Comments on: Why Don’t Airports Have Movie Theatres?

By: Emily

Emily — Mon, 31 May 2010 19:51:44 +0000

Movie theatres in airports is just not as attractive as other concession because it’s too time consuming, although, while I can’t think of a single domestic (USA) airport that a theatre would be a good thing, there maybe a few international airports where it could work. For example, London Heathrow has a 4 hour prior to departure checkin requirement for international departures as well as a few others. That’s a long time to sit around IF you happen to get real lucky and get through security quickly. If a theatre is showing full feature movies, its just too much time, maybe short flicks or cartoons to keep the kids occupied would be something to consider.

By: Joey Tanny

Joey Tanny — Tue, 11 May 2010 18:58:16 +0000

We got this comment in a discussion from a friend on Linkedin…

“ In my role an Aviation specialist for a major technology Company, I work with airports and airlines across Europe to try and extract every possible cent / penny, either through alternative / ancillary revenue sources or through efficiency gains from their technology investments. And certainly, most airports have the technology infrastructure in place to support the cinema / video viewing area, many have flexible “Property” structures that would allow allocation of space to cinemas, so I think it is fair to assume that if airports wanted cinemas, they could implement them — and many of the airports that I have talked to have considered them!

Implementation of cinemas (not video viewing rooms) won’t happen in Europe because it happened 5 years ago in the US. It will happen where cinemas fit into the specific airports business model, taking into account the airport’s “Customers” and the way in which each airport manages the journey of passengers from curb to gate. (Have a look at the difference between LHR T5 and AMS Schiphol — Security up front at T5 means that the prospective cinema patrons are passengers en-route, Security at the back at Schiphol means that patrons include anyone in the airport catchment area.)

If we were to build a model for the Airport of the future, “Entertainment” would be one of the categories that we would incorporate. Cinema would be in the category, but so would Casinos, Video down loads, games areas, personal entertainment / work pods, etc etc

There is not just one cinema model either that could work. So what we need for our “Airport of the Future” is a few simple models – giving some baseline costs, a ROI model and an operating model so they can go into the pot. As the Airport defines its vision it can then go to the “Airport of the Future” pot, look at the “Entertainment” options and then select the ones that fit their vision / business model. Cinemas might just fit in some cases. “

By: Tom Emmerling

Tom Emmerling — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 20:03:07 +0000

at first I tought that might be a good idea, but if I look at my travel schedule, I have at least one domestic trip a month, I never would have had enough time for a movie.

How about a casino? I could see people actually booking longer connecting times to make room for a little money-loosing fun.

By: AeroKate

AeroKate — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 00:42:00 +0000

By: design{frolic}

design{frolic} — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 22:39:52 +0000

Changi Airport in Singapore boosts some major conveniences with a theatre, lounge: showers, gym & hairdressing, restaurants and an extensive shopping district.

I spent a rather lengthy layover there which seemed to fly by with all the great amenities they offered.

Check it out:
http://www.changiairport.com/changi/en/index.html

By: Olivia_Collette

Olivia_Collette — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 21:43:05 +0000

RT @Sparksheet: Why don't airports have movie theaters? http://bit.ly/biNV02 Great question by @spafax_arjun

By: JCDecaux Airport

JCDecaux Airport — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 19:21:18 +0000

RT @Sparksheet: Why don't airports have movie theaters? http://bit.ly/biNV02 Great question by @spafax_arjun