London Luton airport has launched a range of new digital services to improve the passenger experience.
The new services include the introduction of unlimited 10mb/s wifi across the terminal building, the creation of a contactless F&B ordering system, and the opportunity to rent portable mobile chargers for the duration of a trip.
LLA Market Place has been set up to allow customers to pre-order food and collect it from the shops contact-free. Passengers can scan a QR code from the armrest of their seat in selected areas or visit marketplace.london-luton.co.uk on mobile devices. At the moment, the service applies to Smithfield and two Pret a Manger shops, but will be extended to more venues as restaurants reopen.
With passengers relying more than ever on mobile devices for travel documents, the airport has also launched a partnership with European phone charging network ChargedUp to make portable power banks available to rent from 11 stations throughout the terminal.
Travellers can either return these to the airport upon their return to the UK or automatically purchase the power bank after ten days. This is the first time that the service has been installed at any airport in the UK, and intends to help people abide by social distancing regulations as they will no longer need to crowd around power supply points in the terminal.
The airport has also installed digital kiosks to help passengers better navigate the terminal building and locate shops, restaurants and other services. Here, passengers can scan boarding passes for personalised flight details including boarding time, gate number and the quickest route to the gate, plus the average walking time. The system will also suggest recommendations on where to eat and shop, and provide details on the latest offers in the terminal.
Clare Armstrong, Head of Passenger Services at LLA, said:
“As well as improving the passenger experience, these new services are part of the airport’s efforts to keep passengers safe. Pre-ordering food via a mobile device reduces the number and duration of face-to-face interactions passengers need to make while ordering food. Our fast, unlimited wi-fi and portable chargers allow passengers to move about the terminal knowing that they can rely on their mobile device while travelling, while our digital kiosks provide all the information a passenger needs for their journey.”
