Elevators and escalators facilitate movement in expanding airports

They help passengers navigate huge spaces to catch flights; move quickly and seamlessly between terminals while they maneuver their luggage through various sections of an airport says Sebi Joseph, President, Otis India.

How do escalators make it easier for passengers to  navigate huge airports? 

As people migrate to urban areas, further expanding  cities, urban transportation forms an important  part of people’s lives. Over the last couple of years  some of the world’s busiest airports have expanded  to accommodate additional traffic flow. This has led  to many airports getting bigger and far more spread  out. Elevators, escalators and moving walkways have  helped passengers navigate these huge spaces to  catch flights; move quickly and seamlessly between  terminals while they maneuver their luggage through  various sections of an airport.  

Multimodal integration is necessary for airports,  railways stations and bus stands, in this integrated  highway what role can escalators play?  

As various forms of mass transportation integrate,  vertical transportation systems become even more  crucial. Elevators, escalator and moving walkways  used in conjunction with each other can help  passengers navigate various sections comfortably.  

What can be done to make escalators safe to use  and also energy efficient? 

Most infrastructure projects, including airports, aim  for energy efficiency wherever possible. Otis answers  that call with its elevators, escalators and moving walkways. Additionally, many airports choose to use  Otis’ flagship product, the Gen2 elevator. 

The Gen2 family of elevators blends convenience,  style and performance to deliver a new passenger  experience that adds value to any building.  

Steel-reinforced polyurethane belts are the  groundbreaking innovation that set the Gen2 elevator  apart from other systems. By taking a conventional  steel cable, unwinding the individual strands, laying  them side by side and encasing them in polyurethane  to create belts, Otis was able to dramatically reduce  the size of the machine, eliminate the need for a  machine room creating more usable space in the  building, and provide a quieter, smoother ride for  passengers. 

The Gen2 elevator also showcases the company’s  commitment to sustainable technology with  features like the ReGen drive, and LED lighting.  When combined, these features can reduce overall  energy consumption by 75% under normal operation  compared with systems with non-regenerative drives. 

Beyond the Gen2, purification products are in  demand for commercial spaces. These products are  used to promote hygiene in elevators and on escalator handrails reducing germs thereby  improving conditions for passengers.  Otis recently brought to market a plasma  purification fan for elevators, which uses  an anion generator and ultraviolet lamp  to kill germs and other microorganisms.  For escalators and moving walks, UV-C  light handrail sanitizers are available. 

Can you make a mention of some of the  popular spaces where escalators have  been utilized to good effect? 

Otis has installed and maintains units at  Delhi Metro and Hyderabad Metro here in  India. Internationally, Otis has installed  and services units in airports around  the world including the Kuwait Airport,  Hangzhou Airport, and the U.K.’s Gatwick  Airport.

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