Key Takeaways

Reach a Premium Audience: Airport advertising is a highly effective way to reach an affluent, influential, and receptive audience.
Think About the Journey: Consider the entire passenger journey and the different touchpoints where you can reach them with your advertising messages to build a cohesive brand story.
Work with an Airport Advertising Specialist: Strategic media planning and buying for airport environments requires specialist expertise. A media agency like One Day Agency has the knowledge to help you create a successful campaign. Contact us to discuss how we can help your brand take flight.

Airports are more than just transport hubs – they are unique and powerful advertising environments. With millions of passengers passing through their doors every year, airports offer a captive audience of affluent and influential consumers who are in a positive and receptive mindset.

This guide will explore the world of airport advertising, from the different formats available to the strategic advantages of this premium marketing channel.

The Airport Environment: A World of Opportunity

Airports are a world unto themselves. They are places of excitement, anticipation, and discovery. Passengers are often in a relaxed and happy mood, a state often referred to as the "holiday mindset," which makes them more receptive to advertising messages.

The airport environment also offers a long dwell time. Passengers spend an average of 2-3 hours in the airport before their flight—navigating check-in, security, and the departure lounge—giving you plenty of time to engage with them through a variety of advertising formats at multiple points in their journey.

The Different Touchpoints of Airport Advertising

Airport advertising offers a range of formats that can reach passengers at every stage of their journey:

Arrivals and Departures (Landside): Large-format billboards and digital screens in the arrivals and departures halls can make a big first and last impression on every single person entering the airport.
Check-in and Security (Airside Transition): Banners, floor graphics, and digital screens in the check-in and security areas can reach a captive audience during a time of high dwell and attention.
Departure Lounges (Airside): Premium advertising opportunities, including large digital screens, experiential zones, and lightboxes, can reach passengers when they are relaxed and browsing shops.
Baggage Reclaim: Carousel advertising and digital screens in the baggage reclaim hall can reach passengers when they are waiting for their luggage, a moment of high anticipation.
Experiential and Sponsorship: Airports offer a range of opportunities for experiential marketing and sponsorship, from product sampling and car displays to sponsoring the Wi-Fi or charging stations.

The Strategic Advantages of Airport Advertising

Affluent Audience: Air travellers are typically more affluent and educated than the general population, with a higher disposable income.
Captive Audience: Passengers have a long dwell time in the airport, making them a captive audience for your advertising messages.
Positive Mindset: Passengers are often in a positive and receptive mindset, making them more open to advertising for premium goods, travel, and financial services.
Global Reach: Airports offer a unique opportunity to reach a global audience of international travellers, making it ideal for international brands.

The Agency's Role: Your First-Class Ticket to Airport Advertising

Airport advertising can be a complex and significant investment. A media agency like One Day Agency has the expertise and the industry connections to help you:

Develop a Strategic Plan: We'll help you to develop a strategic airport advertising plan that is aligned with your brand, budget, and target audience, whether you're targeting business or leisure travellers.
Choose the Right Formats: We'll help you to choose the right advertising formats to build a story that reaches your target audience at the right time and in the right place throughout their airport journey.
Negotiate the Best Rates: We have established relationships with the airport media owners (like JCDecaux and Global) and can help you to negotiate the best rates and packages.
Create a World-Class Creative: Our team of creative experts can help you to develop a campaign that will stand out in the busy and visually rich airport environment.

Find out more about airport advertising. We help companies advertise in Gatwick, Heathrow or even international airports. Find out more about airport advertising in Paris.

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