Airport Security Signage Soars to New Heights at MCO's West Checkpoint
- Abagael Rudock
- Oct 15
- 3 min read
The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) and Synect have reimagined airport security signage and the passenger experience. With their beloved digital mascot, Annie the Astronaut, leading the way, the new program blends real-time data, 3D animation, and strategic storytelling to create an experience that informs, engages, and delights passengers at the airport’s West Checkpoint.
After launching to widespread acclaim at the start of the summer, Annie’s Airport Journey continues to capture the imagination of passengers and industry experts alike. Passengers took to social media to discuss the “fabulous” and “fancy” new experience. Industry experts recognized the breakthrough this project brought, delighting in its customer-centered approach to problem-solving. Runway Girl, Regional Gateway, Aviation Pros, Airport World, and many more discussed the experiences’ innovative approach to enhancing the passenger experience. Adding to the excitement, Annie’s Journey is a finalist in two categories for the 2025 Digital Signage Experience awards: transportation and public spaces!
Today, we’re sharing a peek behind the curtain. Keep reading to learn how we worked with GOAA to create their latest, greatest passenger experience.
Designed to Delight and Deliver
At the heart of the new experience is a simple idea: security doesn't have to be stressful.
Indeterminate waits, unfamiliar processes, and static signage traditionally leave passengers feeling anxious and uncertain. Building on the success of our award-winning Digital Aquarium, MCO’s new checkpoint experience makes lines feel shorter, accelerates screening, and improves the TSA security area for passengers and staff.
The centerpiece is a cinematic, 3D replica of the airport shown on two stunning LED video walls. As Annie moves from check-in to security to the gate, she highlights MCO’s iconic details, ranging from the famous carpet to native flora to animated versions of airport staff and passengers. On her way, she passes by familiar wayfinding signs, such as Synect’s ReadySeeGo© installations, reinforcing real-world touchpoints.
Every frame of the West Checkpoint’s content was hand-built by Synect’s team. In one of our largest single-signage projects to date, we used Maya, Cinema 4D, and After Effects to create:
7,200+ rendered frames
1,000+ animated elements
100+ custom character models
3D scenes with eight inches of depth for dimensionality
The experience runs on Synect’s Passenger360®, which controls more than 2,100 displays across Terminals A, B, and C, and the Train Station.
A Checkpoint Experience to Celebrate
MCO’s West Checkpoint transformation is a strategic communication shift designed to improve the checkpoint experience for everyone. Smart content and strategic engagement create moments of connection that benefit security teams, passengers, and airport operations.
Benefits For Security Teams
As Austin Gould, former Assistant Administrator at the TSA, said during our 2024 FTE Global panel:
“We all benefit [from a better checkpoint]. Confusion in the checkpoint is not good. Distractions, you get people at their worst time. They're going to miss their flight. A calm, sterile checkpoint is the way to go, and effective communication is key to a calm checkpoint."
Benefits For Passengers
Real-time data combined with friendly animations creates a content experience that’s engaging, sharable, and memorable. Live updates on wait times make queues feel shorter, making passengers happier. Timely reminders to remove coats, discard liquids, and have boarding passes and REAL ID ready help passengers prepare for the front of the line. Suggestions for concessions inform passengers of everything MCO has to offer.
Together, these reminders and recommendations occupy passengers’ time and help them plan for the next stage of their journey, making their wait feel even shorter. What’s often a stressful step in the journey becomes a seamless part of the experience—and one more reason to love flying from MCO.
Benefits for the Airport
The West Checkpoint update reinforces MCO’s commitment to passenger-centered innovation and seamless connection. Clear communication creates more positive passenger experiences, and happier passengers are more likely to spend money within the airport. With targeted concessions promotions, the airport can encourage passengers to explore specific shops and amenities, further improving their experiences while driving additional non-aeronautical revenue.
MCO’s investments in responsive, dynamic, branded content continue to raise the bar for what the passenger experience can—and should—look like. Strong, smartly designed content is a memorable way to extend and reinforce the airport’s identity while building experiences that engage, inform, and delight passengers.
Strategic Content, Not Just Screens
The success of the West Checkpoint isn’t about the screens; it’s about the content and engagement that it delivers. When content-first strategy drives airport communication, everyone benefits.
From creative strategy to real-time data delivery, MCO’s immersive West Checkpoint experience demonstrates the power of people-first planning.
Next time you fly through MCO, keep an eye out for Annie, and prepare to enjoy a journey within your journey!
If you’re ready to rethink your airport’s digital signage strategy, our team is only a message away.
