Heathrow Fast-Tracks ChargeBox Rollout to Power Stress-Free Passenger Experiences
News Release
London, September 18, 2025 – Heathrow Airport, the world’s most connected aviation hub, has announced the rollout of ChargeBox fast charging stations across Terminals 3, 4, and 5, following a highly successful trial in Terminal 2, which has converted the trial to a permanent deployment. 41 charging stations, each equipped with 16 fast-charging endpoints, give a 300% increase in mobile charging capacity compared with legacy facilities, with 75% of charging sessions achieving fast charge speeds (20%+ battery in 10 minutes). This technology is designed to support nearly 84 million annual passenger journeys through Heathrow.
The decision to accelerate the rollout after just four months of a six-month trial in Terminal 2, where ChargeBox upgraded six existing charging poles, achieved near-100% uptime with zero Heathrow support interventions and minimal hardware replacements, was driven by compelling data and overwhelmingly positive passenger feedback.
Chargebox powers passenger experience at Heathrow
Qi2 wireless pads
Elevating the passenger experience
Now deployed across all terminals, the 41 FASTPodiums are delivering over 7,000 charges daily — equivalent to more than 2.5 million annually. The highest-performing unit, located in Terminal 2 Departures, recorded 2,486 charges in a single week — averaging 355 per day. Passenger behaviour shows a clear preference for direct-to-device charging, with 9 in 10 passengers opting for ChargeBox’s specially reinforced cables or Qi2 wireless pads. Of those, over 70% choose the high-performance USB-C and Lightning cables, delivering nearly three-quarters of all charging minutes to date — a clear sign that users prefer cables, and that they deliver the fastest, most intuitive and hassle-free experience for passengers on the move.
ChargeBox’s innovative Charging as a Service (CaaS) model delivers scalable, smart solutions that provide real-time insights into passenger charging habits, enabling Heathrow to optimise infrastructure and elevate the passenger experience. Automated fault detection eliminates time-consuming inspection processes, enhancing passenger experience while reducing service demands.
Addressing Digital Friction and Boosting Passenger Satisfaction
The deployment aligns with findings from the ACI Europe Survey on the Impact of Digitalisation and Automation on the Passenger Experience, which revealed that while 73% of passengers rely on digital services, confidence drops to just 48% among those aged 55 and older, often due to low battery anxiety. Dependable phone charging was highlighted as a key concern affecting the overall travel experience. ChargeBox’s high-availability, fast charging stations directly tackle this challenge, reducing stress, boosting digital confidence, and supporting a more seamless, passenger journey.
ChargeBox forecasts over 2.5 million charges annually at Heathrow, helping the airport meet the needs of today’s digitally reliant travellers. Its smart charging stations feature real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance capabilities, ensuring maximum reliability and operational resilience. This consistently high performance is designed to contribute positively to Customer Experience (CX) scores for Heathrow.
Heathrow’s Chief Solutions Officer, Helen Elsby, said: “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. By working closely with SMEs like ChargeBox, Heathrow drives innovation across the airport to enhance passenger experience and help us meet our service goals.”
“I believe airports should be places where technology quietly supports every journey. Charging is a small detail, but without it, the digital travel experience can break down.” said Ian Hobson, CEO and Founder of ChargeBox. “Our work with Heathrow shows that when you make something as simple as powering your phone effortless, you can remove a layer of stress for passengers. We’re building charging networks that airports can rely on for decades, and we’re excited to bring the same approach to new partners like Dublin and Frankfurt.”
Driving Innovation and Global Interest
ChargeBox’s smart charging stations, remotely managed with real-time fault detection, provide useful insights into passenger behaviour, informing future infrastructure strategies. The success at Heathrow has sparked interest from airports worldwide, positioning ChargeBox as a pioneer in passenger charging solutions.
Qi2 wireless charging at Heathrow Airport
ChargeBox FastPodium at Heathrow Airport
About ChargeBox
ChargeBox is the global leader in self-service mobile device charging for public spaces, offering a unique Charging as a Service (CaaS) model with a digital-first approach. We design, build, and install high-availability, direct-to-device charging systems that keep people connected, satisfied, and digitally empowered.
With over 20 years of experience and more than 80 million charges delivered worldwide, ChargeBox provides the simplest, fastest, and most reliable charging experience — trusted by airports, hospitals, retailers, universities, and event operators around the globe.
Our connected solutions feature real-time monitoring and remote management, ensuring unmatched service availability while helping clients boost customer satisfaction, reduce operational burden and accelerate their digital strategies.
