This new industry sudy by Amadeus also identifies consumer frustrations with today‟s airport experience, and maps how airports will reinvent themselves up to 2025 with new operating models, driving revenues beyond traditional aviation income.

The study follows “Navigating the Airport of Tomorrow”, which was launched in 2011 and explains how travellers would like the airport experience to evolve and how the airport ecosystem will be re-invented through partnership

According to the study, airports could include these new models:

• Mini-city: A self-sufficient entity offering unique retail, entertainment, dining, work spaces and accommodation. It may even grow its own food and generate its energy needs onsite.

• City extension: Tightly integrated into the local city the airport will reflect the best of local culture, history and cuisine.

• Shopping mall: Airport shopping, leisure and entertainment facilities on par and even beyond those found in destinations and available to non-flying customers; 15% of travellers surveyed thought this model would be predominant by 2025.

• Walkway concept: In this scenario many of the current airport processes are performed remotely by the passenger, at home or in a separate virtual terminal.

• Bus station concept: At the low cost end of the spectrum lies the “bus station” model, a no-frills atmosphere where speed and efficiency are key.

The report provides a comprehensive overview of the most advanced developments at airports today with 11 airport case studies including Incheon, Singapore Changi, London Gatwick, Berlin Tegel and New York JFK.

It also looks ahead to travel 20 years from now to paint a realistic picture of how emerging technologies and social trends will lead to new operating models that will re- invent the traveller experience.

Julia Sattel, Amadeus’ Senior VP Airline IT, said a wide range of macro-trends including increasing traveller demands, new technologies and the immediate requirement for the industry to create new revenue streams were driving the need for a fundamental rethink of the airport ecosystem.

“Imagine an airport where the retail experience is so impressive you choose to shop there without even flying; or using an in-flight app to make purchases you can pick up once you’ve landed. It’s an exciting future but airports, airlines and the whole eco-system need to make co-operative decisions to unlock this potential.”

Added Rohit Talwar, CEO of Fast Future Research and the report’s co-author, “Based on the research in this report we can expect the airport eco-system to change dramatically over the next 20 years as players accelerate their pursuit of new sources of revenue – such as retail, dining, leisure and real estate.”

* Download a copy of  “Reinventing the Airport Ecosystem‟ report.