Waiting in line takes less time at the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG).
Since last summer, CVG has been using the BlipTrack analysis platform and sensors that collect non-personal data from passenger’s mobile phones and tablets to monitor queue and wait times at the airport’s security process area. In cooperation with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), CVG was the first airport in the United States to utilize the Danish-made technology to understand and improve the traveler’s experience and to better plan and allocate mutual resources.
The solution, implemented by BLIP Systems’ airport partner Lockheed Martin, has also allowed the airport to display TSA pre-check queue wait times on information screens and the airport’s website.
“Our use of BLIP Systems’ technology has proven quite successful. BlipTrack has enabled CVG to continue our close collaboration with TSA to ensure that the passenger experience at CVG is one that enhances the journey experience not detracts from it. Our significant investments in our facilities and BlipTrack ensures we use them as effectively and efficiently as possible,” said Candace McGraw, CEO at CVG. “Our customers have come to appreciate the quick accessibility to real-time information via our monitors and website, seeing that queue times are consistently well managed. Behind the scenes oversight of dashboard applications and established key performance indicators confirm a high-performance and easing of wait times in queues.”
CVG initially partnered with Purdue University in 2011 for technology proof-of-concept testing prior to research and acquisition of BlipTrack. The Purdue team returned in 2014 to quantify the security wait time improvements in the reconfigured terminal and the impact of the new pre-check lanes:
- In comparison to standard wait times in 2011, wait times were reduced by nearly 4¼ minutes in 2014.
- In comparison to standard screening wait times, TSA pre-check saved more than 26,000 person hours in wait time over Nov-Dec 2014.
“As air travel is continually on the rise and airports often have limited space to expand, the pressure on border authorities to balance security with a good passenger experience grows. This leads to significant bottlenecks, with delays that frustrate travelers. Being able to utilize performance data, enables a dynamic management of resources, reduces costs for all operational stakeholders, optimizes passenger satisfaction and ensures a first-class airport image,” said Peter Knudsen, CEO at BLIP Systems.
-Staff report