Ways To Enhance Our To-ing And Fro-ing

Here are some international adoptions Australia could make, to ensure our airports remain user friendly.

GOOD LEISURE FACILITIES

Transits can be long and boring. This is a brilliant opportunity to make a temporary stay more memorable. Examples may include golfing, driving mini cars or playing a competitive round of ping pong. These are great forms of exercise, designed to stretch one’s legs and have some fun. Munich’s airport lets you surf and Changi Airport lets you take a dive on a four-story slide!

POWER POINTS

Air travel sucks up the battery on your phone and laptop, so it’s important to have easily accessible charging facilities to offset this. It also provides a way for travellers to stay occupied during long transit periods. Hamad International Airport in Doha has successfully met this modern need.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT ACCESS

Melbourne does not currently have a train that runs directly to the airport. Yes there are several buses, but a direct train is easier to organise and more comfortable to travel in. It’s also a cheaper and more environmentally sustainable option. At Hong Kong and Zurich airports, these type of travel options are already well within existence.

LOCAL FOOD

This is a brilliant way to share local culture. Plane food is typically terrible and doesn’t always fill a hungry traveller. Even when a passenger is in transit, airport cuisine can provide a snapshot into the outside world. Changi’s Hawker Center and San Francisco’s Napa Farms have perfected this brilliantly.

AFFORDABLE AIRPORT HOTELS

Airport hotels are usually luxurious but super expensive. Unfortunately, this does not suit the budget traveller, nor those looking for a quiet place between flights. It’s important to have little nooks that allow travellers to sleep and relax. Changi currently has three transit hotels, two snooze lounges and a sanctuary space. Take note!