Summary– When you fly from airpor, you’ll see flight information display systems at almost every airport. These systems help you find the status of your flight, and they display real-time information such as departure and arrival times, delays, and cancellations. Whether you’re a frequent flier or simply enjoy observing the airport premises when travelling, you might have felt the way airports display information to passengers has come a long way over the years. With new technologies and innovations, airports can now host more people, fly more planes and welcome travellers with ease.  

Here, your beautiful eyes are going to read how Flight Information Display Systems (FIDS) evolved and why they’re now standard at most airports. 

The History of Flight Information Display Systems 

The roots of flight information display systems (FIDS) go back to the late 1930s when the first taxiway signage was installed at New York’s LaGuardia Airport.  

• These early systems relied on paper or cardboard. The first electronic signs were installed in the late 1950s and 1960s, but it was the 1970s that truly saw the introduction of modern FIDS.  

• These systems used electro-mechanical displays & till the mid-1990s cane, FIDS became ordinary at all U.S. airports.  

 How Do Flight Information Display Systems Work? 

 The first button that you push when you’re flying is the call button, and this is how you request flight information- such as the current status of a flight. In most cases, a gate attendant or pilot will bring you your information.  

 However, for the sake of making it easily understandable, let’s say you’re in a terminal, and you’d like to know the status of your flight.  

One, you’d simply look for the nearest flight information display system (FIDS). You’ll find FIDS in all the main terminals, baggage claim areas and on the tarmac. They’re also found at most airport hotels, restaurants and other hospitality areas.  

Two, when you look for the flight information display, you’ll see a grid with text and graphics. Each grid contains information about flights.  

Three, when you find the grid that contains your flight number, you can simply use the arrows to scroll through all the information.  

Four, the FIDS will display information such as flight departure and arrival times, the airline and flight number, gate, delays and cancellations, weather alerts, and more. 

 Why FIDS has become a New Normal? 

 Over the last few years, FIDS has become a new normal, a trend which was accelerated in recent years- particularly in the Covid-19 pandemic.  

• As the in-person help desks at airports were closed/restricted, and the number of staff brought down to avoid the spread of infection to the entire workforce, the FIDS became the only source of information sharing with passengers waiting at the gates.  

• The other development that has accelerated the trend is the increasing number of airports adopting the ‘silent’ tag, which means airlines can’t make announcements over loudspeakers. And FIDS informs you silently! 

Thus, all the airlines are now only dependent on FIDS to safely deliver information to passengers about the status of their flights.  

This new normal reflects in the growth in the sale of airport information systems.  

Attention, please! 

A recent report said that the market size for such systems was USD 3.17 Billion in 2021 and is projected to grow to $4.20 Billion by 2030, expanding at a compound annual growth rate of 3.45% from 2022 to 2030. 

• The growth is likely to be fueled by the new investment coming into the field for the incorporation of Artificial Intelligence. 

• According to SITA’s 2019 air transport IT insights, 88 per cent of airports and airlines will make large investments in research and development programs with AI over the next few years.    

Of course, FIDS has also become a new normal! – Because of the convenience it provides to both- the airlines and the passengers. These systems are important because they provide real-time flight information to passengers.  

With FIDS, you don’t have to wait for an announcement in the terminal or go to a monitor to get your flight information. Instead, you can find out your flight information from the comfort of your seat.  

However, FIDS are a visual way to get information, so it’s also helpful for people who are hard of hearing or who don’t have a phone. A sighted person can simply read the information on the FIDS, whereas a person who is hard of hearing may have trouble understanding announcements from the terminal. 

Final Words

In recent times, FIDS has become a new normal because of the Covid-19 pandemic as it allows airlines to deliver information safely.  

Other trends, including rising costs of running help desks, have also accelerated the trend. Going forward, as technology advances, FIDS will definitely become more interactive (& attractive, too!). 

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