The Commercial Power of a Better Journey

Walk through any airport and you’ll see it: the cafes packed after security, the retail buzz before boarding, the quiet corners where passengers wait with time on their hands. Every one of those moments is an opportunity. Not just for revenue but for creating a smoother more memorable journey that underpins both financial resilience and passenger experience. 

Globally airports generate almost 40% of their revenue from non-aeronautical streams. Retail, parking, ground transport, food and beverage and digital services. This revenue is a financial lifeline that helps airports stay sustainable, especially during economic downturns.

Passenger Experience Drives Revenue

According to Airports Council International’s (ACI) 2025 Airport Economics Report, airports focusing on a superior passenger experience and digital innovation consistently outperform their peers in non-aeronautical revenue. The logic is simple: happy, unhurried passengers spend more. ACI data shows that airports with higher satisfaction scores see greater spend per passenger, particularly in food, beverage, and retail.

This is where real-time passenger insights become truly transformative.

From Queues to Commerce

Beonic has already worked with airports across New Zealand, using our AI-driven platform for queue management. By predicting peak times and reallocating staff, we help keep passengers moving, reducing stress and giving them more time to enjoy their journey.

But the potential of real-time visibility goes far beyond just queues. Imagine the possibilities:

• Flow analytics can show why some shops thrive while others struggle.
• Queue impact data can reveal how delays at security or check-in affect spending on food and retail.
• Dwell-time insights can inform smarter precinct design, ensuring every passenger from a time poor business traveler to a family on holiday has opportunities to engage and spend.

Unlocking Growth at Hui

As we look toward Hui, the industry conversation is shifting from just recovery to unlocking the full potential of the airport as a destination. By combining real-time passenger insights with a bold commercial vision, airports can transform themselves into financially resilient and memorable touchpoints for travelers.

We are proud to sponsor the session "Unlocking non-aeronautical growth on-airport" at Hui. This panel brings together a powerful mix of expertise:

• Beonic: Harald Kolodziej, our VP of Sales and Head of Airports APAC, will share how our real-time insights are already helping airports.
• The Mercurius Group: They will provide insights into airport precinct value, with a focus on ground transport.
• Grimshaw: They will demonstrate how design excellence leads to stronger commercial outcomes.

Together, these perspectives will offer airport leaders a comprehensive view of the opportunities for success. Airports that seamlessly integrate passenger intelligence, smart precinct planning, and innovative design are the ones best positioned to thrive in today's competitive market. 

We're looking forward to the future of New Zealand's airports, a future that combines real-time passenger insights with bold commercial vision.

When done well, the airport becomes more than a gateway. It becomes an experience that travelers seek out and remember. And we’re here to unlock it.