Internet / Mobile
KLM’s ‘Meet & Seat’ social seating lets passengers pick an interesting seat mate
3 February 2012 | KLM today has launched a ‘Meet & Seat’ scheme which encourages passengers to pick seatmates by checking out social media profiles of fellow passengers who link to their profiles during check-in. The idea is that flyers will be able to find out about interesting people who will be on board their KLM flight, for example other passengers attending the same event at the destination. The ‘social seating’ feature has been launched on flights between Amsterdam and San Francisco, Sao Paolo and New York City with plans to extend it to other intercontinental destinations shortly.
Although the idea of the ‘social flight’ in itself is not entirely new – it was coined by digital media guru Jeff Jarvis a few years ago, while airlines such as Malaysia Airlines and Estonian Air have experimented with the concept – KLM’s new ‘Meet & Seat’ tool takes the idea of ‘social seating’ a step further, as until now social media users could only connect with their friends before a flight, while KLM allows anyone to connect with anyone.
KLM says it is trying to give travellers a more “inspirational journey” with the service enabling them to see who is on the flight, perhaps meet for a coffee beforehand, select seats next to each other or share a taxi at the other end. The tool will be opt-in only, to allow the many travellers who view flight time as private time.
How it works
Passengers who have booked a KLM flight from Amsterdam to New York, San Francisco or Sao Paulo (or back), can go to KLM.com and log in to the ‘Manage my Booking’ section. They then go to the ‘Seating’ tab, click ‘Meet & Seat’ and connect their social profiles with their booking by logging in to their Facebook or LinkedIn account.
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Virgin America goes ‘hybrid’, adds wireless IFE into its RED entertainment system
25 September 2011 | Besides the growing number of airlines that are rolling out (or about to roll out) broadband Internet on their aircraft (e.g, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, SAS, Norwegian, Virgin Atlantic), these days the buzz in in-flight entertainment is all about bringing media tablets such as the iPad into the cabin (e.g, Jetstar) and/or installing wireless IFE systems (e.g, American Airlines and Gol).
Further upping the ante, Virgin America – probably the most tech-embracing airline in the world – has announced it will roll out what it calls a “hybrid IFE&C platform.” Besides offering entertainment via embedded, seat-centric screens, the airline will also offer passengers wi-fi connectivity through their seatback system and their own personal devices, as well as offer wireless access to content stored on an onboard server.
Multitasking
Virgin America has selected Lufthansa Systems’ new BoardConnect platform for the next iteration of its Red in-flight entertainment and communications (IFE&C) platform. The new Red system, slated for a late 2012 release, includes larger, high-definition touchscreen seatback monitors, full wi-fi connectivity and four times more entertainment content. It will also allow passengers to connect their own electronic devices to the system pre-flight, in-flight and post-flight. “For example, if a passenger did not finish watching a film or TV show in-flight, they could save and download to their iPod and finish at their hotel,” said Abby Lunardini, VP of corporate communications for Virgin America.
Virgin America’s CEO David Cush said the system will allow the airline to offer passengers “the best of both worlds.” “Just offering a larger wi-fi pipe with no seatback entertainment as some of our competitors are doing is limiting given wi-fi bandwidth,” Cush said. “We want to give our travelers more options instead of fewer, including the ability to multitask across platforms – just as they do in their lives on the ground.” […] “Our focus on innovation is a core part of our business model and guest offering, and BoardConnect will allow us to […] pace the larger consumer trends in mobile technology.” Adds Virgin America’s Lunardini “This is a significant investment for us. “We want to stay ahead of the path … a lot of people fly with us because it. We’re an entertainment-driven brand.”
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11 ways airlines are deploying the Apple iPad
8 August 2011 | Updated December 2011
The iPad, which began primarily as an entertainment device when it was launched in 2010, has captured the imagination of many other industries in ways that Apple never even imagined. We have reported several times on airlinetrends.com how airlines have made Apple’s versatile iPad device available to passengers in their lounges, rent them out in the air, or use them as self-service kiosk, customer survey tool, and food ordering tool. As the list of applications continues to grow, here is the latest overview of how airlines and airports are deploying the iPad worldwide.
1. Book, check-in
Cathay Pacific in July 2010 became the first airline to launch a dedicated application for the Apple iPad that lets users book Cathay Pacific flights, manage their flight booking, check the status of their flight, and check-in. Similar apps are today offered by American Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, THAI, and Alitalia.
