Apple has added airport terminal maps, featuring check-in locations, dining options, and shopping outlets, into its Apple Maps app in iOS 11 as part of a new indoor maps feature.
The feature emerged quietly this summer as part of the iOS 11 beta and 34 airports around the world are being rolled out in the new feature, including airports in the U.S, Canada, UK, Germany and Switzerland. The update also adds navigation and accessibility information, showing icons for things like elevators and bathrooms.
Instead of using GPS technology, in airports, Apple Maps instead passively connects to Wi-Fi hotspots to figure out a user’s location and where they’re looking. Users don’t need to be connected to Wi-Fi for this geolocation feature to function, and it’s able to figure out what level of the terminal the user is on to prevent confusion.
The information still needs improvement for blind and low vision travelers. The granularity of the information will depend on the airport, and will only improve over time, according to Apple representatives.
Users can report incorrect or missing information to the Apple Maps team, which can fix problems within days. The Apple Maps app already integrates with services like Uber and Lyft, along with Yelp for restaurant reviews.
