In aviation, innovation isn’t just about aircraft or automation; it’s about improving the passenger journey, the experience. 

The ACI EUROPE Regional Airports and Innovation 2025 report highlights how smaller, often regional airports are becoming vital testbeds for innovation. With their agility, shorter decision cycles and close-knit teams, these airports are ideally placed to trial new technologies that enhance efficiency, sustainability and passenger experience.

At ChargeBox, we believe regional airports have a unique opportunity to turn passenger amenities into powerful innovation platforms. Our work with Heathrow Airport, the world’s most connected aviation hub, shows what’s possible when airports adopt a structured, data-driven approach to digital experience and the same model can be applied at a regional scale.

Regional Airports: Europe’s Innovation Incubators

ACI EUROPE describes regional airports as “innovation centres”, agile environments where new technologies can be tested, validated and scaled.

The report outlines an eight-step innovation framework that encourages airports to:

• Define clear passenger challenges
• Run short, structured trials (typically six months)
• Measure results and adapt quickly
• Scale proven solutions

This mirrors the ChargeBox Discovery Project, a structured, low-risk model for testing and validating new passenger-experience initiatives. Each project begins with a measurable objective, gathers real-world data and produces a concise report to guide wider rollout. For regional airports, this offers a practical path to deliver visible innovation quickly and affordably.

Heathrow: A Blueprint for Measurable Digital Innovation

This year, ChargeBox partnered with Heathrow Airport and their innovation team to replace legacy charging poles with 41 new FASTPodiums, powered by the FASTHub intelligent engine.

“With the rollout of ChargeBox stations across a further three Heathrow terminals, we are pleased to offer even more to passengers with reliable, simple and fast charging services.” — Helen Elsby, Chief Solutions Officer, Heathrow Airport

The results were striking:

• Over 2.5 million annual passenger charges
• Near  100% uptime, up from 67% on legacy systems
• 300% more charging capacity
• Zero Heathrow support calls during the trial

While Heathrow is a major international hub, the innovation process behind this success, short pilot, clear KPIs, rapid rollout, is exactly what ACI EUROPE recommends for regional airports seeking to demonstrate impact through agile digital projects.

Learning from Bologna: Data-Driven Passenger Care

ACI’s Regional Airports and Innovation 2025 report highlights Bologna Airport as an example of how even mid-sized airports can lead in digital transformation. Bologna’s “I-CARE” programme reimagined passenger service through integrated communication platforms, data analytics and process optimisation.

The goal: faster, more personalised responses to passenger needs.

This mirrors ChargeBox’s own approach, using connected infrastructure and data insights to improve everyday passenger experiences. Both show how digital systems that enhance satisfaction can be developed, tested and scaled without large-scale infrastructure projects.

Charging as a Service: A Smart, Scalable Model

ChargeBox’s Charging-as-a-Service (CaaS) model aligns directly with ACI EUROPE’s call for airports to “foster partnerships with technology providers and startups.”

Through modular, cloud-connected infrastructure, airports gain:

• Real-time performance data for ASQ and Skytrax benchmarking
• Predictive maintenance with minimal engineering intervention
• Passenger insights to inform retail and digital-service strategies
• Sustainable design built for longevity and energy efficiency

For regional airports, this model provides a low-risk route to innovation: Fast to deploy, measurable in impact and easily scalable across other terminals or sister airports.

Why Regional Airports Should Act Now

ACI EUROPE’s report concludes with a clear message:

“Regional airports are innovation powerhouses. By embracing sustainability, digital transformation and multimodal integration, they will remain at the forefront of aviation’s future.”

Reliable device charging directly supports this vision. It improves passenger satisfaction, reduces operational friction and demonstrates a visible commitment to digital progress.

Today, providing charging for passengers' devices is no longer just a courtesy; it has become a key indicator of a modern, data-driven airport experience.

Final Thought

From Heathrow’s digital charging rollout to Bologna’s customer-care transformation, airports of all sizes are showing how small, focused innovations can deliver major passenger benefits.

ChargeBox is proud to support that direction, helping airports deliver smarter, more connected experiences across the world.