Funding for research project on the digitalisation of passenger services at airports in Norway

Associate Professor Nigel Halpern at the Department of Leadership and Organization has been awarded 7 million NOK in research funding from the Research Council of Norway, for a project on the digital capabilities and passenger benefits of a seamless and resilient Norwegian airport system.

Link to official media release

This project assesses the impact of digital technologies on the passenger journey to improve the passenger experience and the efficiency and effectiveness of the Norwegian airport system.

– It addresses important yet largely unresolved questions relating to the rapidly evolving nature of digital technologies, says Associate Professor Nigel Halpern.

– Most notably, how can airport decision makers best integrate these technologies with existing infrastructure and business practices to help improve door-to-door passenger experiences in a way that is commercially viable, yet also environmentally and socially responsible? Furthermore, what are the key ethical and privacy issues around the use and storage of large quantities of personal data, which form a key part of a digital future? This is what the project will try to respond to, says Halpern.

Important for the tourism subject area

The project will be conducted in cooperation with the Center for Air Transport Management at Cranfield University, Molde University College and Avinor. Helene Sætersdal, head of the Department of Leadership and Organization at Kristiania University College, is pleased with the funding.

– This is great news for us as a university college, for the department and for the tourism subject area. This is the result of an impressive effort from Nigel, who has been responsible for the application, she says.

Trine Johansen Meza, pro-rector of research and artistic development at Kristiania University College, fully agrees.

– For Kristiania University College, this award is of great importance. Through the allocation of external funds, the project is considered to be of great relevance, and it is particularly pleasing that this project has a clear foundation in the industry through collaboration with Avinor. We look forward to following the project in the future! says Meza.

A sustainable Norwegian airport system

The outcome of the project will be to develop scenarios for the efficient and effective implementation of digital technologies in the airport environment to achieve seamless passenger journeys and commercial benefits for airport management and other stakeholders – thereby contributing to the development of a more resilient and sustainable Norwegian airport system.

About the research project

The project will use a mixed methods approach that includes data mining, passenger surveys and focus groups, and semi-structured interviews with airport management and other stakeholders. The main objectives are to benchmark current digital capabilities of the Norwegian airport system, to assess the door-to-door passenger journey combining different modes of ground transport and identifying passenger needs and pain-points, to analyse the costs and benefits of technology implementation in airport terminal design, to formulate decision-making processes and digital solutions in disruption scenarios for a more resilient Norwegian airport system, and to identify regulatory and ethical issues associated with the implementation of digital technologies.

The project is managed by Kristiania University College in partnership with Cranfield University, Molde University College and Avinor.

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