In June 2010, Malaysia Airlines, in cooperation with SITA, introduced the world’s first airline kiosk that uses the iPad. Passengers can use the ‘MHkiosk’ to search and book flights and check-in online. The kiosks are installed at the airline’s ticket office at Kuala Lumpur’s central station.
2. Airport service
Spanish airline Iberia has equipped customer service staff at its Madrid-Barajas hub with iPads to provide them with real-time access to the information they need to make decisions and to keep passengers informed. Iberia’s so-called IBPad is loaded with 30 different applications which, according to the airline, together put the entire airport in the palm of the employee’s hand. Iberia says the IBPad has improved everyday operations and dealings with customers, boosting communications and staff decision-making autonomy, while eliminating the use of paper.
Since March 2011, so-called Changi Experience Agents (CEAs) have been walking the grounds at Singapore Changi Airport, assisting passengers with special needs, and helping passengers with wayfinding at the airport. Locating missing luggage, facilitating passengers with check-in needs and assisting transit or transfer passengers with their onward connections also form part of the CEAs’ duties. Each CEA is equipped with an iPad with which they can retrieve information, such as the latest flight updates, store location, check-in gates, etcetera. The CEAs are on duty all day except from 1am – 6am when passenger traffic is low.
3. Airport lounge
To keep passengers entertained whilst waiting for their flight, several airlines have made iPads available in their lounges. Since July 2010, KLM offers 8 iPads in each of its two lounges at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. Lounge guests can use the device to access the Internet, watch content from the airlines’s IFE programming, play games, view KLM images and use a series of pre-installed apps. Cathay Pacific, meanwhile, offers 21 Wi-Fi enabled iPads in its ‘The Cabin’ lounge, which opened in early October 2010. The devices come pre-loaded with apps such as newspapers, magazines and games. Other airlines, such as ANA and airBaltic, also make iPads available upon request to lounge guests at respectively Tokyo Haneda and Riga. Read full article »
iPhone app lets travellers pre-order food for quick pick-up before boarding
18 May 2011 | With the demise of complimentary in-flight catering on most domestic flights in the U.S., airlines have been facing increased competition from airport restaurants and take-away kiosks, as food and beverages are often cheaper and more varied on the ground.
HMSHost ‘B4 You Board’
To help travellers get from the airport entrance to the gate without having to worry whether or not there is time to grab a bite to eat along the way (as for example security lines may be longer than expected), airport food and beverage provider HMSHost has launched a mobile app that allows passengers at New York JFK Airport to order and pay for a meal using their iPhone. Their order is then either delivered at the departure gate or passengers can pick it up from a dedicated B4 You Board kiosk within 20 minutes.
As HMSHost puts it: “Think about it, you’re standing in line at JFK waiting to go through security and you’re not sure you’ll have time to pick up dinner before boarding your flight. However, if you have the B4 You Board app, you can order your meal and pick it up on the airside, or you can opt to have it delivered directly to your gate. Problem solved.”
The B4 You Board app can be downloaded free of charge from iTunes and an Android version is coming this summer. The pre-order service is currently being piloted at New York JFK’s (Delta) Terminal 3 from 12 noon to 8pm and HMS Host says it plans to expand the concept to Minneapolis-St. Paul and Sacramento airports by the end of 2011.
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Airlines are experimenting with latest online phenomenon Groupon
29 April 2011 | In recent years, airlines have been experimenting with a wide range of non-traditional distribution channels, a development dubbed ‘Pricing Pandemonium’ by trendwatching.com. Examples include flash sales, happy hours, Facebook and Twitter-only fares, eBay and reverse auctions, as well as vouchers offered for sale in supermarkets and newspaper kiosks.
Airlines are using these new platforms to temporarily offer heavy discounts without disturbing their main distribution channels. However, after initial experiments, some airlines also have made some of these new channels a more mainstream feature. For example, Tnooz reports that Air New Zealand has recently turned its popular reverse auction into an always-on service. ANZ’s ‘GrabASeat’ auction originally launched around three years ago and was only used ad-hoc to shift seats on specific occasions. However, as it did attract a reasonable following, the airline now offers a ticket deal through reverse auction every 15 minutes, 24 hours a day.
