Scottish traveltech innovators SWURF launch on-demand private meeting pods at Edinburgh Airport in UK first
| Company | Edinburgh Airport |
|---|---|
| Date | 02.10.2025 |
The SWURF Pod addresses global new trend of ‘meetings in motion’
Edinburgh has become the first UK airport to deploy on-demand private meeting pods, following a partnership with Scottish traveltech company SWURF.
CEO and founder of SWURF Nikki Gibson takes a meeting in one of the companys newly installed meeting pods at Edinburgh Airport
The ‘SWURF Pod’ features advanced soundproofing, private Wifi networks with security-grade encryption, smart LED lighting, air filtration systems, and ergonomic seating for those who suddenly find they need a private space for sensitive business calls.
Two pods, each measuring one metre squared, have been installed at gates 2 and 20, regularly used by major international airlines such as Qatar Airways and Lufthansa, at Scotland’s busiest airport. Passengers can book slots instantly from 30 minutes upwards through the SWURF platform.
A study published this year by travel trend forecasting agency Globetrender found that ‘meetings in motion’ were identified as one of the key Business Travel Trends for 2025. The business travel sector represents approximately 30% of the global aviation market with Edinburgh Airport expected to serve around 16 million passengers this year. Outside of London, Edinburgh has the highest proportion of business travellers.
Nicky Gibson founded SWURF in 2020 during the Covid pandemic. It offers a mobile app that connects remote and hybrid professionals – SWURF calls them ‘Swurfers’ – with underutilised hospitality venues like cafés, hotels, and co-working hubs across the UK. The company is backed by the likes of Gareth Williams, co-founder of Skyscanner, who has been a long-term investor. The company also recently announced new appointments to its board with G-Hold founder Alison Grieve, former SWURF fractional CTO Scott Leckie, and Daniel Rodgers, founder of QikServe, joining.
Nikki Gibson, Founder of SWURF, said:
“Our research consistently highlighted that taking private calls whilst travelling is the biggest challenge facing hybrid workers and business travellers. Traditional meeting room hire at airports is prohibitively expensive and often unavailable at short notice. The SWURF Pod solves this with an on-demand, affordable solution that can be accessed within minutes.”
Stephanie Wear, Chief Commercial Officer at Edinburgh Airport, said:
“We’re always looking for new ways to make travel easier and more comfortable for our passengers, and these new SWURF pods are a great example of that. We want to ensure passengers have the right spaces and tools to stay connected on their journey.”
The company, which has also agreed a deal to install a pod at the Yotel hotel in Edinburgh, plans to roll out its innovation across major transport hubs including train stations, conference centres, and additional airports.
