An airport in Paris is experimenting with virtual boarding staff in order to make things look a little more high tech.

The virtual boarding staff member is always smiling, never takes a break and will not strike. Well, that’s what the French creators hope. The project is being piloted at the Orly airport in the French capital and over the past month the virtual staff have received a mix reception from air travellers.

Travellers have sparked interest with the virtual staff as they try to strike conversations, touch and take photos with the ‘2D-holograms’. Other passengers have been seen to run past the images in fear they might come to life. “It spooks me the way his eyes seem to follow you,” said Cedric Olivier, 32, an Air France pilot waiting for his plane.