Australia’s Sunshine Coast Airport (SCA) and Cérge are taking their collaboration to new heights following the commencement of their groundbreaking partnership in May 2024. The industry first partnership has already helped foster a more inclusive travel experience for people with disability, and enhancements to the companion technologies will see the expansion of the program at the airport.
SCA continues to invest in the Cérge companion technologies for the airport environment, including new Bluetooth tracking and a wheelchair database. These enhancements will empower staff with information to tailor their support and expand the existing Cérge integration to include multiple SCA staff and security officers at key locations in the customer journey, including on arrival and at security screening.
“Our partnership with Cérge is something we are extremely proud of and through our investment we now have a product that is tailored to the airport journey,” said Kate McCreery-Carr, General Manager Operations, SCA. “Users are now able to provide detailed information about their disability via Cérge that notifies airport staff and security of their arrival and how our team can support them. Through Cérge and other accessibility initiatives we are creating new ways for people with disability to connect. Travelling through an airport can be stressful, and through the use of Cérge, we are helping to remove some of those barriers.”
Known as a ‘digital concierge’, Cérge provides venues with plug-and-play companion technologies designed to offer accessible and sensory experiences, imagery, and descriptions.
“Airports are among the most complex, high-sensory environments people can navigate – and for travellers with disability, small gaps in service can create huge barriers,” said Chris Kerrisk, Founder, Cérge. “Sunshine Coast Airport hasn’t just acknowledged that reality – they’ve invested to solve it. By expanding Cérge’s capabilities with Bluetooth location awareness and our wheelchair database, they’re enabling staff across the entire airport – from bag drop to security screening – to know exactly who needs support, where they are, and how to provide it safely and respectfully. Whether it’s understanding the difference between a manual chair and one with lithium-ion batteries, or coordinating a warm handover at security, this partnership is a game changer. These enhancements mark a significant tech uplift – allowing Cérge to scale personalised service across complex, multi-zone environments without increasing staffing levels. It means frontline teams can deliver higher quality support, with less friction and greater precision. Sunshine Coast Airport is walking the talk. This isn’t about strategy on paper – it’s about real inclusion, in motion.”
You may also be interested in
12 technology and CX trends that can enhance airline and airport operations in 2025
APEX FTE EMEA and Ancillary & Retailing 2025 in pictures – ‘Innovate to Elevate’
