In an age of online check-in and electronic tickets, the prospect of a phone running out of charge at the airport is a grim one. In fact, travellers are more reliant on technology than ever before.
We looked into it, and it seems more airports are recognising this trend and are responding by increasing the number of charging facilities they offer. Now you can call relatives, surf the web and take airport selfies, safe in the knowledge you’ll still have enough charge to display your boarding pass and make your plane.
UK airports are particularly well equipped. In the Heathrow international departure lounge for instance, there is one plug available for every two passengers. That’s more than 3000 power sockets to help you avoid a low battery meltdown. London Luton Airport may see fewer passengers than Heathrow, but still offers at least 400 power sockets, as well as 40 universal charging points.
Across the channel in Europe, Warsaw’s Chopin Airport has around 3000 power points, while Munich and Barcelona have over 1000 each (although Brits may need an adaptor). If you find yourself travelling to or from Vienna International Airport, take advantage of the specially designed ‘laptop chairs’; compact work stations with a power socket and a small desk. You can also find these at Amsterdam Schiphol. In Russia, Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport provides open access to 1500 charging stations, which is rare, given most airports in the country only offer this service in VIP areas. Other international airports include pay-charging stations, which operate after inserting change.
Many airports are investing in improving access to power sockets as this has become one of the basic needs of travellers: Frankfurt and Hamburg airports both have plans underway to increase the number of power sockets available to passengers.
Here is a quick round-up on airports offering charging facilities, take note for your next trip:
| Airport | Passengers per year | Terminal | Power & USB Plugs | Locations | Future improvements |
| Heathrow | 73 405 330 | International Departure | 3 050 power plugs | International Departure | n/a |
| Frankfurt | 59 577 132 | 1 & 2 | 800 | In departure lounge, at gates | greatly increase number of charging stations |
| Munich | 40 000 000 | 1 & 2 | 1464 plugs & 1196 USB plug-ins | all gates | |
| Barcelona | 37 500 000 | 1 & 2 | 1040 | ||
| Vienna | 22 500 000 | 1,1A, 2 and 3 | about 500 plugs & 200 USB plug-ins | seating areas & gates | |
| Moscow – Sheremetyevo | 19 000 000 | B,C,D,E,F | 1500 | All areas | |
| Hamburg | 15 000 000 | 1 & 2 | 77 plugs and 48 USB plug-ins | security area | 2015 gate renovation – more power stations to be added |
| Warsaw | 10 590 000 | A | 3000 | all areas | 20 specialised USB phone charging stations |
| Luton | 10 484 938 | 1 | 400 UK plugs and 40 universal charging points | in terminal | |
| Marseille | 8 000 000 | 1 | 100 power plugs and 6 USB-plug ins | public zones and boarding zones in halls 1,2,3 and 4 | |
| Bologna | 6 580 000 | 1 | 28 power plugs & 32 USB plug-ins | waiting seats at all gates |
Data is based on feedback received from the airport press offices. The airports that are not mentioned were not able to provide the information or were not willing to participate.
Photo credit: istockphoto/ encrier
