CORK Airport is using advanced technology to track passenger movements through the airport allowing them to respond to queues and let people know how long their wait time will be.
Today is the busiest day of the Christmas period with up to 7,500 passengers arriving or departing the airport.
They are amongst the 100,000 passengers on 750 flights that will travel through the airport this Christmas.
Kevin Cullinane, Head of Communications Cork Airport. Pic: Jim Coughlan
The technology used at the airport includes video analytics and using the bluetooth connections on phones to track passengers as they move through the airport. IT allows airport staff to respond quickly when queues form at the security screening point.
“Cork Airport has been working with Mexia, a leading IT integration supplier, throughout 2015 to enhance our award winning customer service and has installed a queue measurement solution at the passenger screening point,” Kevin Cullinane, Head of Communications at Cork Airport said.
“This displays to our passengers a live end-to-end queue time on a screen as they enter the security area. The system’s dashboard and reporting suite gives Cork Airport real time and historical data on passenger volumes, flows and queue times which enhances the airports operational planning capability, leading to better customer service and less queues.”
Christmas for most airports is one of the busiest times of the year. The Cork Airport terminal has been given a seasonal makeover to ensure that those arriving are greeted with a traditional festive welcome.
“It’s magical to see so many people welcoming family and friends home or to see the excitement for those travelling abroad to be reunited with loved ones.” Mr Cullinane said.
People collecting arriving passengers are reminded that there is free parking in the multi-storey for 15 minutes and that the forecourt should only be used to drop off departing passengers.
Mr Cullinane also reminded intending passengers not to wrap gifts before they travel as they may need to be inspected by Airport Security. Christmas Crackers are also not allowed on flights.
It is expected that today will be the busiest day prior to Christmas with a total capacity of 7,500 seats available. Saturday January 2 will be the busiest day after Christmas with a total capacity of 7,900 seats available.
On Christmas Eve the last departure from Cork is EI 724 to London Heathrow at 8pm and the last arrival is the EI 725 from London Heathrow at 11.15pm. Cork Airport will close from 11.45pm on Christmas Eve until 5am on St Stephen’s Day with the first departure being the 6am flight to Amsterdam and the first arrival being the flight from Manchester at 10.30am.