Learn more at www.chargebox.com
About Heathrow
Heathrow is the UK’s international gateway and the largest airport in Europe – connecting to 230 destinations across 85 countries. The airport welcomes over 200,000 passengers on roughly 1,300 flights each day, and serves as Britain’s hub for trade, tourism and investment. Over 80,000 colleagues work at Heathrow – the airport directly employs about 10% of them, with the rest working for Team Heathrow partners, including airlines, ground handlers and retailers.
Heathrow Highlights ChargeBox as Partner in Expansion Plans
Heathrow has unveiled a bold £49 billion expansion masterplan — including a new third runway (£21 bn), the new T5X terminal (£12 bn) and modernising existing infrastructure (£15 bn). The project will nearly double passenger capacity to 150 million per year, accommodate up to 756,000 flights, deliver a 50% increase in cargo capacity and contribute 0.43% to UK GDP.
A Proud Moment for ChargeBox
We’re honoured to be mentioned directly in this strategic roadmap:
“Local SME ChargeBox Ltd is a pioneer in passenger charging, based in Chiswick. A charging-first, data-led SME, ChargeBox designs and manufactures its smart mobile device charging solutions in the UK. After a successful trial in Terminal 2, Heathrow expanded the rollout across all terminals within four months. The solution has since attracted interest from airports across Europe and North America, having seen it in action at Heathrow.” Read the official report here. Heathrow Airport Expansion Plan.
This official recognition cements ChargeBox’s place among the 1,100+ SMEs assisting Heathrow in delivering sustainable, smart, passenger-first infrastructure.
How ChargeBox Supports Heathrow’s Ambitious Goals
As Heathrow gears up for unprecedented growth, passenger infrastructure must be scalable, resilient and experience-driven.
ChargeBox supports this vision with:
- Fast-charge units currently live in three terminals, set for full airport deployment by the end of August 2025
- Operational intelligence, including real-time diagnostics, usage analytics and predictive maintenance
- Passenger-first, future-ready solutions that reduce stress, enhance satisfaction and support improved ASQ/Skytrax scores
Heathrow’s proposal is much more than expansion — it’s an opportunity to redefine passenger experience and operational excellence. To be named among the pioneering SMEs partnering on that journey is a profound milestone for ChargeBox.
Want to learn more about how we’re laying the foundation for future-ready airport infrastructure?
Get in touch and speak with one of our friendly team at ChargeBox 🙂
ChargeBox joins Heathrow’s ‘Made in the UK’ campaign
Smart, British-built charging infrastructure that’s designed for passengers – and built for airports.
We’re pleased to share that ChargeBox has been selected as one of just 12 suppliers featured in Heathrow’s new ‘Made in the UK’ campaign – a joint initiative with Make UK that celebrates British innovation, manufacturing, and SME excellence.
Out of more than 1,100 supply chain partners, 60% of whom are small or medium-sized businesses, this campaign shines a light on those quietly delivering real value behind the scenes. We’re proud to represent the SME community and grateful to Heathrow and Make UK for recognising the contribution of companies like ours.
Solving a Real Problem, the Right Way
Charging is often treated as a secondary feature in public spaces. But at airports, where passengers are more dependent than ever on connected devices, it’s a necessity. When charging doesn’t work or can’t keep up with demand, it impacts both the customer experience and operational performance.
At ChargeBox, we’ve spent over 20 years addressing this challenge head-on. Our focus is simple: to make public charging smarter, more reliable and easier to manage. We don’t bolt charging onto furniture; we build it as intelligent, airport-grade infrastructure, supported by real-time data, remote diagnostics and minimal maintenance.
Made and Managed in the UK
From design and coding to final assembly, our systems are built in the UK. It’s part of what makes us different, and it means we can move fast, stay flexible, and maintain full control over quality. Our charging units can be found in every terminal at Heathrow.
A Shared Commitment to Smarter Infrastructure
This campaign isn’t just about celebrating British business, it’s about recognising the people and companies working quietly to improve the systems we all rely on. Airports like Heathrow are under pressure to deliver better passenger experiences with smarter, safer, and more sustainable infrastructure. We’re proud to be part of that mission.
To hear more about our work at Heathrow, link the image below to watch ‘Made in the UK’, a short film featuring our CEO, Ian Hobson.
If you’d like to learn more about how we help airports deliver exceptional charging experiences with minimal operational overhead, get in touch or explore our airport solutions at www.chargebox.com.
The Airport Passenger Charging Puzzle?
Nowadays, your smartphone is your boarding pass, wallet, entertainment, flight tracker—even your taxi at the other end. Which is why, for the modern traveller, low battery anxiety is real.
