GERMANY. Hamburg Airport is trialling hand luggage trolleys from Danish developer Intelligent Track Systems (ITS).
The airport is the first in Germany to test the ‘intelligent’ trolley concept, which aims to make it easier for passengers to find their way at airports. 30 ITS trolleys are in operation at Hamburg Airport’s Passenger Pier (post security), free of charge, until mid-May.
As reported, ITS trolleys prove users with details of access routes, departure times, departure gates, product promotions and other relevant airport information. They also provide heat mapping data for retailers.
Hamburg Airport Head of Centre Management Lutz Deubel said: “It is our aspiration at Hamburg Airport to continually enhance our airport operations with technological innovations.
“We are therefore doubly thrilled to be able to give our passengers today an insight into the digital future of travel with the ‘intelligent’ cabin baggage trolleys from ITS.”
Deubel described the combination of cabin baggage trolley and infoscreen as “an optimal approach to satisfying the special service expectations of people travelling by air”.
“Thanks to the interactive site map, passengers always know where they are and can explore the airport at their leisure without losing track of their flight.”
ITS CEO Morten Pankoke commented: “Hamburg Airport will be the first in Germany to introduce the free-to-use intelligent trolley designed to assist airside passengers with wayfinding and shopping.
“The trolley’s heatmapping, survey and call-to-action capabilities have proven a success, helping elevate the airport experience. We at ITS are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with Hamburg Airport and look forward to delivering extraordinary service experiences.”
According to ITS, the touchscreens on the new trolleys are as easy to operate as a smartphone. Users do not need to log in. On the interactive site map, they can choose between shops, restaurants, gates and lavatories and be guided to chosen locations.
Clicking on a shop or restaurant allows them to browse what is on offer. By scanning their boarding pass QR code, users can also keep an eye on flight details. If the flight is moved to another gate or flight details change, a pop-up message will appear on the screen.
As reported, smart trolleys have helped boost engagement with retail and services at San Diego International, according to a report from the company and the airport. 
