DESTINATION AIRPORT TRANSITION IN TRANSIT

The ultimate nightmare of a business traveller is being stuck in transit during the festive week on the international calendar while the whole world is out celebrating with family and friends. However, major airports across the world have today metamorphosed from being mere transit points to destinations in themselves. Five star style lounges, state-of-the-art business centres, multiplexes, shopping malls, spas, health clubs, fine dinning restaurants, entertainment concepts and much more, these new age airports often billed as mini-cities go a long way in easing those travelling blues, writes Inder Raj Ahluwalia.

Steven Spielberg considerably curbed his options when he portrayed Tom Hanks waiting out a forced exile in no-mans land at an airport in the movie The Terminal. If the character had been for real then it would have been nothing like the dreary existence that Hanks ekes out. He could, for example, get up in the morning, and having performed his ablutions, set off for the Yoga centre followed by an hour of meditation. Thus spiritually fortified, he could breakfast on Continental, Cantonese, French and Japanese. He could head for a movie maybe, or to appreciate artwork, followed by lunch, fine-dining if you will, and then, a siesta in a four poster bed, followed by a business meeting. And if you still haven’t had enough you could throw in a videoconference for effect. The evenings can be reserved for leisure and it could be the time to gamble at a casino. if that is not what improves your spirits then you could head for the hottest spot of all, the shopping mall, accost the pretty woman, fix a date and... wait a minute. Wasn’t this the same arrival and departure point where, when the flight is delayed, you dread being stuck for hours, far away from home and hearth? Wasn’t this the zone of shorn-sleep on uncomfortable couches in public lounges thick with the sound of grating baggage trollies and screaming children? What the hell happened to the airports?

Well, it changed, at least in the rest of the world and no doubt India will catch on soon. Any international airport worth its salt today has fine dining, al fresco, top-end brand label shopping, basic duty-free, diverse entertainment, meditation and therapy sessions. These are worlds unto themselves, giant, integrated leisure and business complexes - destinations in their own right. With over half a million yearly visitors, Zurich Airport, for instance, is among Switzerlands most popular destinations in terms of footfalls. Or take the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA). This massive complex houses 98 lifts, 70 escalators, 9,900 luggage trolleys, 15,000 seats, and over 3.5 km of walkways or travelators strategically placed inside the terminal building to cutting walking time. An Automated People Mover electric train located at the basement travels the length of the 750-metre Central Concourse in 70 seconds. There are nine check-in islands with 228 desks in the Departures Hall. In the Restricted Area, a novel Cyber Zone combines entertainment and retailing with free Internet access, while the multimedia lounges have additional workstations that provide up-to-the-minute world news. A wireless service for personal laptops equipped with LAN keeps you in touch with your business. Two childrens play areas keep tiny travellers amused. Over 200 retail outlets offer unlimited shopping, offering duty-free liquor and tobacco; perfumes and cosmetics; general merchandise; and local and internationally branded fashion cum specialty items. Not bad, isnt it? HKIA is representative, give or take a few degrees of scale, of the trend in most developed countries. A corollary must however be added here. While creating such mammoths, a lot of thought goes also into the incorporation of elements which soothe the hurried passenger. Good airports, no matter if they service 100,000 passengers daily, are designed to be places of relative peace and quiet, and you’ll be surprised how important quietness is if you’re at a place for a few hours. At Singapores Changi Airport, for instance, the first impression is one of relaxation, rather than stress. This is partly owing to the fact that theres a sense of space, and partly because of the Oriental decor in the dining and shopping areas. K L International Airport, Kuala Lumpur takes this a step further. A serene environment has been created with the installation of nature and greenery, in line with the `airport in the forest’ and `forest in the airport’ concept. Artistic exhibitions are also a regular feature. Vienna International Airports Art in public places is a good case in point. The airport also functions as an artport. Provided alongside flight operations, is a metaphorical runway for artistic emotions to take flight. and they’ve created an art mile featuring the work of Austrian artists.

