operators investing in tech projects which monitor noise and air quality, and seeking better energy use and sustainability from their IT.

The survey covered 163 airports, including more than half of the world's top 100 operators in terms of revenue and passenger traffic.