Our regular feature, brought to you in association with Duty Free Global from Ireland, celebrates memorable scenes, moments, launches and campaigns related to the global aviation and travel retail sphere.
USA. Our latest selection of images comes from Pittsburgh International Airport, where fast-growing video game entertainment concept Gameway this month opened its latest space. It marks the latest big step in the airport gaming lounge provider’s strategic expansion.
Travellers can jump online and play their favourite video games. The move also chimes with demand for entertainment as part of the service mix at airports, with paid-for beverages and food also part of the in-store offer.
“Our passengers travel across the US and the globe for business, leisure with family and friends, or alone, and we value their experience here,” said Pittsburgh Airport Vice President of Government and Stakeholder Strategy Tyler Laughlin.
“Because their reasons for travelling varies, our concessions programme matches up with that mix of interests, combining familiar favourites, fresh concepts and emerging trends, including experiential and interactive ways to enjoy their time at the airport. This is another example of how that mix continues to evolve.”
Including Gameway, the airport has added nearly 25 new stores and restaurants in the past two years, featuring a mix of local, national and global brands.
Gameway Co-Founder Jordan Walbridge said Pittsburgh’s “competitive spirit and love for gaming”, as well as the new terminal and goals for creating a sense of place for travellers, made it “a natural pairing.”
Walbridge and his wife Emma founded Gameway in 2017 to provide experiences for gamers of all ages, citing video games’ increasing popularity. According to Walbridge, nearly two-thirds of all Americans play video games every week.
The couple spotted an opportunity to make airports more entertaining, noting that wait times for flights could become a more enjoyable experience. In under a decade, that faith in the opportunity is paying off, with Pittsburgh becoming Gameway’s 13th US airport, joining other recently-added locations including Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Angeles, New York-JFK and Charlotte. ✈