Groupon
The latest online phenomenon that has caught the eye of airlines is Groupon, a web site and e-mail service that offers extremely discounted deals only if enough people sign up. Subscribers must first pay for a Groupon (‘group coupon’) that unlocks the deal. Typical offers include discounted hotel stays, spa treatments and restaurants and Groupon makes money by keeping approximately half the money the customer pays for the coupon. Groupon rapidly became hugely popular and is credited for making virtual coupon-clipping exciting by having offers expire after just a few hours and cancelling them if they do not attract a minimum number of buyers.
Launched in November 2008, Groupon already had over 50 million subscribers worldwide by the end of 2010 and in December 2010 turned down an USD 6 billion takeover bid by Google. Meanwhile, Groupon’s success has attracted numerous competitors, including Facebook, which has just started a similar service called ‘Deals on Facebook’.
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Delta lets passengers track their checked luggage in real-time
26 April 2011 | Online tracking and tracing of packages shipped via parcel delivery companies such as FedEx and DHL has been possible for years, and has even spread to services like pizza delivery. For example, Domino’s Pizza ‘Pizza Tracker’ lets customers track their pizza from the moment they place the order until it leaves the kichen en route to them. Examples from the airline industry include Yapta, which offers alerts when fares drop for specific flights or hotels, and FlightStats, which notifies passengers on flight delays and cancellations. Says consumer trends agency trendwatching.com: “Tracking and alerting is the new searching, as it saves consumers time, makes it impossible to forget or miss out, and thus ultimately gives them yet another level of control.”
Delta checked bags tracking
In a move to make the baggage process more transparent for customers, Delta Air Lines is now bringing ‘tracking and alerting’ to checked luggage. The airline has just launched a new ‘Track Checked Bags’ service in order to give passengers a sense of confidence that their luggage has made it to the same aircraft. As Delta scans the bag tags during each part of the journey, passengers can track their baggage in real-time as it makes its way through the Delta system. Available for domestic flights, Delta passengers can go online – for example via their smartphone – to track their checked baggage with the bag tag number that they received at the time of baggage check-in.
Furthermore, as Delta has equipped all its 549 mainline domestic aircraft with GoGo’s in-flight Internet – and is currently installing the service on 223 Delta Connection jets as well – passengers may even check up in the air whether their bag has made it on their flight.
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SAS launches ‘crewsourced’ city guide app and sells new magazine via newsstands
11 April 2011 | Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has just launched two interesting media initiatives that are an indication where the publication business of airlines is heading to. The airline is making its ‘crewsourced’ city guide available as a free app for mobile phones and has launched a new lifestyle magazine that is also available for sale at newsstands and bookstores.
SAS Crew Guide app
The annual ‘SAS Crew Guide’ is a pocket-sized guidebook consisting of recommendations by SAS cabin crew and pilots for accommodation, shopping, dining, sightseeing and nightlife in many of the cities served by SAS. In the airline’s words: “When you’re visiting a new city, surely the best person to show you around is someone who visits regularly. And who’d be better travelled than airline crew?” The 350-pages guide also contains 13 personal profiles by individual crew members and their favourite cities and is sold online for EUR15 (or 4,410 SAS Bonuspoints) as well as in select bookshops in Scandinavia, the UK and the U.S.
With the launch of its first direct flight from Oslo to New York at the end of March 2011, SAS decides to also launch a mobile app of the New York section of its Crew Guide city guide. The SAS ‘Crew Guide app for New York’ is based on the SAS Crew Guide and features guides to five of New York’s most interesting areas as well as personal profiles of the crew that contributed to the New York edition. All the content (except the map) is downloaded to the phone once the application is installed, so users don’t have to worry about roaming charges when travelling.
Besides the free app (available for the iPhone and Android-based phones), SAS will also launch the Crew Guide as a separate website and as a tab on its Facebook page.
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World’s first Skype video booth launches at Estonia’s Tallinn Airport
5 April 2011 | Launched by three Estonian software developers in 2003, Skype allows users to make voice calls over the Internet free of charge. At the end of 2010 the popular service had over 660 million registered users worldwide. To showcase Estonia’s (one of the three Baltic states) high-tech capabilities, the world’s first Skype ‘video telephony booth’ was recently unveiled at Tallinn Airport in Estonia, enabling travellers to make free worldwide video calls to other Skype users.
