People Portal to Poll Airline Passengers

A new UK-based research venture, People Portal, will collect data from airline travelers waiting in departure lounges prior to take-off. The company is part of marketing services and promotions agency The Rectangle Group.

The firm says the concept is a simple one. Laptops, which are secured to the interviewers via a harness, provide immediate access to the Internet through airport GPRS. Interviews can then be conducted in real-time and data collected and reported back immediately.

The system is already operating airside in twelve UK airports, and People Portal has brought in Paul Peacock as MD, with a remit to ensure the UK footfall for the system reaches 50+ million by the summer. He comments, 'We have unparalleled access within UK airports which genuinely gives us 'the ear and the voice' of the UK air traveler when they have time to kill, and are completely in travel mode.'

An omnibus service offers airports the opportunity to ask passengers up to six questions each month, with each survey tailored to the appropriate geographical market. Alongside the participating airports, clients for the service already include Virgin Wines, ASDA and Peel Holdings which owns airports in Liverpool, Darlington, Doncaster and Sheffield.

Initial results have been published from a survey among 1,500 passengers about their experience of air travel. 40% of respondents said that despite delays and increased security they still find air travel an exciting prospect, while 80% thought it was essential despite concerns around carbon emissions.

Established in 2002, The Rectangle Group is based in North Yorkshire, has more than 300 field staff operating across airports and race courses throughout the UK, and is online at www.rectanglegroup.com .