Why Airports Are Getting Rid of Moving Walkways

Do you use those moving walkways in airports? I've simply stood on them just to enjoy a peaceful hang while roaming the airport instead of just sitting at my gate.

Plus, it's the worst when you're walking and get hot and even sweaty before you board your flight.

I've also used them when I'm in a hurry and there's room to jump onto one and take advantage of moving while walking quickly.

They can also be annoying and even be in the way sometimes when you're trying to get to a gate. It is what it is, though, right?

According to the One Mile at a Time website, there are several reasons why some airports are literally ripping them out while others are not even putting them in during airport upgrades and renovations.

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BAD FOR BUSINESS

Airports not only generate revenue through landing fees and gate fees, but also from airport concessions, including kiosks, shops, and restaurants. But without many exit points, those walkways reduce foot traffic for businesses around them.

Maybe you’re on a long moving walkway and you see a store or cafe you would visit if you could easily access it by just stopping, but you don’t want to backtrack a long distance to get there.

They can also be an inadvertent divider, where you have to choose which side to walk on if you don't use the walkway itself.

According to One Mile at a Time, it’s like when you're driving and you see a business on the other side of the road, but it's hard to get to, so you move along.

MAINTENANCE COSTS

Have you come across one that is broken? As you can imagine, from installation to operating and maintaining them, these things aren't cheap.

WALKWAY SIZE

To top it all off, it's a tight squeeze when you have several people using them. The actual walkway isn't that wide. If you're standing on the right side and someone on the left side is pulling luggage with one hand with a bag in the other, chances are you're getting bumped into while they're trying to maneuver.

Then there are people who simply don't care or don't know the moving walkway rules.

Now, this doesn't mean they're all disappearing. They may stick around in areas without businesses and around the gate areas, but overall, don't be surprised if you start to see less or none at all in the years to come.