Airport Beacons 2.0

You've heard of Bluetooth, but what are AltBeacon, iBeacon and Eddystone? They are all part of what is called proximity technology, and they are working hard to make your airport experience less painful and more connected. But just what are beacons and how they impact your travel experience?

You could call Steve Statler a beaconologist. Formerly of Qualcomm, Steve was part of the team responsible Gimbal, one of the industry's leading Bluetooth beacons.

Steve's new book, Beacon Technologies: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Beacosystem, is creating buzz and interest in the transportation technology community, so we thought we'd bring you some highlights.

Our digital and physical worlds collide - beacons

We’re witnessing the collision of our digital and physical worlds at the airport terminal as Bluetooth beacons begin to change customer experiences at venues around the globe. So what are the implications for airports? By Steve Statler, author of ‘Beacon Technologies: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Beacosystem’ [read the full article on Air Transport IT Review].

Beacons at San Diego International Airport

San Diego International Airport has over a long period of time worked to integrate the infrastructure into the airport and has deployed 300 beacons around the campus, highlighting different areas for deployment; check-ins, retail, parking... [read and listen to the interview on Proxbook].

Beacon pioneers "light up the way" - Hong Kong Airport, Miami Airport, Nice Airport

Beacons are lighting up the way for better airport operations and passenger experiences, as a building block in the Internet of Things. Many airlines and airports have been forging ahead with SITA to harness the potential... [read the full article on Air Transport IT Review].

10 Airports Using Beacons to Take Passenger Experience to the Next Level - Bologna Airport, Hamad Airport, Hong Kong Airport, London Heathrow Airport, Miami Airport, Mumbai Chhatrapati Airport, New York JFK Airport, Nice Airport, San Francisco Airport, Tokyo Haneda Airport

Given the huge promise of iBeacon technology, leading airports across the globe have already invested in the technology. We have compiled a list of 10 airports that are leveraging iBeacon technology in order to deliver enhanced passenger experiences and improve operational efficiency... [read the full article on Beaconstac].

More from Steve Statler on The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Beacosystem

The book

The book trailer

The website

The podcast


Related resources
Unacast Writes About Beacon Networks in the Definitive Book on Proximity - Unacast
Beacons, Beacons, Everywhere: Airports - RadiumONE
Aeroporti di Roma CEO turns focus to self-service, beacons and mobile wayfinding - Future Travel Experience
Chiltern Railways to pilot Bluetooth beacon mobile payments - The Drum
Airports and Airlines Using Beacon Tech to Send Location-Based Messages to Travelers - Samsung Insights
Beacon Technology will transform how we travel through airports - Skift

Resources from IHateTaxis
The Burning Man 747 - IHateTaxis blog
Brexit and the impact on travel: news stories - IHateTaxis blog
Ray the Parking Robot Valet (at Dusseldorf Airport) - IHateTaxis blog
Heathrow's Slick New Transport Screens - IHateTaxis blog

Doha Hamad International Airport opening (XOZ)

Doha from above - now the city has 2 airports

Today marks the planned opening of Qatar's newest airport, Doha Hamad International Airport (XOZ).

The new Doha Hamad International Airport (XOZ) is slated to eventually replace the existing but old and significantly over-capacity, Doha International Airport (DOH).

Phased opening

The opening of Doha Hamad International Airport (XOD) will be phased. Doha Hamad Airport will have the capacity to handle 29 million passengers a year upon opening, and 50 million upon completion. The first phase is set to begin on April 30, 2014.

Airlines slated to move in the the initial phase include Air Arabia, Air India Express, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Flydubai, Iran Air, Nepal Airlines, Pakistan International Airlines, Syrian Air, and Yemenia.

Cities with flights to the new XOZ Airport, when the first phase of airlines move, will include Chittagong, Damascus, Dhaka, Dubai, Karachi, Kathmandu, Kochi, Kozhikode, Kuwait, Lahore, Mumbai, Mangalore, Peshawar, Sana'a, Sharjah, Shiraz, Sylhet and Thiruvanathapuram.

Qatar Airways and other airlines plan to move by June 2014.

Transportation

The new Doha airport has been built 5 kilometres (3.1 miles) east of the current airport (aka: old Doha airport).

Doha Hamad Airport taxi services are anticipated to be readily available upon opening.

• Read about Doha Hamad Airport taxi rates, unofficial taxis and taxi scams - including the taxi fare from Doha Hamad Airport

There is a Doha Hamad Airport shuttle bus that operates to/from the existing Doha International Airport, which will be helpful if you have connecting flights, but split between the old and new airports.

• Read more about the Doha inter-airport shuttle bus

Bus service to the new Doha airport is provided by public Karwa buses that pass through the airport.

• Read more about Doha Hamad Airport public bus service

Doha Hamad Airport car rental services will be available upon opening.

• Read more about Doha Hamad Airport car rental services

There is no Doha Hamad Airport train.

The next phase



The Doha skyline

Qatar Airways and other airlines are scheduled to move by June 2014. As there have been numerous delays leading up to phase one, the actual timing for a full transition should be considered tentative.

Tip: if you have a flight to Doha coming up, be sure to check and re-confirm your arrival and departure airport(s).

The new Doha Hamad International Airpot (XOZ) has also been referred to as HIA, New Doha International Airport, NDIA, New Doha Airport, New Qatar Airport, Doha Hamad Airport, Hamad Airport and XOD Airport. Note that HIA is not an official airport code.

More from IHateTaxis:

• Doha Hamad Airport hotel shuttles
• Doha Hamad Airport services and amenities
• All Doha Hamad Airport transfer options (the new airport)
• All Doha International Airport transfer options (the old airport)

Related reading:

• New airport all set for 'inaugural landing'
• Doha's Hamad International Airport to open next week (video)
• New Hamad Airport to host local and international art (photos)
• Work begins on new expressway linking south of Doha to new airport
• Airbus A350 visits Hamad International Airport
• Opening of Qatar's brand new mega-airport delayed at last minute... what happened? (2013)