The Skype video booth is a collaboration between Enterprise Estonia, which promotes Estonian companies abroad and Estonian ad agencies AdTech and Brilliant. Says Enterprise Estonia communications coordinator Merilin Pärli, “Skype was an idea that was developed in Estonia, and the company still has a development unit in Tallinn, so it was quite logical that the initial home of Skype would have a Skype station at Tallinn airport – as one Skype station says more than 1,000 words about Estonia.”
The Skype video booth can be used by anybody who has a Skype account and those who have purchased Skype credit can also call regular telephone numbers. When a user steps on the floor of the station, the color of the futuristic-looking booth changes from blue to green signalling that he or she can log on. Inside the booth is a 22-inch touchscreen and a headset (alternatively, users can connect their own headseat as well), and after logging in, users can dial their friends and family. If the receiving end also has got a camera installed, then the service works just like an ordinary video call. To log off all one has to do is to step out of the booth.
With the first Skype video booth now in place, AdTech, who designed the booth, says it wants to bring the service to other airports, hotels, cruise ships, hospitals and shopping malls around the world, extending Skype’s service beyond computers and mobile phones to dedicated physical devices. The cost of a video booth is reportedly around 4,000 euros (USD5,600) and AdTech is also working on several new prototypes.
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German leisure carrier Condor first to launch wireless IFE system
18 March 2011 | German holiday carrier Condor will become the first airline to install Lufthansa Systems’ new BoardConnect wireless in-flight entertainment (IFE) system on its Boeing 767 aircraft. Unlike conventional wired IFE systems, BoardConnect is essentially an intranet on a plane that replaces the several kilometers of cables, that are usually needed to connect every single seat, with a wireless network that allows passengers to connect to content on an onboard server with their own laptops, smart phones or tablet PCs. Alternatively, integrated seat-back screens or mobile devices provided by the airline can be used to access the Wi-Fi network.
Walled garden
Passengers logging on to the wireless IFE system are shown a startpage that lists the available IFE programming, which can be fully branded and customized by the airline. BoardConnect uses standard software solutions. For example, multimedia content is served up via Microsoft Silverlight, a browser plug-in which comes pre-installed on most new devices. For iPhone, iPad or Android users, apps are being developed that will be available on the Apple App Store and the Android Marketplace. If an aircraft is also equipped with broadband access to the wider Internet, passengers can also surf and send and receive e-mails while in the air. Condor, however, will only offer wireless IFE to access the ‘walled garden’ content available on the onboard server.
Weight savings
According to Lufthansa Systems, a subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group, the elimination of wiring and data distribution hardware could lead to weight savings of almost half a ton on a 767, reducing annual fuel consumption by around 20 tonnes per aircraft. The savings are even greater if no seat-back screens are installed, which is increasingly becoming an option as more and more passengers bring their own Internet-enabled devices on board. Lufthansa Systems says that thanks to the minimal installation effort (as no wiring is required) its BoardConnect solution is also interesting for smaller aircraft such as the A320 and B737, which fly medium-haul routes and generally offer very limited IFE options. See this pdf for more on the BoardConnect wireless IFE system.
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Taipei International Airport opens e-library for transit passengers
16 March 2011 | Taipei’s main airport, Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, has opened what it is calling the world’s first in-transit ‘e-library waiting lounge’. Passengers waiting for flights can browse through a selection of 400 English and Chinese-language e-books featuring a wide range of genres, as well as 2,000 regular books and dozens of newspapers and magazines. The e-library aims to give passengers a new option while waiting to board flights and is located adjacent to gate C5 in the airport’s Terminal 2, which commonly handles stopovers between North America and Southeast Asia.
The e-books are stored on around 30 devices, a mix of iPads and other e-readers, which are loaned out on a first-come first-served basis. However, passengers can’t download the books to their own e-reader, which somewhat limits the usefulness of the service. Besides the available electronic and printed content, passengers can make use of free Wi-Fi and charge their cell phones at any of 42 the molded-plastic seats which have integrated power outlets and pullout tables. In addition, the room is equipped with GPS navigation systems for travellers interested in searching for maps of their destinations, and also features a photo station where passengers can take self-portraits and send them to family or friends by e-mail. More pictures of the e-library here and here.
