Hong Kong Airport's New Terminal Bets Big on LED Over LCD
2026-11-15 · via invidis
Hong Kong International Airport's new Terminal 2, handling check-in and security for regional flights since spring, has built its passenger experience around large-scale LED installations rather than the LCD video walls that dominated earlier airport projects, according to invidis, which visited the site.
For operators watching where large-venue digital signage is heading, the terminal is a data point worth noting. Invidis reports that recent airport openings across Asia show a consistent pattern: new terminals are turning to LED as the main structure of their digital signage strategy, not just as accent screens. The publication contrasts this with Frankfurt Airport's Terminal 3, where LCD displays still dominate the passenger journey, calling that installation dated by comparison.
At Hong Kong's Terminal 2, the design theme draws on marine life and Disney characters, reflecting the terminal's proximity to Disneyland Hong Kong. Instead of conventional screens, roughly one-meter-high LED ribbons wrap around check-in islands, giving airlines space for branded environments around their counters. Invidis describes animated 3D content, including dolphins, robots and cartoon characters, appearing through virtual aircraft windows as passengers enter.
The most prominent installation sits on the route to the security checkpoint, where large technical structures are wrapped entirely in LED surfaces. Invidis notes the pixel pitch may not be top tier, but the scale of the deployment is unusual for an airport environment.
Advertising still limited
Despite the scale of the build, invidis reports that commercial content remains sparse. Only a handful of curved LED displays currently carry advertising, with most screens given over to immersive marine-themed animation rather than paid placements. That suggests the installation was designed first as an experience and brand statement, with advertising monetization to follow later, though the announcement gives no timeline for that.
Structural incident
The rollout has not been without problems. In September, part of the suspension system supporting a Marine-Life Mickey Mouse-shaped LED installation above the security access malfunctioned, and video of the overhead displays swaying circulated on social media. According to invidis, the airport operator carried out inspections, added extra support cables as a precaution, and had the setup checked by both its maintenance team and an independent structural engineer before returning it to service. The displays have since been switched from dynamic motion mode to a stationary mode.
For venues considering similarly ambitious overhead or suspended LED builds, the incident is a reminder that large-format kinetic installations carry structural risk that needs ongoing monitoring, separate from the display technology itself. The article does not say whether the motion mode will be restored once further checks are complete.
The announcement in full
Reproduced from invidis for reference. Digital Signage Magazine did not write the text below.
Hong Kong | Forget video walls. Hong Kong's new Terminal 2 proves that LED has become the new language of airport experiences, transforming check-in and security into attractions of their own.
Hong Kong International Airport is booming again after the pandemic. To accommodate growing passenger numbers, the airport has opened an expanded Terminal 2. Since spring, the terminal has been handling check-in and security screening for regional flights, welcoming travelers into a spacious environment designed to reduce stress through immersive digital signage experiences.
LCD video walls are becoming a thing of the past
If recent airport terminal openings are any indication, the era of LCD video walls in major airport terminals is drawing to a close. The generously designed check-in halls of modern airports provide the perfect canvas for large-scale digital signage installations that are difficult to realize with conventional LCD displays. Particularly in Asia, the direction is clear: LED dominates the check-in experience.
Over the past few weeks, invidis visited several airports across the region and found a consistent trend. New terminals are increasingly relying on LED technology as the backbone of their digital experience strategy.
The contrast with Frankfurt Airport’s Terminal 3 is striking. Although Frankfurt T3 opened years later than originally planned due to the pandemic, its digital signage concept reflects an earlier generation of thinking. LCD displays still dominate the passenger journey, making the installation appear somewhat dated compared to the latest projects in Asia.
Just a few kilometers from Hong Kong International Airport lies Disneyland Hong Kong, one of Asia’s major experience destinations with more than seven million visitors annually. Terminal 2 appears to have embraced a similarly playful approach.
The design theme revolves around marine life, aquariums and, naturally, Disney’s most famous character. Instead of conventional display screens, approximately one-meter-high LED ribbons wrap around the check-in islands, allowing airlines to create large-scale branding environments around their counters.
With much of the terminal’s future capacity not yet fully utilized, the airport has filled the space with animated 3D content. Dolphins, robots and cartoon characters appear through virtual aircraft windows, creating an entertaining arrival experience for passengers entering the terminal.
The most striking installation awaits passengers on their way to the security checkpoint. Large technical structures have been completely wrapped in LED surfaces, transforming the area into what feels like a giant digital aquarium. While the pixel pitch may not be among the industry’s finest, the sheer scale of LED deployment is extraordinary for an airport environment.
It is the perfect backdrop for selfies. Children love it, and the installations seem almost purpose-built for future advertising opportunities. Yet commercial content remains surprisingly limited.
Only a handful of curved LED displays currently carry advertising. Most of the screens are dedicated to immersive content featuring swimming dolphins and marine-themed animations, complete with eye-catching 3D effects.
Even some food and beverage outlets have integrated LED displays into their designs, including corner installations showcasing three-dimensional content with varying degrees of success. Overall, Terminal 2 delivers an exceptional passenger experience that would currently be difficult to imagine outside Asia.
Not everything has gone according to plan. In September, part of the suspension system supporting the Marine-Life Mickey Mouse-shaped LED installation above the terminal security access malfunctioned. Videos showing the large overhead displays swaying noticeably quickly spread across social media.
The airport operator responded immediately by conducting comprehensive inspections and adding additional safety measures. The overhead circular LED screens were thoroughly inspected by the airport’s maintenance team as well as an independent structural engineer before being returned to service. Additional support cables had been installed as a precautionary measure.
Following the incident, the displays were switched from their dynamic motion mode to a stationary operating mode. A video of the incident can be viewed on Youtube: Terminal 2 display movement .
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For now, however, the incident does little to overshadow what is one of the most ambitious uses of LED technology in an airport environment. Terminal 2 demonstrates how digital signage is evolving from a communications medium into a core component of the passenger experience itself.
The growing appeal of airports as advertising environments is explored in the recent invidis analysis, Airport DooH: The Out-of-Home Business Class .