Stephan Uhrenbacher, the CEO and founder, FLIO: “We plan to expand our service to many more countries and airports in order to connect travellers with the services and retailers that are most important to them.”
Launched in August, FLIO is described as the first global airport app for Apple’s iPhone (an Android version will be launched at the end of the year), and the traveller’s one-stop source for “all things airport”. Ross Falconer spoke with Stephan Uhrenbacher, the CEO and founder, to check on FLIO’s progress since its launch.
FLIO combines easy access to free WiFi, arrivals and departure information, insider tips, and exclusive retail offers and discounts with key retailers, food & beverage outlets and passenger service providers at airports around the world. Progress has been remarkably swift. FLIO’s process of automating connections to public WiFi is enabled by its own proprietary technology. It gets users online to airport public WiFi in seconds by removing the step of entering personal details. In just three months, FLIO already supports public WiFi networks at more than 180 airports, so will exceed its initial plan to bring this to 200 airports by the end of 2015.
FLIO Chairman Brian Collie is a former BAA Group Retail Director (and Chairman of WDF) and a past Chairman of lastminute.com.
Q: Are you getting industry support and participation?
A: Very definitely. The large travel retailers like WDFG, Heinemann, and ARI, and food & beverage companies like SSP and The Restaurant Group were very quick to work with us.
Airport operators recognise that their passenger experience is paramount and have invested huge amounts to improve their performance in this area. Airports are also under ever-increasing pressure to maximise their non-aeronautical revenues. The FLIO app helps on both counts.
As a frequent flyer, I wanted something to take the stress out of my time at the airport and help me locate the information and services I cared about. For airports this is a unique opportunity to improve passenger perception. With no investment into their own app and no marketing expense for the airport, FLIO can provide passengers with a world-class mobile experience even for mid-size airports. We are also having very successful discussions with some of the largest airports as we help their global passengers discover their often fantastic offerings well before they actually arrive. We’re also now selling services directly on the app, which we are using to sell CIP lounge access, fast-track and ground transportation.
FLIO has developed its own technology specifically built to enhance the end-to-end partner experience across in-app payments or within the retailer partners POS.
Q: What have been your latest successes?
A: Getting Heathrow Express and Swissport Aspire lounges on board are our most recent successes. What has really attracted them to FLIO is our new in-app payment functionality. Users are now able to store card details and pay for services at the touch of a button. So in the case of Heathrow Express, FLIO users can now book their ticket directly in the app which is the most convenient way to get a ticket. Swissport Aspire lounges are the first lounges that we sell within the app, with many more to come.
Q: You mentioned retail and food & beverage operators. Obviously, these are major revenue generators for airports. What’s the progress in that area?
A: From the first conceptual stage of the app, we wanted to make this as commercially viable for airports as possible. In order to help them access multiple revenue touch points, the app took the perspective of the trinity of airports, retailers and brands. This was in turn helped by Brian Collie, Chairman at lastminute.com when I was there and who I knew was also a former BAA Group Retail Director and Chairman of WDF. So FLIO was launched with the unique advantage of a functionality that allows the user to redeem the offers and discounts that FLIO promotes on behalf of the trinity. We plan to add other services that enhance the passenger experience, such as access to fast-track security, premium car parking services and other transportation.
Q: Finally, what would your message be to airport operators?
A: I think it’s a very simple one. Airports should think of FLIO as essentially a free, additional global marketing platform that helps passengers discover and buy into the services that make their airport a better experience for their passengers.
FLIO fact file
- Populated with the most accurate data direct from airport sources.
- Already supporting more than 180 airport public WiFi networks.
- Gives users real-time security queuing wait times for more than 20 airports.
- Currently promotes exclusive offers and special discounts from a number of airport duty and tax free retailers and food and beverage operators, including World Duty Free, Gebr.
- Heinemann, SSP, and TRG.
- Partners with Heathrow Express and Swissport UK Lounges.
- In-app payment functionality.
