Hyperlaunch spin-out unveils world’s first AI-powered generative airport maps at Lufthansa Airport Innovation Day
Departly, a spin-out from technology studio Hyperlaunch, has been selected for the Lufthansa Innovation Spotlight and will showcase its groundbreaking generative AI maps at Lufthansa’s Airport Innovation Day. The platform offers travellers personalised, real-time navigation through airports, responding naturally to queries like “What’s my flight status?”, “How do I reach my gate?”, or “Where are the nearest restrooms?”
Departly was born from Hyperlaunch’s earlier project developing a kiosk app deployed across Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) – one of the world’s busiest airports with almost 3,000 points of interest. That project highlighted the limits of static mapping, prompting Hyperlaunch to start independent R&D to turn traditional maps into dynamic discovery tools.
Departly uses AI throughout its tech stack, automatically ingesting, organising, and categorising a blend of complex airport data. It builds a semantic search index to enable intuitive searches. Advanced large language models (LLMs) allow users to interact conversationally with maps, dynamically guiding passengers based on live information such as flight updates, security wait times, and facility availability. Unlike traditional indoor mapping solutions, Departly created its own comprehensive mapping engine and data platform without using third-party SDKs.
“Airports are increasingly becoming destinations in their own right,” said Chris Garrett, founder of Hyperlaunch and Departly. “Whether sprinting to a gate or relaxing during a layover, travellers deserve effortless navigation. We’re building technology that makes airports accessible and enjoyable.”
Hyperlaunch has a proven track record in spatial innovation, having created the first location-aware integration at Las Vegas’ Sphere for U2’s residency, the UK’s first map of outdoor table tennis tables, and a real-time pollution mapping app for Toyota. Lufthansa’s selection highlights Departly’s potential to significantly improve passenger experiences, reflecting the increasing demand for digital wayfinding solutions, a market expected to reach nearly $10 billion by 2033.
Departly is now looking to partner with major airports worldwide to pilot its new mapping technology, aiming to redefine how passengers explore and experience airports.
Image credit – Rachel Carney