Airport Experience® News - Retail & Amenities Issue 2023

Youth-Themed Offerings At Haneda, Istanbul Whether it’s specific to gaming or space more generally tailored toward younger travelers, DXB is hardly alone. Youth themed lounges – or at least incorporating them into traditional lounges – are starting to take off. Al l Nippon Airways , in 2017 incorporated the “Star Wars ANA Kids Lounge” inside its existing ANA Lounge in the Main Building South inside Terminal 2 at Haneda Airport (HND) . The mini-lounge design was based off a Star Wars-themed ANA aircraft called “R2-D2,” one of a handful of Star Wars themed jets the airline operates, says Manami Watanabe, products & services, customer experience at ANA. It included a slide, bench cushions, picture books and other items and the floor is covered with mats to let youngsters play in a safe environment. More recently, in early 2022, IGA Airport Operations , which operates Istanbul Airport (IST) , checked a few of those boxes when it unveiled a new youth lounge catering to passengers 15 to 30 years in age. The space offers four hours of wi-fi for a nominal fee, access to a PlayStation, music, a large screen projector, table soccer, complimentary board games and occasional live performances. Tailored to Gen Z, the youth lounge provides users - typically traveling by themselves - with affordable snacks, coffees and comfortable-and-spaced seating. “Our primary goal for iGA Istanbul Airport is to carry this exceptional structure beyond the point of just being a journey, and transforming our guests’ journeys into memorable experiences,” said Ersin Inankul, who until May was the chief digital and commercial officer at the airport, when it opened the lounge. The airport has traditional lounges for both international and domestic passengers that are available 24 hours a day for those looking for a business class experience. But it worked with university students to get insights for the youth lounge, asking how young travelers could better use their time in airports, adds the IGA’s communications team in a written statement. It’s been well received and may be expanded. “We always seek ways to adopt new trends and customer feedback into our services,” according to the statement. “We also make sure to keep up to date with current events

Above, Left: Istanbul Airport sought feedback from younger travelers on how they felt they could better use airport dwell time. The result is a youth lounge targeting passengers aged 15-30.

reaction to the space and see a huge benefit in offering more experiential spaces.” Alison Macdonald, vice president of commercial management at Dubai Airports, adds she expects to see similar concepts popping up. “Strong generational and technology trends are reshaping demand, and guests now expect their travel journey to include more experiential and immersive experiences,” she says. “Perhaps we will see a hub-to-hub airport tournament in the future. It’s fantastic to see the smiling faces of our guests as they enjoy their time at Game Space.”

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