How does Pickcel display real-time flight information on airport screens?

Pickcel connects to your flight data source via API or scheduled data import. The platform renders live departure and arrival data, gate assignments, flight status updates, and delay notifications on your configured screen layouts in real time. Any change in the flight data feed appears on screens without manual intervention from your operations team. Each display can be configured in multi-zone layouts so flight data occupies one zone while promotional content, wayfinding, or airline branding appears in adjacent zones simultaneously. Content is managed and updated from the Pickcel cloud dashboard, which gives your team full visibility over every active screen, its current content, and player health status from any location with an internet connection.

Can Pickcel replace a traditional FIDS system?

Yes. Pickcel delivers the core FIDS functionality airports need: real-time departure and arrival boards, gate information displays, and status updates, all on standard commercial hardware managed from a cloud dashboard. Unlike legacy FIDS systems, Pickcel supports multi-zone content so flight data appears alongside wayfinding, promotional content, and emergency alerts on the same screen. Role-based permissions let individual airlines manage their gate zone content while the airport authority retains full control over master layouts and emergency override. If your current system is due for hardware refresh or contract renewal, Pickcel offers a lower-cost, more flexible alternative with no proprietary hardware purchase required and no single-vendor dependency for ongoing maintenance.

What happens if the internet connection goes down? Does the FIDS display still work?

Pickcel includes offline playback capability designed to maintain display continuity during network interruptions. If the internet connection is lost, screens continue to display the most recently published content. For a FIDS deployment, this means departure boards remain visible to passengers during an outage rather than going blank or showing an error state. Content resumes updating automatically once connectivity is restored and the data feed reconnects. For airports with critical uptime requirements, Pickcel recommends a redundant network configuration and can advise on infrastructure setup during the deployment process. The offline playback behaviour is consistent across all supported device types, including Samsung Smart Signage, LG webOS, and standard Android media players.

How does Pickcel integrate with flight data sources?

Pickcel integrates with flight data feeds via API. Most airports use industry-standard flight data providers, including OAG, FlightStats, or airport-operated AODB (Airport Operational Database) systems, which can be connected to Pickcel's data input layer. The integration maps incoming flight data fields to your configured screen layout zones, so departure times, arrival status, gate assignments, airline codes, and delay notifications render automatically without manual data entry. The Pickcel integration team works directly with your IT department during initial setup to confirm feed compatibility, configure data field mapping, and validate that live data appears correctly on your screen layouts before the system goes live. For airports using proprietary data systems, Pickcel's technical team can advise on integration options during the scoping process.

Can FIDS displays also show advertisements, wayfinding, or promotional content?

Yes. Pickcel's multi-zone layout capability lets each screen display independent content zones simultaneously, which is one of the key differences between Pickcel and legacy FIDS hardware. A departure hall display can show live flight data in the primary zone, wayfinding directions in a sidebar zone, and scheduled advertising or airline branding in a lower banner zone. Revenue-generating content and operational flight information share the screen without hardware duplication and without conflict. Zone content can be scheduled by time of day, updated remotely, or switched instantly from the Pickcel dashboard. Airlines, advertising concessionaires, and retail partners can each manage their assigned zone content within the overall layout controlled by the airport authority, using Pickcel's role-based permission system.

Is Pickcel's FIDS software secure enough for airport authority procurement requirements?

Pickcel is SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 certified, which are the information security standards most commonly required in airport authority and government procurement processes. The platform includes role-based access controls, encrypted data transmission, mandatory audit logging, and configurable permission tiers that allow airports to restrict system access by user, role, and screen zone. Airport authorities retain full control over master layouts and emergency override settings, while airlines and ground handling contractors can be given access limited to their assigned display zones only. All configuration changes are recorded in audit logs with timestamp and user identifier. SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 compliance documentation is available to procurement teams on request.

How long does it take to deploy Pickcel as a FIDS solution?

Deployment timelines depend on the number of screens, data feed integration complexity, network infrastructure, and your internal IT approval process. Most Pickcel FIDS deployments, from initial system configuration through to live flight data appearing on screens, complete in days to weeks. This compares with traditional FIDS hardware projects, which typically require months for equipment procurement, specialist installation, and vendor commissioning. The Pickcel deployment process begins with a scoping call to confirm your data feed, hardware environment, and layout requirements. The Pickcel team handles configuration and provides training before handover. Hardware requirements are minimal: Pickcel runs on commercial displays you may already have installed, so airports replacing an existing FIDS system do not necessarily need to procure new screens.

