Published Dec 13, 2022 | 5:23 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 13, 2022 | 5:30 PM
Terminal 2 of Bengaluru Airport. (Twitter)
The Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL), which operates the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, announced on Tuesday, 12 December, the launch of the first phase of the “BLR Metaport”.
With this new launch, the Airport’s Terminal 2 became one of the first terminals in the world that can be experienced on the metaverse, said the BIAL in a statement.
Built in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Polygon, the Metaport is said to offer an immersive three-dimensional (3D) virtual experience of the newly launched Terminal 2.
“Interested travellers and the public can log on to www.blrmetaport.com and virtually tour and navigate the new state-of-the-art terminal using their smart devices,” it said.
The Metaport is reportedly the outcome of the Joint Innovation Centre (JIC) announced in April by BIAL, AWS, and Intel.
“For BIAL, the mission of the JIC is to leverage emerging technologies to build new business models and passenger experiences and be at the forefront of technology innovation in India’s commercial aviation,” the company said in the statement.
Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru, Terminal 2 enters into the world of metaverse through BLR Metaport offering a unique, immersive and virtual experience of the terminal.
Visit us on https://t.co/F04QEGd4YS#BLRAirport #blrmetaport #metaverse #metaversegeneration pic.twitter.com/N5WmxVcQBN— BLR Airport (@BLRAirport) December 13, 2022
The BLR Metaport is said to have been designed to deliver an enhanced digital experience for travellers.
A 3D interface offers customers new ways to interact with the airport, such as checking into flights, navigating terminals, shopping, and social aspects like connecting with other travellers, said BIAL.
BIAL’s Chief Strategy and Development Officer Satyaki Raghunath was quoted in the statement as saying, “We are very excited that BIAL is entering into the new world of metaverse through the BLR Metaport. This is our first foray into the world of Web 3.0 and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and we aim to delight travellers with a unique, immersive, and virtual experience.”
The Terminal 2 (T2) is a dedication to the beautiful city of Bengaluru and will soon be open for you to go on a journey of surprises. We look forward to making your journey memorable through #BLRAirport. #T2atBLRAirport pic.twitter.com/xSrGHv7PgV
— BLR Airport (@BLRAirport) November 16, 2022
“We also have several initiatives planned around the BLR Metaport, which promise to increase ways in which we can engage with our global audience and enhance business impact over the next few years,” he added
BLR Metaport is reportedly built on the fundamentals of decentralisation, where control and decision-making are transferred from a centralised entity to a distributed network. It uses the “Polygon” blockchain technology.
