Retail in Asia

In Trends

Automated technology to boost airport passenger spending

Investments by airlines and airports in automated technology that helps passengers check-in, drop their bags and pass through security and immigration queues more quickly should pay off for airports in the form of higher retail spending, according to aviation technology group SITA.

SITA president of Asia-Pacific Ilya Gutlin said relaxed passengers were more open to shopping than those that had been stressed out before reaching the airport terminal.

Sydney Airport now tracks passengers via wifi, Bluetooth and heat mapping technology to help discover bottlenecks and even preferences for retail stores. Mr Gutlin said some airlines and airports overseas were now using Bluetooth "beacons" that would send targeted messages or commercial offers to customers that had an app installed on their mobile phones and were within 30 metres of the beacon.