How much does Pickcel FIDS software cost?

Pickcel uses a subscription-based pricing model, which is a significant structural difference from traditional FIDS systems that require high upfront capital expenditure on proprietary hardware. With Pickcel, there is no proprietary hardware purchase, no installation contract tied to a single vendor, and no per-screen hardware maintenance cost built into a vendor contract. Subscription pricing scales with your deployment size. For airport and enterprise FIDS projects, Pickcel's team provides a tailored quote based on your screen count, integration requirements, and support tier. To get a pricing estimate or compare Pickcel's total cost of ownership against your current FIDS infrastructure, speak with the Pickcel team directly. Most airports replacing legacy FIDS hardware find that a subscription-based software model reduces per-screen cost materially over a multi-year horizon.

Flight Information Display System (FIDS) Software

Replace legacy FIDS hardware with a cloud-based platform that shows real-time departure and arrival data, gate information, and promotional content, all managed remotely from one dashboard.

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Pickcel FIDS software showing real-time departure and arrival data on airport screens

Trusted by businesses worldwide

Trusted by 9,000+ Businesses • 150,000+ Screens • 70+ Countries

SOC 2 Type II

ISO Certified

9,000+

Businesses

150,000+

Screens Managed

70+

Countries

SOC 2

Type II Certified

ISO 27001

Certified

What is FIDS?

A flight information display system (FIDS) is a networked display infrastructure in airports that shows real-time departure, arrival, gate, and status information to passengers. Pickcel modernises this infrastructure: delivering live FIDS data alongside full content management capabilities on standard commercial hardware. No proprietary equipment required. No single-vendor lock-in.

Key facts

9,000+ businesses use Pickcel worldwide, across 70+ countries
150,000+ screens managed on the Pickcel platform
Compatible with 50+ commercial display types, including Samsung Smart Signage and LG webOS
SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 certified for airport authority procurement
Typical deployment from configuration to live screens: days to weeks

Best for

Airport IT ManagersOperations ManagersAV Systems Integrators

The Problem

Why Legacy FIDS Systems Hold Airports Back

Airports upgrading their passenger information infrastructure often face a difficult calculation: replace an entire proprietary FIDS system or extend a contract with diminishing value. Legacy systems were built before cloud management, multi-zone content, and commercial display compatibility became achievable. The constraints are operational, not just financial.

Proprietary Hardware Lock-in

Legacy FIDS solutions run on purpose-built hardware tied to a single vendor. Expanding your screen count, upgrading components, or switching suppliers means renegotiating contracts and procuring specialist equipment on the vendor's terms.

Content Limited to Flight Data

Traditional FIDS boards can only show flight information. There is no way to add advertising revenue, wayfinding content, emergency alerts, or airline branding alongside departure data. Revenue opportunities and operational flexibility are both sacrificed.

No Remote Management

Updating a legacy FIDS screen typically requires an on-site technician. For an airport with screens across multiple terminals, this creates a significant operational burden and makes real-time content changes difficult.

Single-Vendor Dependency

When the vendor who owns your FIDS infrastructure enters an end-of-life hardware cycle or revises its support contract terms, airports have limited recourse. Maintenance obligations become unavoidable.

Getting Started

How Pickcel Works as a FIDS Platform

In brief: Pickcel functions as a FIDS platform by connecting to your existing flight data feed, rendering real-time departure and arrival data in configurable multi-zone layouts, and distributing content to standard commercial displays across your airport from a central cloud dashboard. Deploying Pickcel as your FIDS solution follows four steps. There is no proprietary hardware to install and no specialist vendor required.

Connect Your Flight Data Source

Pickcel integrates with your existing flight data feed via API or scheduled data import. Departure times, arrival status, gate assignments, and delay notifications are pulled in and rendered in real time across your configured display layouts.

Configure Multi-Zone Layouts

Each screen can show multiple independent content zones simultaneously. A departure hall display can show live flight data in the primary zone, wayfinding information in a sidebar, and scheduled airline or retail promotions in a lower banner. All configured from the Pickcel dashboard.

