Despite the rise of e-books, the traditional paperback is clearly still a popular choice with 32% of travellers wishing for an airport library, making it the third most wanted airport facility, and allowing holidaymakers to immerse themselves in a novel by the pool, then simply return it after landing back home.
EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND – A global survey of more than 10,000 travellers has revealed a cinema as the most desired airport facility. Worried that their travel plans may prevent them catching the latest blockbusters, a huge 49% of flyers chose an on-site cinema as their dream airport wish, reveals global travel search site Skyscanner.
Designated sleeping areas allowing travellers the opportunity to catch up on a few hours’ sleep also fared well, with over a third of respondents voting for sleep pods at their dream airport, making it the second most popular facility.
Despite the rise of e-books, the traditional paperback is clearly still a popular choice with 32% of travellers wishing for an airport library, making it the third most wanted airport facility, and allowing holidaymakers to immerse themselves in a novel by the pool, then simply return it after landing back home.
A huge 31% of flyers voted for a green outdoor area in their dream airport. A park was the fourth most popular airport facility, which would no doubt offer a welcome change of environment, especially for those waiting for connecting flights.
The fifth most popular facility in a dream airport, with one in three travellers wishing for it, is a vanity area offering salon and spa treatments, allowing holidaymakers to pamper themselves with last minute massages, manicures and haircuts.
Some of the more unlikely facilities to feature at a dream airport include a gym, with 15% of flyers longing for a last chance at toning their ‘holiday body’ and a karaoke area, with 5% of travellers wishing to kill time and a song.
Top 10 most wanted features:
- Cinema – 49%
- Sleep pod – 36%
- Library – 32%
- Park – 31%
- Vanity area – 30%
- Kids play area – 21%
- Pool – 20%
- Gym – 15%
- Man-made beach – 12%
- Bikes – 11%
While both males and females were in agreement over their top choice of an airport cinema, there was a greater gender discrepancy with the other most wanted features. Despite the rise in metrosexual males, a massive 45% of women wanted a vanity area to freshen up compared to just 14% of men and more than 10 percent of women wanted a personal shopper, compared to just 8% of guys.
Men on the other hand, appear to prefer active entertainment at their dream airport, with a swimming pool voted the fifth most wanted feature, and more than one in 10 guys wanting to tour the airport on complimentary bikes, compared to just 9% of ladies.
Yet flyers may not have to dream for too long. Hong Kong International Airport already boasts a UA IMAX theatre, offering cinema fans a range of IMAX 2D and 3D movies. While the second most popular choice, the sleeping pods facility, has also been introduced at Abu Dhabi Airport for a cost of £8 per hour, offering weary flyers an affordable alternative to a hotel room.
Skyscanner’s Victoria Bailie commented; “Whilst many of the larger airports are beginning to offer passengers a wider range of facilities, there is clearly a great demand for airport entertainment, especially for those travelling with young children. By offering fun experiences at airports, such as the golf course at Hong Kong International Airport or the swimming pool and Jacuzzi at Changi Airport in Singapore, waiting for a flight becomes less or a chore and more part of the holiday itself.”
Photo caption: Singapore Changi Airport.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