Believe it or not, thanks to the rising demand for short meetings and one-day conferences, airports now also serve as self-contained elite business and conference centres, offering value-added facilities: easy access, good infrastructure, and security. And they also save you time and money, thanks to the fact that your long transfers and hotels stays become obsolete.

Avinash Vashista, managing director, NeoIT says, “Airports these days have become destinations in themsleves. The best is the Changi airport with its health club and swimming pool. For a business traveller like me the best is the free Internet connectivity. And the activities that take place there, for instance, during the Olympics they held a psuedo-Olympics there is special.”

If meetings are an extension to the idea of the airport as a bouquet of services, duty-free shopping has always been a given factor. What has metamorphosed is the scale. Conventional sales outlets stand alongside world-class luxury brand boutiques and the choice and variety of items on sale is mind-boggling, with retail outlets offering everything from duty-free liquor and tobacco, perfumes and cosmetics, to general merchandise and local and internationally branded fashion there is that something special for everyone on your Christmas or New Year list. Depending on your budget, you could choose anything from Tag Heuer, Ralph Lauren, Tiffany, Baccarat, Bulgari, Cartier, Chanel, Christian Dior, Fendi, Gucci, Hugo Boss, Montblanc and Omega you name it and they have it. Laptops, digital camera come at duty-free prices, complete with guarantees what else could a shopper ask for?

And if you think that is a lot Changi Airport, also offers a variety of oriental herbs, spices, and medicines and the ever-popular Tiger Balm.

If you’ve shopped before in France, you’ll feel at home at terminal 2 at the Paris-Charles De Gaulle airport. Thanks to all those French clothes and cosmetic brand names, its almost like a catwalk. At the Zurich Airport, an informal atmosphere in the Mediterranean-Italian style greets you in the new Airport Shopping Arcade that offers trendy hair salons; ladies and gentlemens fashion; flowers, plants, bouquets, and floral arrangements; truffles; and wines, oils, and Mediterranean specialties. My perennial favourite is The Spirit of Switzerland for typical Swiss buys like wines, watches and stuffed toys. And dont forget those famous Swiss chocolates, from the up-scale Springleys to the inexpensive Budget. At Frankfurt Airport, the Travel Value Shop offers 20 per cent discounts on perfumes, liquors, watches and chocolates. Also worth visiting is Zimmerman for souvenirs of value. But Scotch Whiskey is still cheaper in Delhi.

The Short And Lounge Of It

If you are tired with shopping, then hit the lounges as per your entitlement. The lounges are a world in themselves, and dont be surprised if youre actually reluctant to leave after a few hours spent there. The lounges offer you relaxation, food and drink, entertainment, business facilities, comfortable seating, and a place to freshen up. Each lounge has different food and drink venues. Awaiting you are also self-service bars and buffet areas, local and international magazines and newspapers, telephones, TVs, fax machines, computers and complimentary Internet access. There’s also computer reservations assistance in case you wish to change your on-board seat assignment. You need not waste time if you are keen on work. After a long-haul flight, use the lounge to have a shower and freshen up and prepare for the days business.

Available are Customer Service Centres, Multi Media Information Booths, LED Screens, dedicated 24-hour Help Phones, Multi-media centres, Wireless Broadband Services, Cyber Break Cafes, and PowerPhones with Internet access. There’s also this VIP Service (on payment) that organises events, press conferences, fashion shows and banquets. If travelling with colleagues or associates, you can have any type of conference you like. Convention centres feature conference, seminar and meeting rooms, accommodating from 2 to 120 persons, equipped with flip-charts, beamers, LCD players, e-mail, wireless LAN, telephone/videoconferencing. Frankfurt Airport lounges enjoy high-speed Internet access.

