Every other airport begins the screening procedure 3-4 hours before the scheduled departure time. This includes security screening, baggage formalities, check-in luggage inspection, and so on. But what if someone is late for the procedure and, worse, is unable to navigate the correct path due to growing panic?
Because airports are large, easy navigation through security checkpoints is essential. Otherwise, individuals are highly likely to get confused due to the overwhelming size and the running clock to reach on time, leading to denied boarding.
Consider yourself at one of the largest airports in the world, approaching a terminal that spans thousands of square meters. You have a limited amount of time to reach the correct security checkpoint. What if no one is free to tell you where to go or which turn to take? Panic mode activated.
Airports are typically massive, with millions of commuters passing through each year. Ensuring that the guidance is accurate is critical to facilitate easy navigation and improve passenger flow. And it can be accommodated with a correct and efficient signage strategy.
Challenges in and Around Airport Security
Poor signage or faint markings, according to IATA, are considered a threat that requires management’s attention to maintain safety margins at the airport.
The maximum amount of time a person spends at an airport before boarding a flight goes into ensuring that security procedures happen without haste and with proper precision. Maintaining speed through these processes while also adhering to strict security protocols is critical.
Here are some of the critical parameters of clear signage at airports that address these issues.
●Easy navigation with visual cues
●Facilitation of anxiety-less movement to the security zone
●Directional signage to free staff to focus on faster checking
Clear signage can significantly assist at security checkpoints and facilitate easy navigation without jeopardising the airport’s or management’s reputation.
How To Implement Clear Signage That Helps at Security Checkpoints
On-point Messaging
Security checkpoints require clear messaging without complicated cues. This is easily accomplished by keeping the information to the point while addressing all the concerns and logical questions of the onlookers.
For example, indicating which materials must be placed in a tray before an individual approaches the counter can save time and make queues move relatively quickly. This can be done via I-sign displays, which contain all the necessary information based on the need and requirement at each checkpoint.
Visibility and Placement
Visibility and placement are two of the most important criteria for realising a clear signage strategy that works in real-time to make airport security navigation a breeze.
Decision points that assist people in progressing to the next level of security require clear directional signage and cues. There should be consistent colour coding, fonts, and universal signs so that even first-time visitors to the airport can easily understand instructions without feeling overwhelmed. Information boards that display what papers are needed at a particular checkpoint can help clear the passengers faster.
A viable approach is to use overhead light boxes, which are ideal for both directional and informational signage. To assist individuals in making better decisions and following the correct path, interactive maps and wayfinding path marks can further prove beneficial for security checkpoints navigation.
Signage Specialists for Clear Signage
Cosign understands the fundamentals of signage and its significance in large spaces like airports. At Cosign, We collaborate and work closely with our sign manufacturers and partners to install effective signage across large establishments.
For example, we knew that covering three floors, four aerobridges, 28 check-in counters, and four conveyor belts would not be easy when we took on an ambitious project at the Port Blair Airport. We used solutions like SignAgent to ensure that all stakeholders stay on the same page and collaborate for the best output with minimal errors or the need for micromanagement. We took it step by step, uncovering the challenges and devising solutions to the problems that the airport faced.
Airports require easy-to-maintain signage that blends in with the rest of the grand architecture. Cosign can provide technical support as well as ready-to-use modular sign systems based on the cost and requirements of the project. Contact us to learn more about how we can help.