The 198sq m (2,131sq ft) e-library, which was proposed by Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou, is a collaborative effort between the Ever Rich Duty Free Shop and the government-funded Institute for Information Industry. An Ever Rich spokesperson told DFNIonline that, “Since EverRich Duty Free is dedicated to promoting Taiwanese culture, it came up with the idea of integrating the library concept with the technology industry which is the pride of Taiwan.” As a tribute to Taiwan’s high tech pedigree, the e-Library’s facade is designed from an amalgamation of circuit boards. According to DFNIonline, a further two e-libraries have been built in the airport’s T1 north wing (area A) and south wing (area B) along with one at Kaohsiung International airport.
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Southwest offers free access to iTunes via wireless in-flight portal
28 February 2011 | Southwest Airlines has partnered with Apple to create an entertainment download store called InAirtainment. To be used in the air or on the ground, the service takes the form of a website through which people can browse for music, movies or TV shows hosted on iTunes. Southwest says is it is receiving a small royalty from each download, which may be 5 percent if the airline is enrolled in the normal iTunes affiliate program. To promote InAirtainment, Southwest currently offers a playlist of 20 free songs from acts “about to fly” in their careers.
Asked whether the main goal for the InAirtainment service is to provide Southwest passengers with an alternative for in-flight entertainment, a Southwest spokeswoman said that “Our goal is to make southwest.com an one stop shop for all travel needs. Besides the option to book flights, car rentals, and hotels on our site, customers now have access to InAirtainment where they can download all their music and movies before they depart. Southwest.com is also available free of charge for customers on board our Wi-Fi-enabled aircraft. InAirtainment is a page within southwest.com, so customers are able to access the content free of charge in-flight.”
Gogo Video
The option to access iTunes for free on Southwest flights may be a sign of new in-flight entertainment options to come. For example, in-flight Wi-Fi provider Aircell last year announced plans for an in-flight video downloading service, called Gogo Video. This service would give passengers on Gogo-equipped aircraft (which number nearly 1,100 in North America) the ability to download movie and television content from an onboard server to their laptops via a portal similar to iTunes. According to in-flight entertainment expert Mary Kirby, Gogo however has delayed the introduction of the video service in order to further perfect it.
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Ad campaigns at airports offer travellers free content by scanning large barcodes
20 November 2010 | Current advertising campaigns at London Gatwick Airport and Denver International Airport use novel ways to bring otherwise static billboards to live. As the vast majority of travellers carry a smartphone or advanced cellphone with a camera, Gatwick Airport and FirstBank at Denver Airport use giant 2D and 3D codes to turn the billboards into digitally interactive objects scannable by mobile phones.
‘Stickybits’ at Gatwick Airport
Gatwick Airport is currently undergoing a GBP 1 billion investment programme to modernise its facilities. As most of the work takes place out of sight, hidden behind hoardings, the airport has placed so-called ‘stickybits’, barcodes printed on stickers, on hoardings around the airport. Passengers who have also downloaded the free ‘stickybits’ application for iPhones and Android phones can scan the barcoded stickers to receive a short video and some photographs detailing the changes taking place at the airport. The audiovisual tour is also linked to location-based social networks such as Foursquare, Gowalla and Facebook Places, so passengers that check-in virtually also can get an audio visual peek behind the scenes.
Gatwick is kicking the tour off at its North Terminal. When travellers scan the barcodes at the hoarding, a video shows how the new shuttle route between the North and South Terminals was built. Over the coming months more large barcodes will be appearing around the airport, which together will form a ‘Gatwick Discovery Tour’. Locations will be changed and the content refreshed to keep the tour interesting and up-to-date. Says Samantha Holgate, Gatwick’s Head of Airport Communicationsm “The airport is going through a major programme of improvement designed to benefit the passengers but most of this work is hidden behind standard construction hoarding. Many of our passengers are social media savvy so introducing stickybits is a great way to interact with them.” Gatwick is the first company in the UK to use the stickybits. More pictures of the barcode campaign can be found here.
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Qantas unveils iPhone app for frequent flyers, adds augmented reality
21 October 2010 | As the number of airlines that have rolled out applications (apps) for mobile devices such as the iPhone grows (around 30 at last count), the types of apps are becoming more specific. Qantas has just released a dedicated app for the seven million members of its ‘Frequent Flyer’ loyalty program. Standard elements of the carrier’s new iPhone app include access to current point balance and personal profile, features which are also offered by several ‘general’ apps of other airlines.