So it’s no surprise that passengers expect charging to be fast, seamless, and dependable. Just like Wi-Fi.
And yet… in most airports, it’s not.
Despite the best intentions, charging remains one of the most fragmented and frustrating parts of the airport experience. And that’s because a truly great charging service isn’t built by just sticking a few AC and USB sockets on some furniture.
It’s a puzzle. A surprisingly intricate one. And most airports are missing critical pieces.
At ChargeBox, we’ve spent over 15 years figuring out how to solve it—working with partners like Heathrow, Groupe ADP, and lux-Airport to build charging solutions that don’t just work, but transform the passenger experience.
🧩 The Puzzle Pieces
Let’s break it down. Here are the six key elements that define whether your airport’s charging actually delivers:
1. Capacity
How many passengers can actually charge at once?
You might see lots of ports—but if half are broken, slow, or hidden away, the real capacity is far lower. When we reviewed legacy charging zones at a major airport, we found that just 30% of the advertised capacity was truly usable.
2. Availability
Are those chargers working when passengers need them?
Airports are great at tracking availability for things like toilets and lifts. But charging? They often rely on costly manual inspections that are redundant as soon as they’re completed. We’ve seen whole rows of sockets offline for days with no one noticing—until the complaints start rolling in.
3. User Experience
Is it quick, obvious, and easy to use?
Travellers don’t have time to hunt for a socket, decode vague signage, or fumble with their own cables. They just want to plug in and charge. Our data shows passengers overwhelmingly prefer reinforced built-in cables—USB-C and Apple Lightning—ready to go, no apps, no fuss.
4. Infrastructure & Safety
Is your system compliant and built for the future?
Too many setups still rely on AC sockets or outdated USB-A ports—the latter are prone to easily breaking and are near obsolete, while the former can be unsafe. We design around low-voltage DC and USB Power Delivery (PD), offering fast, safe charging for today’s and tomorrow’s devices.
5. Operational Support
Who’s checking, maintaining, and fixing faults?
Without monitoring, it’s guesswork. Our remote SLA model uses real-time fault alerts and telemetry facilitated by our digitally connected solutions to guide airport teams (or their contractors) with pinpoint accuracy to deliver near-perfect uptime.
6. Data & Insight
Are you learning from how passengers charge?
With smart analytics, you can see usage patterns by time, specific location, and charging experience (cable, USB port, wireless). That insight helps shape smarter layouts, better maintenance planning, and more effective commercialisation.
🛠️ What Happens When the Puzzle Is Solved?
Let’s take Heathrow as an example.
We rolled out a managed charging solution in Terminal 2—and the results were immediate:
- – 300% more real-world charging capacity vs. the legacy setup
- – 100% uptime over the first 5 months, thanks to proactive digitally connected fault detection
- – Built-in specially reinforced USB-C and Lightning cables, Qi2 wireless pads, and USB sockets—16 simultaneous charge points per charging station
- – A safer, future-proof system built on low-voltage DC infrastructure (no need for problematic and dangerous AC sockets and no more tripped fuses due to dodgy chargers!)
- – A fully managed SLA, led by ChargeBox
- – Monthly usage insights that help Heathrow continuously improve
Passengers didn’t just notice — they used it. A lot! And the operations team gained a reliable, data-backed model now being extended across other terminals.
🧳 Where Lockers Fit In
We provide open and locker solutions, as not everyone wants to stand beside their phone while it charges.
That’s where Lock & Leave solutions come in. In retail zones, lounges, or anywhere passengers are likely to dwell, browse or eat, lockers give them the freedom to walk away knowing their device is secure and charging fast.
At ChargeBox, our lockers aren’t the old-school PIN-and-hope versions. They’re fully connected, remotely monitored and packed with reinforced fast-charge cables, delivering the same standards as our open-access podiums.
Blended deployments — Stay & Charge + Lock & Leave — are often the sweet spot. More capacity, more flexibility and better alignment with passenger behaviours.
📉 Why Most Solutions Only Solve Part of the Puzzle
There’s no shortage of well-meaning attempts to improve airport charging. But many fall short because they tackle just one or two of the six puzzle pieces.
- – A USB socket on a seat might technically work, but without signage, support, or monitoring, usage is low, and complaints are high
- – A cheap kiosk might look flashy—but is usually poorly equipped with cheap tech and breaks within weeks or months, with no way to efficiently know or fix it
- – An unmonitored wireless charging pad might offer convenience—but if it’s broken or slow, passengers won’t return
And that’s the problem: charging that fails quietly does more damage than charging that never existed.
📈 The Commercial Opportunity
Charging doesn’t have to be a cost centre.
