LY Communications

LINE offers travelers a smoother, more enjoyable airport experience

LINE Fukuoka Corporation (“LINE Fukuoka”; Location: Hakata Ward, Fukuoka; Representative Director, President, and Chief Executive Officer: Noritaka Ochiai) and Fukuoka International Airport Inc. (“Fukuoka International Airport”; Location: Fukuoka City; Representative Director, President, and Executive Officer: Tetsuya Nagasao) are pleased to announce a collaborative verification test for the LINE Official Account operated by Fukuoka International Airport for pre-purchasing of souvenirs and flight information delivery beginning on Tuesday, December 15.

Fukuoka Airport is located close to the city center (just five kilometers away). It offers convenient access via subway to Hakata Station in five minutes or Tenjin Station in 11 minutes, and is used by many business travelers and tourists.

By using the Fukuoka Airport LINE official account (LINE ID: @fukuoka-airport) operated by Fukuoka International Airport, people can now pre-purchase and pick up souvenirs on LINE, in addition to seeing a floor guide and shop as well as flight information.

In this verification test, we expect to see a reduction in lines at registers, improved convenience of information delivery, and avoidance of congestion and close contact.
These features allow travelers to use the time that they previously spent buying souvenirs more efficiently. The goal of this test is to contribute to the appeal of Fukuoka Airport and the city by creating travel and tourism experiences that suit the New Normal.

■ Purchase Souvenirs in Advance with Souvenir Pickup
With the Sit, Order & Pay feature developed by LINE Fukuoka, travelers can now order and pay for their souvenirs ahead of time at participating stores¹ in Fukuoka Airport.

The Souvenir Pickup feature eliminates the need to line up at a register or pay in cash, because ordering and payment can be done on LINE. All travelers need to do is confirm their souvenirs and pick them up, so they can order souvenirs before they arrive at the airport or while they are eating. This reduces lines at cash registers and leads to a more enjoyable airport experience.

The feature also helps people to avoid the “Three C’s” (close contact, crowds, and closed spaces), which acts to prevent the spread of infectious diseases for travelers and airport staff.

What is the “Sit, Order & Pay” feature?
This feature lets you place orders, make payments, and receive notifications when your orders are complete, all within a LINE chat. It has previously been introduced for one day events, but this verification test marks the first time that it will be permanently available in stores.
Case study: https://lycomm.co.jp/en/project/smartcityproject/casestudy/order/

Additionally, a floor guide as well as shop and flight information are available on the Fukuoka Airport LINE official account, so first-time visitors can enjoy their time at the airport without getting lost.

¹Participating stores: Solae (2nd Floor Departures Branch) in Fukuoka Airport’s Domestic Terminal

This verification test is planned to continue until November of next year, and updates to the features will be made based on the information gained through the test.

LINE Fukuoka aims to leverage LINE’s technology to create a richer, more convenient, and future-oriented Fukuoka (“Smart City”). In the future, we will continue to strive to make Fukuoka a more efficient smart city by improving the convenience of Fukuoka Airport, which serves as one of the main gateways to the city. By promoting Fukuoka’s transformation into a “Smart City,” the LINE Group will achieve its vision of “Life on LINE” (in which we aim to become a “life infrastructure” that continuously supports every aspect of our users’ daily lives through our “WOW= lifestyle innovation” philosophy).

As part of its master business plan and in order to offer world-class services, Fukuoka International Airport strives to achieve the “Three Fs” of Free, Fast & Seamless, and Fun. To provide travelers with a convenient experience, the airport is currently working to improve its homepage, and as a part of that, verification testing for the Souvenir Pickup and Floor Guide/Shopping/Flight Information features began in collaboration with LINE Fukuoka for the Fukuoka Airport LINE official account.

Travelers can expect to get information more easily as well as shorter lines at registers and less airport congestion, creating a Three F travel experience.

＜Company overview＞
【LINE Fukuoka Corporation】
Company name: LINE Fukuoka Corporation
Location: JRJP Hakata Bldg. 12F, 8-1 Hakataekichuogai, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture
Representative: Noritaka Ochiai, Representative Director, President, and CEO
Capital: JPY 490 million (As of January 2018)
Established: November 18, 2013
Business activities: All development, creation, operational, planning, and sales activities for LINE and related services.
https://linefukuoka.co.jp/en/

【Fukuoka International Airport Company Overview】
Company name: Fukuoka International Airport Co., Ltd.
Location: 782-1 Shimousui, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture
Representative: Tetsuya Nagasao, Representative Director and President & CEO
Capital: JPY 17.85 billion
Established: July 2, 2018
Business activities: All business related to airport operation and construction activities
https://www.fukuoka-airport.jp/en/

[Inquiries about this press release]
LINE Fukuoka Corporation　Phone: 092-292-3573 　Email: dl_lfk_pr@linecorp.com
Public Relations Department: Ms. Ishiwata (Phone: 080-8715-2009), Ms. Nishizono (Phone: 080-4355-0858),
Fukuoka International Airport Co., Ltd.　
Public Relations Department: Enokita　Phone: 092-623-0611 　E-mail: mailto:fiac-koho@fukuoka-airport.co.jp