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“Digital and web technology is an area of increasing interest for us across all of our airports and we want to stay ahead of the curve“ |
Andrew Harrison Commercial Director Manchester Airport |
UK. Manchester Airport has launched a free iPhone application aimed at helping passengers to discover and better use its facilities.
The application features real-time flight information for arrivals and departures, the ability to view boarding status, and the option to save specific flights to a personal list.
Users can also view Google maps of the terminal buildings, get directions to the airport and, once inside, interactive maps will help passengers find the location of shops, cafés and other facilities.
The application also enables iPhone users to save time and money by pre-booking car parking at the airport.
Manchester Airport Commercial Director Andrew Harrison said: “Having recently launched our travel extras brand, The Travel Extras Store, we wanted to continue to develop all of our supporting applications around it and that will continue with the iPhone app.
“We want to give our customers the services they require in a way that suits them. Digital and web technology is an area of increasing interest for us across all of our airports and we want to stay ahead of the curve.”
The application has been developed in conjunction with the airport’s digital support agency, KMP Digitata.
KMP Client Services Director Rhodri Edwards said: “We didn’t want to make just another app or launch one just for the sake of it. Just as we have assisted on the airport’s Twitter stream, it has to have a purpose.
“With live flight information and way-finding available, we feel we’ve achieved that. The next step is to see if passengers can begin to use the app to book those services they want from the airport.”
Following this first-phase launch, the airport hopes to expand the application’s functionality, to enable all holiday extras to be booked through it. The application will also support the recently launched Travel Extras Store.
As reported the Travel Extras Store features an Escape Lounge in Terminal 1, car parking, private jet hire, luggage tracking, overseas assistance, car rental, hotel booking, flights, holidays, and a package called ‘park, stay & fly’ which will include a hotel stay and car parking the night before travel.
For information on the application, visit www.manchesterairport.co.uk/iphone . The application can also be downloaded directly from the iTunes store by searching under Manchester Airport.
Click on the icon above to view a video of the new Escape Lounge concept at Manchester Airport |
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In related news, Manchester Airport will host the first-ever Airport Food & Beverage Conference and Awards, run by The Moodie Report on 6 and 7 September 2010.
The event, which will begin with an informal opening cocktail on 5 September, is themed “˜Championing Innovation and Excellence in Airport Food & Beverage’.
Confirmed speakers to date include Manchester Airport CEO Andrew Cornish; Rick Blatstein, President and Founder of acclaimed independent US airport F&B operator OTG Management; SSP Chief Executive Andrew Lynch; and HMSHost President and CEO Elie W. Maalouf.
They will be joined by Manfred Funke, Manager of Hotel, Retail and Catering at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol; Manchester Airport Commercial Director Andrew Harrison; Doug Tomlinson, CEO of US airport wine bar specialists Vino Volo; Rajeev Panjwani, Managing Director of India’s leading F&B concessionaire Travel Food Services; Peter Martin, Founder, Peach Factory and Peach Report; and David King, Director of The David King Partnership.