When done well, it drives:
- – Longer dwell times in key zones
- – Sponsorship opportunities with banks, telcos, and lifestyle brands
- – Digital media space for advertising or airport communications
In Lux-Airport, our sponsored ChargeBox units have supported hundreds of thousands of charges since 2022. Those are thousands of small but powerful moments when passengers engage with a brand and remember it.
🧭 A Smarter Path Forward
Here’s how we recommend airports approach the charging puzzle:
- Audit what’s really there
- Pilot a managed solution through a Low Risk Discovery Project
- Future-proof your infrastructure
- Embrace digitally connected remote SLAs
- Link it to CX/ASQ/Skytrax scores and commercial goals
✉️ Final Thought
Airports pour resources into wayfinding, lounges, biometrics, and F&B—but if your phone’s dead, none of that matters.
Great charging is invisible when it works, and unforgivable when it doesn’t.
It’s time to stop treating charging like an afterthought—and start solving the puzzle.
📩 Want to explore how we’re helping Heathrow, Dublin, and others reimagine the passenger charging experience?
Visit www.chargebox.com/charging-solutions-for-airports or drop us a message at ChargeBox.
Justin Stark
Sales and Marketing Director, ChargeBox Ltd
Why Power Alone Isn’t Enough Anymore
A couple of weeks ago, I shared why phone charging deserves a spot on every airport exec’s radar. The response was… unexpectedly enthusiastic.
Clearly, it struck a chord. Or perhaps several—most of them frayed, proprietary, and last seen at the bottom of a drawer with a label that says “Do not throw away—might fit something.”
Either way, it became clear that this topic isn’t just about power—it’s about everything power enables.
So here’s the follow-up:
Passenger charging isn’t just an amenity anymore. It’s digital infrastructure. And it’s time we started treating it that way.
The Old World: Install, Forget, Repeat
We’ve all seen it…
That sad little charging station in the corner.
A few fraying cables.
Half the power sockets and USB ports dead.
A cluster of passengers performing yoga poses to stay plugged in while scrolling.
This is the “install and forget” model which is still surprisingly common, and while it might technically provide power (albeit inconsistently), it’s definitely not delivering experience, confidence, or anything remotely modern.
It’s the equivalent of putting a sign above it that says, “Good luck!”
Power + Intelligence = Better Airports
At Heathrow, we recently started rolling out a smarter charging solution —one that doesn’t just provide power, but reports back on how it’s being used, how well it’s performing and where it needs attention.
A few things changed immediately:
- Our ops teams started seeing issues before passengers did.
- Trends emerged—like when usage peaked and where more capacity was needed.
- We learned that some charging experience types are now vastly more popular than others (USB-C is quietly staging a coup).
In short we stopped guessing.
This wasn’t just an upgrade in hardware — it was a shift in thinking.
Charging can act as a Window Into Passenger Behaviour!
What surprised me most? Charging data has a personality.
It tells you when people are stressed (spikes during delays).
It tells you when they’re relaxed (slow, steady usage on Saturday mornings).
Even when they’re trying to regain control (Sunday afternoons, phones at 4%, boarding in 10 minutes…).
Seeing how your passengers charge can reveal much about them, especially when you have the right tools.
So What Does This All Mean?
It means we need to stop treating charging like a box-ticking exercise and start seeing it as a way to:
✔ Ensure availability without sending someone to check a charging station manually.
✔ Make investment decisions based on actual usage (not guesses).
✔ Improve CX by knowing you’re keeping passengers connected—and maybe a bit less stressed.
✔ Unlock commercial opportunities that don’t feel like advertising wallpaper.
The Bottom Line
Legacy charging gave (some) passengers power.
But smart charging gives airports power + insight + control.
And in an environment where every decision has to work harder, power alone just isn’t enough anymore.
We’d love to hear from others on this.
Are you seeing this shift in thinking in your airport?
Is charging on your radar — or still on your to-do list?
Let’s keep the conversation going.
Justin Stark
Sales and Marketing Director, ChargeBox Ltd
Why Phone Charging Deserves a Spot on Every Airport Exec’s Radar
Why Phone Charging Deserves a Spot on Every Airport Exec’s Radar
Over the last 18 months, I’ve had the chance to work closely with some of the world’s leading airports, including Heathrow, on something that—at first glance—might not seem like a big deal.
Phone charging.
Stay with me.
In an age where smartphones double as boarding passes, wallets, translators, hotel keys and more, staying charged isn’t a luxury—it’s essential. Yet most charging in airports today is still an afterthought: broken AC sockets, tangled cables, slow speeds, and patchy availability.
