Air travel companies are turning to augmented reality in order to improve the customer experience. Whether it be up in the air, or in the hectic terminals back on the ground, new uses for AR are helping companies push forward with big new ideas.
Gatwick, augmented
43.1 million passengers flocked through Gatwick Airport in 2016.
Gatwick has installed 2,000 battery-powered beacons. By creating a map of the terminals with the beacons, the airport will create a mobile AR app that passengers can use to better find their way around.
U.K. startup Pointr is working with Gatwick to make the project happen. Pointr developed the iBeacon technology being used in the airport, and seeks to create innovative location information technologies.
The first stage will just create a digital map for travellers in the terminals to reference, but eventually the project will look to direct customers by way of AR arrows to their destination.
Once again demonstrating how businesses look to benefit from augmented reality technology, Gatwick’s retailers and other third parties will be able to push marketing and special offers.
AR New Zealand
An airline is also working to make augmented reality the next big step in their plans for the future. Air New Zealand is exploring the use of Microsoft HoloLens technology on their flights. The AR glasses would be provided to attendants so they can better monitor passenger order details and important information for each customer.
The collaboration between Air New Zealand and Dimension Data is still in the beta.
