Taking Flight: Keflavík Airport, Icelandair, and Mappedin elevate the new airport experience

Every day, passengers face a maze of information inside airports. They need directions, check updates from their apps, and scan signs and displays. Airlines battle to keep schedules on track and passengers happy. Airports juggle continuous operations, retail, and service demands. The result? Missed connections, stressed travelers, inefficiencies that waste time, and missed revenue opportunities.

The airport experience is the shared intersection of passenger, airline, and operator success. When real-time, accurate information and smooth processes come together, passengers move with confidence, airlines keep schedules tight, and airports see stronger revenue. When they don’t, the ripple effects are costly for all involved.

The culprit isn’t people, it’s systems that are disconnected, inflexible, and therefore inaccurate. It's time for a new airport experience that unifies the passenger journey, facility management, and business advantages.

That's exactly why we're excited to announce our launch with Keflavík Airport and Icelandair. Together, we're launching a new model for how airports and airlines can work together to create a seamless airport experience and centralized mapping for improved operations.

Here’s what Sigurður Pétur Oddsson, Business Insight & Customer Excellence at Keflavík International Airport has to say:

What makes this partnership unique

While airports and airlines have collaborated using technology before, this partnership represents something unique: a unified platform that connects airport operations, airline data, and passenger-facing services into one centralized system. Instead of managing separate platforms that barely communicate, Keflavík Airport and Icelandair now share a single source of truth for all location-based information.

Here's how it works: When a gate assignment changes, passengers immediately see updated directions on airport kiosks, mobile apps, and digital displays. When security wait times spike, airport staff and airline representatives have access to the same real-time data to help passengers plan accordingly (and of course, passengers can view the map on the go to estimate walking times to get to their gates on time!)

Beyond better navigation

This isn't just about helping passengers find their gates—though that matters too. The integrated platform creates new opportunities to drive non-aeronautical revenue across the entire airport.

Retail partners benefit from increased visibility through interactive maps that highlight restaurants, shops, and services. When passengers know exactly how long it takes to reach their gate, they're more likely to stop for purchases along the way.

The operational benefits are equally compelling. Staff assistance requests drop significantly when passengers can access accurate, real-time information independently. Even when staff get asked "Where is Gate B12?", they are equipped with the same maps and can look up and share information with passengers.

For airlines, the always-up-to-date flight and location information means fewer missed connections and stressed passengers. When flight delays or location changes occur, the system can recalculate optimal routes and suggest alternative amenities or services to keep passengers informed and comfortable during their journey.

Built for airport operations

The platform addresses real operational challenges we've seen across the aviation industry. Multi-level terminal layouts, security boundary restrictions, international passenger flow requirements, custom routing—our platform handles these complexities while maintaining compliance with accessibility standards and supporting 40+ languages, including Icelandic.

Most importantly, operations teams maintain complete control. Update store and service hours, modify routes during construction, or add promotional content through a simple interface. Changes deploy instantly across all passenger touchpoints—websites, kiosks, and mobile apps—without requiring technical expertise.

The analytics capabilities provide insights you've never had before: how passengers actually move through your facility, which amenities generate the most interest, and where operational bottlenecks occur. This data drives smarter decisions about everything from retail placement to staffing levels.

What's rolling out

The Keflavík Airport (KEF) maps are currently live across web and mobile platforms and are available through the Icelandair mobile app, with in-airport kiosks coming soon. This partnership demonstrates how airports and airlines can leverage shared technology infrastructure to deliver better passenger experiences while driving commercial growth. When airport systems and airline operations speak the same language, everyone benefits—passengers get where they need to go efficiently, retail partners see increased foot traffic, and your operational teams can focus on what matters most. Read the full press release here.

Ready to see how Mappedin for Airports can transform your airport operations? Get in touch with us and discover how we're helping aviation leaders worldwide create better passenger experiences.