Replatforming vs redesign for airports - what's the difference and why it matters

Airport CMS platforms face unique pressure. Traffic peaks. Complex integrations. Personalisation needs. Security demands. When a CMS no longer meets these, the instinct is to start from scratch.

But that’s not always necessary.

Replatforming offers a more focused fix

Replatforming means moving your site from one CMS to another while retaining much of the structure, content, and design. You keep what works. You replace what doesn’t.

This approach avoids the disruption of a full redesign. And it offers major upsides:

• Scalability and flexibility - Modern platforms are designed to grow with you. If you're struggling to add routes, update schedules, or deliver promotions at speed, your CMS is holding you back.
• Stronger security - The aviation sector is a prime target for cyber threats. Legacy platforms often lack support for modern security protocols. Replatforming gives you access to systems designed for today’s risk landscape.
• Improved content management - Your team shouldn’t need development support to publish a gate change or an onboard service update. A modern CMS empowers non-technical staff to act fast.
• Time and cost savings - A full redesign is expensive and slow. Replatforming delivers many of the same benefits - performance, UX, security - without the heavy lift.

The difference between replatforming and redesigning

While a redesign may seem like the obvious solution, it is often an overreaction to the challenges faced. The pressure to innovate and stay competitive in the digital space can sometimes cloud the fact that the underlying systems often still have plenty of life in them. A redesign, which typically involves changing the entire front-end experience and may even require rebuilding the back-end architecture, is an extensive and time-consuming process.

On the other hand, replatforming focuses on the backend infrastructure, allowing for modernisation without the risk of completely disrupting user experiences. It’s about choosing a platform that aligns with your current needs while being future-proof. The result is improved stability, better scalability, and a system that better supports your airport’s strategic goals.

Strategic benefits for airports

Airports can significantly reduce downtime and customer impact through replatforming, which avoids the significant disruptions that often accompany a redesign. This is especially vital in an industry where maintaining a seamless digital experience is directly tied to customer loyalty.

A successful replatforming project can lead to increased customer satisfaction by improving booking processes, providing more accurate and timely information, and offering a smoother, more intuitive experience across platforms.

How we approach it

We start with what matters. Using MoSCoW prioritisation and our platform selection matrix, we focus on what the new system needs to do. Then we look at what can be reused and what must be rebuilt.

This lets us replatform efficiently. Less disruption. More value. And a longer shelf life for your digital estate.

Replatforming isn’t always the answer, but too often it’s overlooked

For airports looking to compete on service and scale, it’s worth a second look. The decision to replatform instead of redesigning can be a strategic one, offering a better return on investment and ensuring the technology can evolve without losing sight of current customer expectations.

Interested in finding out more? Speak to us today to explore the next steps.