When I speak to airport leaders, I often hear: “I’ve never really thought about it like that.”
And honestly, that’s not surprising. Airports are some of the most complex operational environments on earth, with hundreds of critical priorities pulling focus every day. But what I’ve learned—what I’ve seen firsthand—is that charging has the power to quietly elevate (or erode) the entire passenger journey. And when done well, it also improves operations, opens up commercial opportunities, and even enhances safety.
That’s what ChargeBox set out to prove at Heathrow with the FASTpodium project.
In partnership with Heathrow’s fantastic teams, we created a modular, SMART charging podium that wraps around legacy poles, preserving existing infrastructure while upgrading them into modern, high-capacity digital assets.
Each podium delivers 12 direct-to-device USB Power Delivery experiences (including laptop charging), Qi2 wireless charging, and 4 USB ports—all in a clean, intuitive, and highly durable format.
But what really sets it apart?
- Resilience: They’re built to withstand extreme usage, weather events, and peak surges—staying live during major disruptions like fog, storm outages, and even a substation fire.
- Remote Management: Every unit is monitored 24/7, self-reporting faults and usage data in real-time, allowing proactive maintenance instead of costly reactive inspections.
- Ease of Service: Low-skilled on-site teams can handle simple fixes like cable swaps in seconds, minimising downtime and expense.
- Smarter Planning: We collect granular data on usage, dwell time, charging experience preferences, and fault trends—turning charging into a data-rich service that informs future airport design and investment.
- Cost Efficiency: We’re already replacing costly, labour-intensive manual inspection regimes. And by removing traditional AC sockets, we’re eliminating a major source of failure, misuse, and sometimes, danger.
The results? Just six FASTpodiums are projected to support over half a million charges per year. Reliability? Nearly 100%. And before the trial even concluded, Heathrow committed to expanding the rollout to other Terminals, bringing the total to 40 upgraded poles.
For me, the most exciting moment is always when the penny drops—when senior stakeholders realise that this isn’t just about charging phones. It’s about building high-impact infrastructure that’s easy to live with, scales well, and adds real value.
Because charging is no longer a ‘nice to have.’ It’s now a core part of the airport experience—and done right, it can be a strategic advantage.
So, if you’re rethinking your airport’s next evolution, let’s talk. We’re just getting started.
Justin Stark
Sales and Marketing Director, ChargeBox Ltd
ChargeBox Partners with Heathrow to Revolutionise Mobile Charging for Passengers
ChargeBox, a global leader in public mobile device charging infrastructure based in West London, has partnered with Heathrow. Led by Heathrow’s Innovation Team, this collaboration introduces cutting-edge mobile device charging technology to Terminal 2, revolutionising passenger convenience.
Six of Heathrow’s iconic charging poles in Terminal 2 have been upgraded with ChargeBox’s industry-leading, remotely managed Fast Charge technology. These stations allow passengers to increase their battery life by up to 20% in just 10 minutes, an essential feature for travellers. Designed for speed, capacity, efficiency, and reliability, the upgraded stations address the needs of today’s hyper-connected passengers.
ChargeBox’s managed and remotely monitored system is a standout feature of the partnership. This innovative approach gives Heathrow real-time insights into station utilisation, power delivery and performance while proactively identifying potential issues. By minimising downtime and enabling highly targeted maintenance, this system enhances passenger satisfaction, reduces operational disruptions and delivers significant cost savings.
Each station offers 16 charging experiences, including specially reinforced USB-C and Apple Lightning cables, Qi2 fast wireless charging pads, and USB sockets for passengers’ cables. The two-tier design accommodates seated, standing, and wheelchair users. Built with high-quality, durable materials, the stations are designed to withstand heavy traffic while providing a seamless user experience.
“ We’re thrilled to partner with Heathrow, one of the world’s most prestigious airports, to introduce our advanced managed Fast Charge technology,” said Ian Hobson, CEO of ChargeBox. “ This collaboration highlights how world-first innovation can enhance the passenger experience, drive operational efficiency, and demonstrate that our super-robust solutions, combined with a digitally managed approach, deliver unmatched long-term lifecycle value and return on investment.”
The six-month trial aims to enhance passenger satisfaction, gather actionable insights on charging demand and preferences, and inform Heathrow’s future infrastructure investments. Data and qualitative research from the trial will guide Heathrow in optimising its charging capacity, improving placement, and exploring commercial sponsorship and advertising opportunities.
This collaboration highlights ChargeBox’s expertise in scalable, future-proof passenger charging solutions.
For more information, visit www.chargebox.com or follow us on LinkedIn at ChargeBox LinkedIn.