Amsterdam and Paris airports tackle Chinese markets

Schiphol and Charles de Gaulle airports have launched the Chinese version of the ‘Schiphol App’, an application designed to navigate passengers through the airports and translate signposting into Mandarin.  The app, developed in association with Aéroports de Paris, can be downloaded by both iPhones and Android telephones.

The app provides passengers with information on product offers, flights, public transport, baggage and medical services, as well as translating maps of the departure lounges.  Above all, passengers can use their Smartphone camera to translate the airport signs directly into Mandarin.

Otto Ambagtsheer, Director of the Business Area Consumers at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, said: “Many Chinese passengers do not read or speak English.  By means of this app and indeed our entire campaign, we aim to offer the growing numbers of Chinese passengers a warm welcome and wish them a pleasant arrival at Schiphol.’’

The new app is launched at a time when Air France-KLM is expanding its network into China.  Combined, the airlines now operate 110 flights a week to nine destinations in Greater China – Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Taipei, Wuhan (from April) and Xiamen – and claim to operate more routes into China than any other European airline. www.schiphol.nl

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