Earn and burn
The main focus of the Qantas Frequent Flyer app, however, is to show members the wide range of earn and burn options of the loyalty program. In the past years, Qantas has been turning its frequent flyer program into one with a broader appeal, and in 2009 teamed up with Australia’s largest retailer Woolworths to combine their loyalty programs. Qantas’ objective is to turn Frequent Flyer into Australia’s dominant loyalty program, much like Aeroplan in Canada. Aeroplan, which manages Air Canada’s loyalty program, was spun off from the airline via an IPO in 2005, and today Aeroplan’s market value is more than three times that of Air Canada.
Points goals
The Qantas Frequent Flyer app has a number of interesting features. Users can ‘flip’ easily – ‘iTunes style’ – through award flights (including an estimate of the surcharges, fees and taxes payable) and through a large catalogue of non-flight awards, to find out how many points they need. Based on their preferred flights or goods, members can set themselves points goals, track progress, and get notified once their goal has been achieved. It is also possible to let others know via Facebook and Twitter when a points goal has been reached. Read full article »
Airlines increasingly make iPads available to passengers in the air and on the ground
14 October 2010 | Latvian national airline airBaltic is the first airline in Europe (and the second airline worldwide) to introduce the Apple iPad for inflight entertainment. The airline has teamed up with Bluebox Avionics to make the devices available to airBaltic passengers in the coming winter season, which starts in December 2010. The fee to rent an iPad inflight is expected to be a bit more (EUR9) than the amount airBaltic currently charges for its portable IFE device. The announcement by airBaltic is the latest in a series of introductions by airlines of the popular iPad device which was launched in January 2010. An overview of the initiatives sofar.
Jetstar
In June 2010, Qantas low-cost subsidiary Jetstar became the first airline in the world to offer the iPad for rent in a month-long trial on the Melbourne-Gold Coast and Melbourne-Cairns routes. Passengers could rent the device for AUD10 (USD8.50, EUR7.00) for the duration of the flight. The carrier at that time said it had bought several hundred iPad devices, with thirty units available on each test aircraft. Jetstar recently revealed the test was a success and that it is negotiating with Apple for ”thousands” of the devices for its fleet. The carrier is reportedly planning to begin roll-out of the device on 55 aircraft later this month and says that, based on the popularity of the trial, the number of iPads allocated to each aircraft has substantially increased.
Malaysia Airlines
According to Flight International, Malaysia Airlines (MAS) also plans to introduce iPads onboardwithin the next six months. The carrier plans to initially introduce iPads on its A330s, which only offer main-screen entertainment, and MAS is also considering bringing iPads on board some of its B737s. Despite being a full-service carrier, MAS has not ruled out charging passengers a fee or deposit to use the iPad. One option could be for passengers to book an iPad with their ticket purchase. Read full article »
Cathay Pacific’s ‘The Cabin’ lounge caters to the connected traveller
29 September 2010 | Cathay Pacific is about to open ‘The Cabin’, its latest departure lounge at Hong Kong International Airport. Designed by Foster + Partners, the concept of the 1,300-square-metre space builds on several current consumer trends, such as connectivity, individuality and a healthy lifestyle. The Cabin is separated into five different zones – The Reception, The IT Zone, The Deli, The Health Bar, and The Relaxing Zone – and introduces some innovative seating and dining concepts. Furthermore, lounge guests can use one of 21 Wi-Fi enabled iPads, pre-loaded with apps such as newspapers, magazines and games, and unlimited Wi-Fi internet is accessible through the lounge, without the need for a password.
Cathay Solus Chair
A main feature of The Cabin is the new ‘Cathay Solus Chair’ – a futuristic bubble-like chair, which provides each person with a private space to eat, work and relax. The purpose-built unit consists of a small built-in table, coat hanger and power outlet, and each chair is hand finished by Poltrona Frau in Italy. In total there are 41 Solus chairs available in the entire lounge.
IT Zone
The IT Zone consists of two sections: the main area and an IT room. The main area is equipped with 21 Solus Chairs, 21 iPads and a ‘Techno Bar’ with 6 iMacs, as well as plenty of power outlets. The entire back wall is made of glass with LED lighting that pulsates every half an hour to help passengers keep track of the time. The IT room has 11 private workspaces, each equipped with an iMac, a printer and a telephone. The walls are lined with either reflective white glass or sound-absorbent leather panels. There is also a meeting room with videoconferencing facilities. Read full article »