Publish Across Your Airport

Assign content to screens or screen groups: departure halls, gate areas, check-in counters, lounges, or back-of-house crew briefing rooms. Schedule content in advance or push updates instantly from one central interface.

Manage Everything Remotely

Your team controls every screen in every terminal from the Pickcel cloud dashboard. Role-based permissions let individual airlines manage their own gate zone content while the airport authority retains full control over the master layout and emergency override.

Platform Capabilities

What Pickcel Delivers as a FIDS Platform

Pickcel delivers real-time flight data display, multi-zone content layouts, instant emergency override, remote management, and compatibility with 50+ commercial display devices. Airport IT teams can deploy and manage FIDS across an entire airport without proprietary hardware or on-site technical visits.

Real-Time Flight Data Display

Pickcel renders live departure and arrival data directly from your flight data source, including gate assignments, status changes, and delay notifications. Passengers see current, accurate information on every screen. Your team does not need to touch a single display to make an update.

Multi-Zone Content Layouts

Each Pickcel screen divides into independent content zones. A departure hall display shows live flight data, wayfinding information, and promotional content simultaneously, without separate hardware or software for each content type.

Instant Emergency Override

Your operations team can push full-screen emergency alerts to every airport display instantly from the Pickcel dashboard. Alerts can be triggered manually or connected to automated notification systems, with no on-site staff required.

Remote Management Across Every Terminal

Update any screen in any terminal from anywhere with an internet connection. The Pickcel dashboard provides complete visibility over all active screens, player health status, and scheduled content in real time.

50+ Device Compatibility

Pickcel runs on Samsung Smart Signage, LG webOS, standard Android media players, and more than 50 commercial display platforms. Airports can adopt a software-defined FIDS approach without discarding compatible existing hardware or committing to a new proprietary device ecosystem.

Use Cases

FIDS Applications Across the Airport

In brief: Pickcel is deployed as a FIDS platform across five core airport display environments: departure and arrival halls, gate information displays, check-in area status screens, lounge multi-zone displays, and back-of-house crew briefing screens. Each environment uses the same cloud-based platform and management interface, reducing operational complexity for airport IT teams.

Airport departure hall with large-format FIDS departure boards managed by Pickcel

Terminal

Departure and Arrival Halls

Large-format departure boards and arrival screens showing real-time flight lists, status indicators, and terminal wayfinding. Multiple airline datasets can appear in one unified layout under the airport's master brand design.

✓ Real-time multi-airline departure boards
✓ Unified airport brand design
✓ Wayfinding in multi-zone layout

Gate

Gate Information Displays

Dedicated gate screens show boarding time, flight status, seat allocation updates, and gate-specific airline branding. Airlines manage content within their assigned zone. Airport authority retains master layout control and override capability.

✓ Airline-managed content zones
✓ Real-time boarding status
✓ Airport authority override

Check-In

Check-In Area Status Screens

Pickcel displays at check-in counters show open desk information, queue guidance, and relevant flight status alongside scheduled promotional content. Content can be updated in real time as operational conditions change.

✓ Live queue and desk status
✓ Promotional content alongside operational data
✓ Real-time operational updates

Lounge

Lounge Multi-Zone Displays

Lounge screens combine live flight tracking with F&B promotions, amenity information, and airline loyalty programme content. Wayfinding information is scheduled by time of day and updated remotely as flight schedules change, without dispatching a technician to the lounge.

✓ Flight tracking with F&B promotions
✓ Airline loyalty content zones
✓ Scheduled by time of day

Back-of-house crew briefing display managed by Pickcel for airline staff and ground handling teams

Operations

Back-of-House and Crew Briefing Screens

Operational displays for airline staff and ground handling teams show crew assignments, gate changes, aircraft turnaround status, and safety briefing content. Access is restricted to authorised operational users through Pickcel's role-based permissions.

