A friend asked me this the other day — like, literally just “what are those boards at the airport called?” — and I realized that while everyone uses them, most people don’t actually know the name. So here we go.
They’re Called FIDS
The official name is Flight Information Display Systems, or FIDS. That’s the industry term for those screens you see throughout airport terminals showing departure times, arrival times, gate numbers, flight statuses, and all the rest. You’ll sometimes hear people call them departure boards, arrival boards, or just flight boards, and everyone knows what you mean. But FIDS is the proper name that airport operations folks and the aviation industry use.
Probably should have led with this — the acronym stands for Flight Information Display System, and it covers every type of screen showing flight-related info in an airport. That includes the big overhead boards in the main hall, the smaller screens at individual gates, the monitors at baggage claim showing which carousel your bags are on, and even the screens near check-in counters showing which desks are handling which flights.
What Do FIDS Actually Show?
A standard FIDS display will list the flight number, airline (usually the logo or a two-letter code), destination or origin city, scheduled time, estimated or actual time, gate number, and current status. Status is the one everyone watches — it’ll say something like “on time,” “boarding,” “gate closed,” “delayed,” or the one nobody wants to see: “cancelled.”
Some airports add nice touches like showing how long the walk is to your gate or color coding flights by status. Green for on time, yellow or amber for delayed, red for cancelled — that kind of thing. It varies by airport, though. There’s no universal color standard, which I find a little surprising given how standardized other parts of aviation are.
The Tech Behind Them
Modern FIDS use LCD or LED screens connected to the airport’s central database — the Airport Operational Database, or AODB. When a flight’s gate changes or a delay gets posted, the AODB pushes that update and every relevant screen in the airport refreshes almost instantly. It’s all automated. Years ago, airports used those mechanical split-flap boards — the ones that made that distinctive clicking sound as the panels flipped. A few train stations still have them and honestly they’re kind of charming. But they couldn’t keep up with the volume and speed that modern airports need.
The screens themselves are designed for readability — large fonts, high contrast, specific viewing angles so they’re clear whether you’re standing right underneath or across the hall. That’s what makes good FIDS design endearing in a quiet way — you don’t notice it working, but you’d definitely notice if it wasn’t.
They’re Not Just for Passengers
Here’s something I didn’t realize until a friend who works in airport ops pointed it out: FIDS aren’t only passenger-facing. There are versions of these displays in operations rooms, on the ramp, and in airline back offices. The data is the same, but the format might differ — ops screens might show more technical detail like aircraft registration numbers or turnaround times that passengers wouldn’t care about. Wait, actually, some of that does show up on passenger-facing screens at certain airports. I’ve seen tail numbers listed on departure boards at a few smaller airports. Anyway, the point is the system serves multiple audiences.
Interactive and Mobile Versions
FIDS have expanded beyond static screens. A lot of airports now have interactive touchscreen kiosks where you can search for your specific flight and get directions to your gate. And of course, airline apps and airport apps on your phone are basically FIDS in your pocket — same data, just personalized to your itinerary.
But the physical boards aren’t going anywhere. There’s a practical reason — not everyone has the app or a charged phone. And there’s a psychological reason too. When you’re in an unfamiliar airport, a big visible screen with all the flight info right there is reassuring in a way that refreshing an app just isn’t. I still look up at the board even when I’ve already gotten the push notification on my phone. Old habit, I guess, but I don’t think I’m the only one.
So next time someone asks you what those boards at the airport are called — FIDS. Now you know the name for something you’ve looked at a hundred times without ever thinking about what it’s called.
