Boosting Airport Revenue: Strategies For Success

Airports can increase their revenue in a number of ways, from partnering with local transport services to offering premium lounge access and integrating their ecommerce platform with airport restaurants and bars. Airports can also use new technologies to provide passengers with precise gate-to-gate predictions, and increase aeronautical revenue by increasing routes and airline partnerships.

Pre-ordering and pre-booking

Airports can increase revenue by encouraging passengers to pre-order and pre-book services. This strategy has been used across hospitality and retail for many years, and the aviation industry has also started to engage with pre-travel revenue.

Passengers can pre-order food and drinks before they arrive at the airport or from their table, with the option for collection or delivery. This increases revenue and improves the passenger experience, as well as providing an opportunity to collect valuable passenger data to optimise future offerings. Airports can also partner with local transport services to offer integrated booking options for taxis, shuttles, and car hires, ensuring seamless connectivity and additional income.

To further enhance the passenger experience, airports can provide precise gate-to-gate predictions, standardised onsite maps integrated with flight schedules, and passenger itineraries. This not only improves the travel experience but also encourages passengers to invest in additional services, such as premium lounge access, which can be pre-booked or purchased at the airport.

By implementing these pre-ordering and pre-booking strategies, airports can increase revenue, improve passenger satisfaction, and create a seamless travel experience.

Passenger data and information

Airports can increase revenue by collecting passenger data and using it to tailor future offerings. This can be done by integrating their e-commerce platform with airport restaurants, cafes and bars, allowing passengers to pre-order food and drinks. Airports can also use new technologies to provide passengers with precise gate-to-gate predictions, along with standardised onsite maps integrated with flight schedules, passenger itineraries and operational data. This will help passengers to plan their journey and increase their satisfaction.

Airports can also partner with local transport services to offer integrated booking options for taxis, shuttles and car hires, ensuring seamless connectivity and additional income. This strategy enables airports to continue generating revenue even when parking capacity is maximised.

Another way to increase revenue is to offer premium lounge access, which can be pre-booked or purchased at the airport via QR codes. Airports can further increase revenue by offering upsells such as a glass of champagne or additional hours for extended stays.

By collecting and using passenger data, airports can optimise their offerings and increase revenue generation opportunities. This integrated approach boosts revenue by aligning passenger satisfaction with strategic sales initiatives.

Food and beverage

Airports are increasingly turning to food and beverage (F&B) services to increase their revenue. In 2013, U.S. airports generated $587 million from food and beverage sales, or about 7.2% of non-aeronautical revenue.

The key to getting airport passengers to spend money is to ensure they are happy as they move through the terminal. Adding more attractive F&B options is not just more profitable for the airports themselves but also advantageous for surrounding retailers. A strong foodservice offering generally correlates with above-average retailer sales productivity levels and above-average rental values.

To make room for F&B services within the limited space of an airport, retail space has been reduced. In the last 10 years, foodservice operators have doubled the amount of floor space they occupy within shopping centres worldwide from 7% to 15%.

Airport retail is also evolving from chocolate bars and magazines to designer clothing and locally produced goods, transforming the terminal into a "travel megastore".

Ground transport

Airports can increase revenue by partnering with local transport services and offering integrated booking options for taxis, shuttles, and car hires. This ensures seamless connectivity and additional income. Airports can also incentivise passengers to use ground transportation during peak parking times, helping to alleviate parking congestion. This strategy enables airports to continue generating revenue even when parking capacity is maximised, while maintaining high levels of passenger satisfaction.

Another way to increase revenue is by offering premium lounge access, which can be pre-booked or purchased at the airport via QR codes. Airports can further increase revenue by offering upsells such as a glass of champagne or additional hours for extended stays, catering to passengers seeking extra comfort and exclusivity.

Airports can also increase revenue by growing aeronautical revenue, increasing routes and airline partnerships, and passenger-related revenue. This can be achieved through the combination of dynamic MCTs and virtual interlining technology.

Additionally, airports can boost revenue generation by aligning passenger satisfaction with strategic sales initiatives. This can be done by integrating their ecommerce platform with airport restaurants, cafes, and bars, allowing passengers to pre-order food and drinks before they arrive at the airport or from their table, with the option for collection or delivery. Airports can also use this approach to collect valuable passenger data to tailor future offerings and optimise their offerings for future revenue generation opportunities.

Finally, with an increased emphasis on safety, security, and organisation, airports can capitalise by offering passengers useful data and information to help them plan their journeys. Airports can take advantage of new technologies to provide passengers with precise gate-to-gate predictions, along with standardised onsite maps integrated with flight schedules, passenger itineraries, and operational data.

Lounges

Airports can increase revenue by focusing on their lounges. Premium lounge access can be pre-booked or purchased at the airport via QR codes, enhancing passenger comfort and generating revenue. Airports can also offer upsells such as a glass of champagne or additional hours for extended stays, catering to passengers seeking extra comfort and exclusivity.

Passengers appreciate the convenience of pre-ordering food and drinks before they arrive at the airport or from their table, with the option for collection or delivery. This increases revenue through an elevated passenger experience and provides the airport with valuable passenger data to optimise future offerings.

Airports can also take advantage of new technologies to provide passengers with precise gate-to-gate predictions, along with standardised onsite maps integrated with flight schedules, passenger itineraries and operational data. This can help to build trust and confidence with passengers, leading to increased revenue.

By putting the customer front and centre, airports can construct consistent solutions throughout the travel chain, increasing revenue generation opportunities.

Frequently asked questions