Stuttgart Airport

Project Name: German lowcost hub selected PADS4 for passenger communication
Client: Stuttgart Airport
Project: Digital signage displays
Category: Advertising, FIDS, Infotainment, Passenger Information
Project URL: Siemens

Stuttgart Airport (in German Flughafen Stuttgart) is an international airport located approximately 8 miles (13 km) south of Stuttgart city centre, Germany.

The airport lies on the boundary between the nearby town of Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Filderstadt and Stuttgart itself. Although it is the only major airport in Germany with only one runway, it is an important hub for the German low cost carriers Germanwings and TUIfly; and global headquarters for car parking company APCOA Parking.

In 2007 Stuttgart Trade Fair – the ninth biggest exhibition center in Germany moved to grounds directly next to the airport, raising the profile of the airport and strengthening calls for a second runway.

Long-term user of PADS4 digital signage software

Stuttgart Airport became a PADS4 customer in 2001 and has updated its entire system in 2009, again with PADS4 software.

With annually approximately 10 million passengers Stuttgart is one of the larger airports in Germany. Stuttgart Airport required a system which could not only show FIDS (Flight Information), but had also the ability to show commercial advertisement and live TV. With PADS4, Stuttgart found the desired display solution. Over 750 displays, powered by PADS4 inform and entertain passengers at Stuttgart Airport, Germanys hub for low-cost carriers.

The advantage to have everything in one system is the ability to do a central override of all the screens in case of emergency. Stuttgart Airport had learned that with a split system passengers would not properly respond if only part of the screens were showing emergency information and other screens would continue day-to-day operation.

750 displays inform and entertain 10 million passengers a year

Along with NDS airport partner Siemens, a roll-out of the entire solution was completed within three weeks after purchase. Now 350 displays, ranging from LCD to large LED’s, show FIDS related information such as arrival and departure information, check-in counter information, baggage belt information and gate information. These screens, if not operational for FIDS are also used for advertisement. Next to that 400 displays are entirely dedicated to commercial use.