Eating In And Living It Up

The choice of food in contemporary mega airports is, to put it simply, mind-boggling and, mind you, quality food comes at reasonable prices. With seating for over 1500 and standing room for another 500, several airports food plazas are now among their respective countrys largest restaurant and catering venues. Several cafes and restaurants mean you can choose your cuisine by walking around and seeing the counter displays. From lagers and stouts on the tap, to wood stone ovens, the variety is endless and exciting. Pizzas, tender ribs, pine-scented salmon, Turkish and Moroccan kebabs, local home style Cantonese soups, dim-sums and stir-fries, seafood bars serving fresh sashimi and sushi made before you, make-to-order Cibatta sandwiches, toasted Panini sandwiches, Congee with oyster and minced pork, wonton noodles with fresh shrimps and scallops, pork cutlet au gratin with fried rice, Japanese soup noodles, whopper meals at Burger King, or chicken fillet sandwich with Cajun fries. Theyve got it all. The stepping-stone to the Imperial city of music and opera, Vienna Airports food offerings are quite exceptional.

While theres a choice from fast food to international cuisine, the traditional Viennese dishes are worth a dig. The only cuisine to be named after a city, Viennese cuisine includes specialities originating from all countries of the former monarchy: Hungary, Bohema, and Italy. There is Schnitzel and Tafelspitz, Kaiserschmarren and Powideltascherl - dishes that are works of art. My sweet tooth pushes me towards Sachertorte, Gugelhupf or Apfelstrudel, which are poetic combinations of flour and sugar, served with special Viennese charm by the Herr Ober (waiter). My other favourite is the Heurigen, the new wine from the latest harvest. But there are other ways to live it up in an airport besides relishing the good food. When was the last time you tried your hand at gaming? Well, youll get your chance the next time youre at the right airport. While you dont find actual casinos gaming laws often forbid casinos operating in public places. You can try your luck at slot machines that offer more than soldier and spy games and high-speed motorcycle rides. You may find it amusing, but people have missed their flights while lost in the fantasy world of slot machines. But it isnt just action, movement and activity! If you are seeking total peace, there are designated areas where there’s zero noise pollution. Dubai International Airport, for instance, has a large silent room where you can rest, sleep or read without any form of disturbance. Offering total privacy and supreme comfort, The Pier at Hong Kong International Airport has six individual Day-Break Rooms for First Class Passengers, offering absolute privacy but not isolation one has video and audio entertainment at ones fingertips, and touch screen controls activate lighting, air conditioning and blinds. You can even pray and meditate at most large airports. There are special prayer rooms besides yoga and meditation centres where you can spend as much time as you want. If stress is your problem, just drop in and spend some time in an environment created for serenity and inner peace. They will prescribe just the right regimen for you and even advice you on how to follow it up once youve returned home. You can also get a massage with special herbal oils. Or that pedicure you wanted but never got around to getting done because of time constraints. Bangkok International Airport has a good massage outlet, and if you want to stop halfway, just settle yourself down on a massage-chair that will move in a way that simulates a body massage. Easy and secure movement, comfort and service apart, large airports are also working on reducing your actual travel hassles by using quick check-in machines, priority check-in areas, and fast lanes for First and Business Class passengers and holders of Frequent Traveller cards. Eye Scanning is set to replace airline tickets. At Frankfurt Airport, using technology straight out of a James Bond movie, EyeTicket Corps newly developed system claims it will eliminate tangible airline tickets and long check-in counter queues. EyeTicket’s iris recognition technology is expected to allow travellers to check themselves in and board aircraft with no form of identification other than their own eyes. Eventually, if airlines adopt this type of identification system, passengers and airline employees will store digital images of their irises on a database. After the image of your iris is on file, a video camera will be able to instantly verify your identity and clear you to board the aircraft. Talk about total facilitation. The future looks like an era of seamless movement. But even if you are delayed at an airport, why would you want to tear your hair in frustration. This might be just the chance youve been awaiting to do that elusive duty-free camera shopping, or savour an authentic Italian meal without losing out on executive time.

(With in puts from Anindita Chattopadhyay - New Delhi, Vyas Sivanand - Bangalore, Lakshmi Subremanian - Chennai )