Perceptions of travellers regarding wireless local area networks at international airports

Abstract

This research is concerned with identifying and analysing the issues for travellers around the availability and use of wireless network in public areas of international airports. The subjects of this research study are travellers who use wireless network connections at international airports.

The mixed research methodology has been chosen for this research study, which combined quantitative and qualitative research methods together. The quantitative data was collected through paper surveys, and the main qualitative data was gathered through interviews. The total of 60 travellers who were using wireless local area networks (wireless LANs) at three international airports (Beijing, Guangzhou, and Auckland) were selected to do a survey. Twelve participants who were surveyed at Auckland International Airport were chosen to do the interview. Both the quantitative and qualitative data have been presented in full by the researcher, and all of the data were analysed by the researcher to produce the final conclusions of this research.

The purpose of this research is to uncover issues such as: why a traveller would use a wireless LAN, what are the types of activities for which a traveller uses wireless LANs and what are their expectations of International airports. The main research question is ‘What are the perceptions of travellers regarding wireless LANs at international airports’. The sub research questions are:

What kind of travellers regularly use wireless LANs at international airports? <li> What are the principal expectations and demands of the travelling public regarding wireless LANs at international airports?

How has the wireless LAN in airport waiting areas impacted on the travelling public?

How does the travelling public think wireless network services at airports can be improved?

What wireless network technologies can be used in airports to meet these expectations?