Ever stayed for an airport stop? Your options are very limited, and other than getting some pretty excessive drinks, there’s usually not much to keep you busy.
There are some airports in the US that are actively trying to make air travel safer and more tolerable by using advanced technology. For security reasons, technology can obviously be a huge boon, but it can easily help keep you entertained during long hours. You can argue that it’s not the airlines’ responsibility to keep you entertained, but you certainly agree that it’s far more pleasant to sit next to a happy passenger than to be annoyed at poor travel conditions.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the 10 most hi-tech airports in the country in no particular order.
1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Located just south of the central business district in Atlanta, Georgia, Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is the busiest airport in the world. Among the many security-related technology implementations, one that stands out is the use of drone technology by airports.
Hartsfield-Jackson has attracted national attention for its use of drone technology to patrol runways to help identify potential hazards, debris or runway conditions that could affect safety and reduce runway traffic conditions. can accelerate. The airport has also used drone technology to identify potential construction improvements around airport terminals and parking areas.
2. George Bush Houston Intercontinental Airport
The sprawling transcontinental airport in Houston, Texas, a city that was slammed by Hurricane Harvey earlier this year, is one of the best US airports to spend your layover. Last Thanksgiving I had the pleasure of a three-hour stop at the United Airlines terminal in Houston, where I was immediately impressed by the airport’s implementation of tablet technology.
Almost every seating area around the terminal is equipped with a tablet computer and a charging station. Even the award-winning taqueria (run by renowned chef Roland Lorenzo) has a tablet in each seating area, from which to order food and drinks, and access to games and entertainment .
3. Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is the largest airport in the Upper Midwestern region of the United States. As one of the top 50 busiest airports in the world, MSP has recently started implementing a unique security technology created by Clear Biometrics.
With the help of Clear’s new technology, passengers will be able to speed up the identification process by scanning their thumb impression or iris in the machine. Although clear users will, of course, still have to go through metal detectors and bag checks, the process is still very fast.
4. Chicago O’Hare International Airport
As one of the busiest airports in the country, Chicago O’Hare International Airport has introduced several new features to reduce check-in speeds and improve cleanliness around even the airport’s most popular terminal. Implemented technological progress.
O’Hare has partnered with two smartphone apps, FlySmart and B4U Board, to provide food delivery, entertainment features, flight status updates and more at your gate. On top of the usability of two smartphone apps, the airport also has motorized toilet seats in every bathroom. These seats will automatically eject a fresh plastic seat cover after each flush.
5. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas has always been on the lookout for new technology adoption. After all, it was the first airport in the country to offer free Wi-Fi service to passengers in 2000. Seventeen years later and Austin’s innovation hasn’t stopped.
With Austin-Bergstrom’s “One-Stop” Automated Passport Control Kiosk, travelers can quickly complete all of their essential pre-flight check-in procedures at the automated kiosk machine. Not only has this greatly reduced the check-in lines, but the process has also helped in reducing security checkpoint times.
6. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
With Austin-Bergstrom’s “One-Stop” Automated Passport Control Kiosk, travelers can quickly complete all of their essential pre-flight check-in procedures at the automated kiosk machine. Not only has this greatly reduced the check-in lines, but the process has also helped in reducing security checkpoint times.