Navigating The Airport: Understanding Screen Boards

Airport flight boards, also known as interactive digital signage, are electronic display screens that provide essential information to passengers at airports. These screens are strategically placed throughout the airport, near check-in counters, security areas, and departure gates, to ensure passengers are well-informed about their flights. The information displayed includes flight numbers, airline names, destinations, departure and arrival times, gate numbers, and potential delays or cancellations. These screens are crucial for reducing passenger anxiety, enhancing their overall travel experience, and improving airport operations.

Real-time updates

• Flight Information Display Systems (FIDS): FIDS are computer systems that control mechanical or electronic display boards in airports, providing real-time flight information such as arrivals, departures, gate numbers, and delays. Large airports often have multiple sets of FIDS, with specific displays for each terminal or major airline.
• Data Sources: FIDS obtain data from various sources, including the Airport Operational Database (AODB), Resource Management System, Public Transportation Data Feeds, and Alert & Warning Systems. This ensures that the information displayed is accurate and up-to-date.
• Real-Time Updates: FIDS provide live updates on flight details such as arrivals, departures, gate changes, and delays. This helps passengers stay informed and reduces confusion at the airport.
• Customizable and Interactive Content: Airports can customize FIDS to display information in different languages or formats. Some systems also incorporate touchscreens, allowing passengers to interactively check flight information, navigate the airport, or even check-in.
• Clear and Durable Displays: FIDS utilize high-resolution screens that are easy to read from a distance, even in crowded areas. These screens are designed to be durable and require minimal maintenance, ensuring a long-lasting and reliable performance.
• Easy Integration: FIDS seamlessly integrate with airport management and airline systems, ensuring consistent and up-to-date flight information across all platforms. This integration also allows for the display of information for other transport modes, such as trains and buses.
• Energy Efficiency and Remote Management: FIDS are energy-efficient, incorporating features like automatic brightness adjustment. They can be remotely managed, allowing airport staff to update content and monitor the system from a central location, simplifying maintenance procedures.
• Wayfinding Displays: In addition to flight information, FIDS can include wayfinding displays that help passengers navigate the airport. These displays provide directions to gates, amenities, and baggage claim areas, making it easier for travellers, especially first-time visitors, to find their way around the airport.
• Non-Airline Information: FIDS can also display non-airline-related information, such as news, weather forecasts, and entertainment programs. This helps engage and inform passengers during their wait at the airport.

Customizable and interactive content

The customizability of Flight Information Display Systems (FIDS) is a key feature that makes them an integral part of modern airports. FIDS can be tailored to display information in different languages or formats, catering to a diverse range of passengers. This flexibility ensures that airports can provide clear and concise directions and travel updates to a global audience, reducing confusion and enhancing the overall travel experience.

Furthermore, FIDS often incorporate touchscreen capabilities, elevating the level of interactivity. These interactive displays empower passengers to take charge of their journey by allowing them to check flight statuses, navigate the airport, and even complete check-in procedures. The inclusion of touchscreens transforms the FIDS into a dynamic tool that enables self-service and provides a more immersive and engaging experience for travellers.

The customizability of FIDS extends beyond language and format options. Airports can also customize the content displayed on these screens to match their unique needs and those of their passengers. For instance, during the system configuration phase, airports can choose to organize FIDS data by city, time, or airline names. This flexibility ensures that FIDS can be tailored to the specific requirements of each airport and its passengers, improving wayfinding and overall satisfaction.

In addition to standard flight information, FIDS can be utilized to share a range of interactive and engaging content. Airports can incorporate infotainment elements such as local attractions, weather updates, news, trivia, and fun facts. This blend of information and entertainment helps to reduce passenger anxiety, improve satisfaction, and create a more enjoyable airport experience.

The customizability and interactivity of FIDS are not limited to the visual realm. These systems also support multiple media formats, including audio and video content. By leveraging this capability, airports can deliver critical information and engaging entertainment to a diverse audience, ensuring that all passengers can access the information they need in a format that suits their preferences and needs.

Clear and durable displays

The high-resolution screens are designed to be easy to read, even from a distance in crowded areas. They are built to be durable and handle constant use with minimal maintenance. The displays offer clear and concise information, such as flight numbers, airline names, destinations, departure and arrival times, gate numbers, and flight statuses.

The use of digital signage for these displays enhances the overall passenger experience and reduces anxiety by providing dynamic and engaging updates. The displays can also be customized to show information in different languages or formats, catering to a diverse range of travellers.

Additionally, the displays can be remotely managed, allowing airport staff to update content and monitor the system from a central location, ensuring that travellers receive accurate and timely updates. The durability and ease of management of these displays contribute to their effectiveness in providing critical information to passengers and improving the efficiency of airport operations.

With their clear and durable displays, FIDS plays a vital role in enhancing the travel experience, offering efficiency and convenience to both travellers and airport personnel.

Easy integration

Flight Information Display Systems (FIDS) are easily integrated into airport systems, connecting seamlessly with airport management and airline systems. This ensures that consistent and up-to-date flight information is displayed. FIDS can be integrated with other airport processes, providing passengers with accurate and consistent flight details across all platforms.

FIDS software enables the automation and scheduling of content management on airport information boards. Airport system operators can utilize a centralized Content Management System (CMS) to update, organize, create playlists, and even create flashing alerts for different types of screen content. The data sources it gathers include the Airport Operational Database (AODB), Resource Management System, Public Transportation Data Feeds, and Alert & Warning Systems.

FIDS can also be integrated with other transport modes, such as trains and buses, providing all travel information in one place. This is especially useful in airports that serve as transport hubs, with easy connections to other forms of transportation.

Additionally, FIDS are scalable and can be integrated into airports of any size, from small terminals to large hubs. They offer flexible design options, including wall-mounted or freestanding displays to fit the available space.

With easy integration, FIDS improves the overall efficiency of airport operations, enhances the passenger experience, and provides a seamless flow of critical flight information.

Scalable and flexible

Flight Information Display Systems (FIDS) are highly scalable and flexible, making them adaptable to airports of all sizes. Whether a small terminal or a large aviation hub, FIDS can be tailored to meet the specific needs of the airport and its passengers. This scalability ensures that real-time flight information is efficiently conveyed to travellers, enhancing their overall airport experience.

The flexibility of FIDS is evident in their ability to be customised and integrated with various systems. Airports can modify the content displayed on FIDS to cater to different languages or formats, ensuring accessibility for a diverse range of travellers. Additionally, FIDS can be seamlessly integrated with airport management and airline systems, providing passengers with consistent and up-to-date flight details. This integration capability extends to other transport modes as well, allowing FIDS to display information for trains and buses alongside flight details.

The design of FIDS also showcases their flexibility. Airports have the option to choose between wall-mounted or freestanding displays based on the available space in their terminals. This adaptability ensures that FIDS can be seamlessly incorporated into the airport's infrastructure without disrupting the flow of passenger traffic.

Furthermore, FIDS offer flexibility in terms of interactivity. While traditional FIDS provide essential flight information, some systems incorporate touchscreens, enabling passengers to actively engage with the displays. These interactive features allow travellers to check flight statuses, navigate the airport, and even check-in, elevating the level of personalisation and interactivity during their journey.

The scalability and flexibility of FIDS are crucial in ensuring that airports of all sizes can effectively manage and display flight information. By adapting to the unique needs of each airport, FIDS play a vital role in improving passenger experiences, streamlining airport operations, and contributing to the overall efficiency of the aviation industry.

Frequently asked questions