Have you ever thought that you could improve part or all of the passenger journey and experience at Dublin Airport?
Well here’s your chance to do exactly that by taking part in a three-day Hackathon sponsored and supported by Dublin Airport at DCU’s Alpha Innovation Campus from April 15-17 next.
We’re looking for engineers, designers, entrepreneurs and airport customers to open their minds to design hardware, software and service solutions and improvements that will radically enhance the customer experience at Dublin Airport.
A Hackathon is an event where entrepreneurs and innovators come together with those involved in software and hardware development as well as user experience designers and end customers to find solutions for specific businesses or industry challenges.
Dublin Airport has partnered with RTE and Frontline Ventures who have come on board as judges and mentors for the duration of this three day Hackathon.
“Continuously improving the passenger experience at Dublin Airport is a key priority for us,” said Dublin Airport Managing Director, Vincent Harrison. “We have embraced technology through our airport app and the use of Flightradar24. Our DUB HUB web link provides virtual assistance for transferring passengers, we are using Bluetooth technology at the airport to provide live queue times for customers and our Mobile Ops View is a solution which significantly enhances safety on the airfield providing real time information of all aircraft and ground vehicle movements.
“We are delighted to partner with RTE Digital and Frontline Ventures who are on board as mentors and judges. We are looking for bright, entrepreneurial minds to open up and impress us with their solutions to everyday travel problems from the time a passenger books a flight to boarding the aircraft,” Mr Harrison said.
Between 150-200 hackers are expected to take part in Dublin Airport’s three day Hackathon. The event will start at 3pm on Friday, April 15 and end with the winners declared on Sunday at 7pm. The solution that most impresses the five judges will win a cash prize of €7,000, the runner up will receive €3,000.
Aidan McCullen, Head of Innovation Partnerships & Funding, RTÉ, said "RTÉ like Dublin Airport is focused on innovating for the future and harnessing the best in new technologies to continuously evolve our offering. RTÉ and Dublin Airport is opening up innovation to the public and the startup community to co-create our future. We are supporting Dublin Airport’s Hackathon event as a media partner in addition to being mentors to those entering. A team from RTÉ's digital division is also participating in the Hackathon weekend."
Frontline Partners Founding Partner Shay Garvey said "We are delighted to be part of such an exciting and innovative initiative. As long-time tech operators and investors, we know that Dublin Airport has long been one of the global hubs for travel technology. I'm looking forward to meeting the Hackathon teams and mentoring them from a potential venture investor perspective."
DCU President Brian MacCraith said “We are delighted to be hosting this innovative Hackthon for Dublin Airport. DCU Alpha is recognised as the home of Hackathons in Dublin and this event in particular allows DCU to build on its existing relationship with Dubin Airport through the recently established Dublin Aviation Institute.”
Those interested in taking part in the Hackathon must register on via this link HERE
Entry is €20 per person. All those who register will receive a €20 voucher to spend in Dublin Airport’s retail area, The Loop.
Dublin Airport had its busiest ever year in 2015, as a record 25 million passengers travelled through the airport, a 15% increase over the previous year.
The airport welcomed an additional 3.3 million passengers in 2015, this increase was facilitated by 23 new routes and extra capacity on almost 40 existing services.
Dublin Airport has direct flights to over 170 destinations in 38 countries on four continents.
Growth is set to continue this year with the addition of a further 11 new routes/services and two new long haul charter destinations.
