iO and Brussels Airport
Brussels is the heart of Europe. Brussels Airport is also the heart of Europe. At least, it is for everyone visiting our country by plane or leaving it to see one of over 170 destinations. By focusing on the experience as a whole, Brussels Airport performs even better as a hub. Everything revolves around offering the best possible experience.
To showcase that, we work as an extension of the airport. We do so in terms of strategy, technology, marketing, content, data and research. It’s a hybrid collaboration between our teams and the Brussels Airport team. By combining all our skills, we are stronger.
In this section, we zoom in on the various websites and platforms we have built for the airport.
Don’t forget to read our in-depth case on Brussels Airport and get an idea of our 360° collaboration.
Brusselsairport.be: Brussels Airport as the home base in a digital ecosystem
Essential information provider
Brusselsairport.be is more than a website – it's an important communication channel in a digital ecosystem.
First and foremost, it supports departing and arriving travellers who want to know when Dad is landing in Brussels or if their flight to Madrid is set to arrive on time, for instance. But the website also provides reliable information to travellers in times of crisis (such as how to travel safely during a pandemic). We created a stand-by crisis platform strong enough to handle sudden surges in visitors so we can give anyone essential information when it truly matters.
The platform also lends itself well to neighbour communication. Because Brussels Airport is constantly looking for the optimal balance between airfare and quality of life. At brusselsairport.be, the company shares initiatives it sets up to improve life at and around the airport.
About the technology
Brusselsairport.be was built in the CMS Sonata. We used it to set up integrations with flight data, flights offered by airlines and other details that can help passengers prep for their travels. Real-time data about how busy the airport is, wait times at security checks and car park availability, for instance. With that information, we built tools that help travellers calculate the perfect time to leave and make our chatbot BRUce smarter.
With the Online Shop, we brought the products of 100 shops located at Brussels Airport to a digital platform. In the Online Shop, travellers can order their favourite products in advance, so they can quickly pick them up right before their flight departs or after they return.
Other things we do for brusselsairport.be:
Advertising, Lead generation, SEO, CRO, Marketing automation, Creative work
Brussels Airport app: the digital co-pilot for travellers
Our goal with the Brussels Airport app is simple: to provide travellers a hassle-free experience, from departure to arrival. With this app, we guide travellers smoothly through every step at and around the airport.
Thanks to React Native, we quickly developed a version for both iOS and Android, so travellers could immediately benefit from the new features during the busy summer months.
The app provides real-time information, such as flight details, waiting times at security checks and updates on check-in counters. This real-time data is retrieved via an API, supported by a gateway, that prevents overload during periods of high user activity.
In addition, the app provides useful features such as details about lounges, activities for children, restaurants and promotions in airport shops. All content is managed through the Storyblok CMS and distributed to both the website and the app.
With its handy travel planner, the app guides users step by step and brings all the essential information together in one simple, user-friendly platform. Even visitors picking someone up at the airport will find helpful details in the app.
The Brussels Airport app proves once again that a trip is more than just the flight. It's about the entire experience, from packing to arrival.
Brussels Airport Traffic Control: transparent neighbourhood communication
Brussels Airport actively works on eliminating the strain it puts on the neighbourhood, which explains why it communicates so transparently with the neighbourhood. It does so in close collaboration with Skeyes, the government agency that manages air traffic in Belgium.
Batc.be shares facts and details about the runways that are in use at a certain time (and changes due to maintenance work or weather conditions), the flight routes, statistics and sound measurements at and around the airport. That’s useful information for the neighbourhood but also for governments and spotters. Even legal bodies have something to gain because the platform is so user-friendly and clear-cut that the reports from the system can be exported and used for legal reporting purposes straight away. Not a small feat, given the number of complex datasets from various sources communicating in real-time.
Bruxx: booking cheap flights easily
Brussels Airport does more than offer airlines somewhere to land. It also aims to stimulate sales for those airlines. And that’s exactly why BRUXX exists. It combines all the cheaper European flights that depart from Brussels Airport. We developed this dynamic, fresh platform with the younger target audiences in mind. It looks simple but is also backed by a lot of complicated flight data. Meanwhile, the Bruxx project has become part of the Brussels Airport website.
Other things we do for bruxx.be: Advertising, Lead generation, SEO, CRO, Marketing automation, Creation
Dive further into this case
Of course, we also use technology for the many campaign sites we set up as part of marketing promotions. Furthermore, technology is the foundation for innovation at the airport.
Want to know more about this collaboration?
Contact iO – our specialists can’t wait to hear your questions.