Norwegian technology company Fast Travel has teamed up with travel retail business development agency Blueprint to introduce a taxi booking platform designed to simplify the traveller experience.
The company, founded in 2021, unveiled what it calls a ‘fair-market solution’ to enhance the taxi booking process and ease congestion for travellers. Launched at Oslo Gardermoen Airport, the service also helps reduce wait times for taxi drivers, allowing them to increase their earnings.
Fast Travel CEO Ole Amundsen said: “There were several issues that needed addressing. Together with Oslo Airport, we wanted travellers to freely choose a taxi based on individual needs; optimise high-traffic areas near the terminal; and provide more visibility on CO2-friendly taxis thereby supporting Oslo’s carbon-neutrality goals.”
Powered by Taxi Management System (TMS), the all-digital platform offers passengers a variety of ride options. These include car sizes and luxury levels, as well as vehicle type, including electric, hybrid or hydrogen-powered cars. Passengers can customise their vehicle selection by choosing from features such as child seats, WiFi access, pet-friendly and other special requirements.
Blueprint Partner Thomas Kaneko Henningsen said: “It goes beyond simply queueing taxis depending on the booking to placing a deeper focus on passenger satisfaction, something airports are addressing increasingly through digital and artificial intelligence (AI) services. AI will redefine the airport customer journey in unforeseen ways.”
Citing a study by Statista, Blueprint predicted AI’s global market size to increase by +28% annually reaching US$826 billion by 2030, up from US$184 billion in 2024.
Amundsen added: “We are thrilled to be working with Blueprint. The dynamic business development think tank is renowned for their ability to scale businesses. The team’s commitment, multi-dimensional approach and appetite for challenging the status quo is a great fit for Fast Travel.”
Proof of concept
With customers given the option to detail their preferences through TMS, drivers can easily determine whether they can provide the passenger’s request and choose to accept or decline the booking.
This service has proven to be effective at Oslo Airport, reducing the long waiting times, streamlining the booking process and increasing overall satisfaction.
The proof-of-concept case at Oslo Airport highlights notable results deemed to be useful learnings for other airports:
- Passenger satisfaction scores are at 85%.
- Wait times for drivers have fallen by -80%.
- Roughly 60-65% of bookings requested zero-emission transport suggesting that environmental concerns of travellers are high.
- There has been a +26% increase in taxi bookings, thanks to an easy-to-use platform.
Avinor KAM Business Developer Jørn Roald Wille said: “At Oslo Airport, both travellers and taxi companies are very satisfied with this system, and the experiences we have gained here are so positive it should be considered for other major airports as well.”
A complete ecosystem
The partners describe the marketplace solution at Oslo Airport as “a complete ‘plug-and-play’ ecosystem” that customises bookings, traffic-flow management, back-office monitoring and online support for both passengers and taxi providers.
Building on TMS’s success, Fast Travel is planning to roll out the concept at other key travel hubs.
Kaneko-Henningsen said: “Fast Travel has done its homework by spending the past two years optimising the TMS concept in close collaboration with airport and hotel partners. We are impressed by the way the eco-friendly options have been so well highlighted – and by the uptake from passengers. It shows that when companies take the lead on these issues consumers are often very willing to follow.”
Fast Travels has also introduced the platform in hotels around Oslo Airport and at passenger terminals.
The platform allows travellers and guests to book from three hotels, including the Radisson Red OSL, Radisson Blu OSL and Park Inn by Radisson OSL. It enhances the service provided by the hotel reception by simplifying the taxi booking process.
Fast Travel can also implement small-footprint, customised machines in hotel lobbies that can be used as self-service booking devices by guests.
Kaneko-Henningsen added: “A wider range of digital and AI capabilities are required across the travel ecosystem. Companies like Fast Travel are at the forefront of how to leverage technology to the benefit of airport stakeholders and travelling customers.
“The industry needs passionate entrepreneurs like Ole Amundsen and innovative airports like Oslo, they make travelling more seamless, personal and relevant.” ✈
