Unifying Four Airport Websites into a Single Online Presence for Mitteldeutsche Flughafen AG

Operating as individual subsidiaries, a uniform online presence for Mitteldeutsche Flughafen AG was desired to publicly communicate and display synergy between the four locations. Following a tender, Netresearch DTT GmbH was selected as the agency of choice to take on the task of consolidating the websites to create one centralized hub utilizing TYPO3.

Prior to the merger, individual websites existed for Mitteldeutsche Flughafen AG, Dresden Airport, Leipzig/Halle Airport and PortGround. The goal was not only consolidation but also choosing the right CMS to create a site that fostered flexibility, enabling the system to be optimally prepared for future adaptations and extensions. Due to these needs, TYPO3 was the chosen CMS to bring this project to life. 

The concept for Mitteldeutsche Flughafen AG was developed together with Oberüber Karger Kommunikationsagentur GmbH. At the start of the project in August 2019, Netresearch utilized TYPO3 v9 as a multi-stage system for Mitteldeutsche Flughafen AG which consolidated and unified the online communication for the company and gradually for the subsidiaries. The goal was to integrate current and future services quickly and seamlessly. This includes flight data, airline logos of the daily flight schedule and other pertinent information to ensure that visitors are receiving up-to-date data. 

One of the main goals of this merger was to integrate interactive elements and implement a comprehensive flight search function. This feature enables users to search for upcoming flights for the next year, with the flexibility to switch between the departure and arrival airports of both Leipzig/Halle and Dresden. An interactive map enhances this functionality, offering users a convenient and high-performance tool. This was achieved through customized TYPO3 extensions that display flight information via an interactive map, complete with a search function and results list. Every week, ~90,000 raw data records are processed, resulting in ~1.7 million connections.

One of the primary objectives of this project was to provide the customer with a productive system accompanied by identical but separate editorial systems for content management and maintenance. The TYPO3 nr_sync extension, developed by Netresearch, allows editors to transfer, edit, and create content from the editorial system to the production system at any time. The upgraded TYPO3 system allows back-end users without technical skills to publish new content on their own. To enhance security, a separate test system is used to evaluate new features before they go live.

Consolidating four airport websites into a single portal is no small task. Fortunately, Netresearch was the ideal TYPO3 partner for this complex and extensive relaunch project, thanks to their expertise in collaborating with group customers, group subsidiaries, and providing expert consulting. Netresearch has proven to be a reliable partner for all aspects of the online presence, providing clients with a central point of contact for the ongoing development and optimization of their new digital presence. 

Thanks to TYPO3, the new Mitteldeutsche Flughafen AG website is primed for future adaptations, modifications, and extensions. The current system can be updated easily without interruption. During the development phase, Netresearch avoided 'hard coding' to ensure freedom and accessibility for editors. Special focus was placed on UX/UI design, mobile optimization, and data protection compliance to create a safe and optimal experience for website visitors. TYPO3 continues to ensure smooth travels for Mitteldeutsche Flughafen passengers. 

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