The planning and design of good airports requires thoughtful consideration of many users of the aviation system – from pilots to passengers, engineering and construction workers to airport operations staff, and airline employees to general aviation tenants. It takes a great many people with varying interests to plan, build, and operate an airport. Whatever your role is, whether passenger or aviation professional, we all want a product / infrastructure / space / service that is more desirable from the user’s perspective. As a passenger, it makes our travel experience more fulfilling and easier. As an aviation professional, it makes our jobs enriching knowing we are delivering and performing at our best.

What is desirable? It could include wanting to be more useful, efficient, safe, or profitable. It could also be the desire to obtain something unique such as in an experience to remember. These insights are will identified and expounded upon.

It is these insights that gives us a glimpse into the motivations of each user. Understanding those insights gives us a tremendous opportunity to develop new innovations. At an airport, this could be as simple as packaging food in to-go containers with napkins and utensils attached to accommodate the hungry traveler that is rushing off to catch their flight. That in turn meets the concessionaire’s desire to generate revenue. It is a win-win situation for all. 

A well designed airport will work to accommodate multiple user’s desires holistically. Achieving these desires is what brands the airport and sets it apart from its peers.