✓ Gate change and turnaround status
✓ Safety briefing content
✓ Role-based access restriction

Comparison

Pickcel vs. Traditional FIDS Hardware

Capability	Pickcel	Traditional FIDS Hardware
Hardware requirement	Standard commercial displays (Samsung, LG, Android, 50+ others)	Proprietary hardware tied to vendor ecosystem
Update method	Remote, from cloud dashboard, instantly	On-site technical visit required for most updates
Content flexibility	Flight data + promotional content + wayfinding + emergency alerts in multi-zone layouts	Flight data only
Deployment timeline	Days to weeks	Months, including hardware procurement and installation
Cost model	Subscription-based software; no proprietary hardware purchase required	High upfront capital expenditure; ongoing maintenance contracts
Security certifications	SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001	Varies by vendor; third-party certification not standard

Traditional FIDS systems were not designed for the content management requirements modern airports have. Pickcel closes that gap, combining flight data accuracy with the operational flexibility of a full-featured digital signage platform.

Security & Compliance

Enterprise-Grade Security for Airport Procurement

SOC 2 Type II Certified

Independent audited certification confirming Pickcel's security, availability, and confidentiality controls meet the Trust Services Criteria. Required by many enterprise and government procurement frameworks.

ISO 27001 Certified

Pickcel's information security management system is certified to ISO 27001, the internationally recognised standard for information security practices.

Role-Based Access + Audit Logs

Role-based permissions let airlines manage their assigned display zones while the airport authority retains master layout control. Full audit logs capture every configuration change with a user and timestamp.

SOC 2 Type IIISO 27001Role-Based Access ControlsEncrypted in Transit and at RestFull Audit Logs

Airport IT and procurement teams evaluating Pickcel against internal security policies can request compliance documentation. Details on Pickcel's security and compliance certifications are available on request.

Customer Stories

Pickcel in Aviation: Varanasi Airport

Airport terminal digital signage showing real-time flight information managed by Pickcel

Airport / Aviation

Varanasi Airport: Centralised, Remote-Controlled Terminal Displays

The Challenge

Managing display content across airport terminals with reliable real-time updates and centralised operational control.

The Outcome

Cloud-based digital signage deployed across airport terminals with remote content management and multi-zone layouts.

Ready to Modernise Your Airport’s FIDS?

Pickcel gives airport IT and operations teams a cloud-based FIDS platform that combines real-time flight data with content management flexibility that legacy systems cannot provide. Manage every screen across every terminal from one dashboard, on compatible hardware you already own or can source from 50+ commercial devices.

No credit card required.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

FIDS stands for flight information display system. It refers to the networked screen infrastructure in airports that shows real-time departure, arrival, gate, and flight status data to passengers and airline staff. A FIDS typically covers multiple display types: large-format departure and arrival boards in main terminal halls, gate information displays showing boarding times and seat allocation updates, check-in area status screens, and back-of-house operational displays for airline staff and ground handling teams. Pickcel functions as a cloud-based FIDS platform, delivering real-time flight data on standard commercial displays alongside full content management capabilities, including promotional content, wayfinding, and emergency alerts. For a detailed explanation of FIDS systems, their history, and technical components, visit the Pickcel FIDS guide.

Airport Digital Signage

The complete Pickcel solution for airport display environments, covering FIDS, wayfinding, advertising, and operational screens across all terminal areas.

Read more about Pickcel for airports →

Guide

What Is a FIDS System?

Educational guide to flight information display systems: how they work, their history, components, and how modern cloud platforms compare to legacy hardware.

Read the complete guide to FIDS systems →

Case Study

Varanasi Airport

See how Varanasi Airport deployed Pickcel for digital signage across airport terminals with remote content management and centralised control.

Read the Varanasi Airport case study →

Why Legacy FIDS Systems Hold Airports Back

How Pickcel Works as a FIDS Platform

What Pickcel Delivers as a FIDS Platform

FIDS Applications Across the Airport

Capability

Pickcel

Traditional FIDS Hardware

Hardware requirement

Standard commercial displays (Samsung, LG, Android, 50+ others)

Proprietary hardware tied to vendor ecosystem

Update method

Remote, from cloud dashboard, instantly

On-site technical visit required for most updates

Content flexibility

Flight data + promotional content + wayfinding + emergency alerts in multi-zone layouts

Flight data only

Deployment timeline

Days to weeks

Months, including hardware procurement and installation

Cost model

Subscription-based software; no proprietary hardware purchase required

High upfront capital expenditure; ongoing maintenance contracts

Security certifications

SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001

Varies by vendor; third-party certification not standard

Ready to Modernise Your Airport’s FIDS?

No credit card required.

Flight Information Display System (FIDS) Software

What is FIDS?