AIRPORT WORLD 2014, ISSUE 06
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In the spotlight: Security
Airport: Durban’s King Shaka
Special report: Spaceports
Plus: Airport design & People matters
Change for good
Airport World editor, Joe Bates, considers the changing face of airport security and looks forward to a busy and successful new year.
While being able to remotely scan someone for weapons or predict evil intent before it happens may still be the realms of fantasy from your favourite science fiction novel, there is no doubting that airport security has come a long way in the last 15 years.
After all, we now have full body scanners, machines capable of detecting liquid explosives hidden in drink bottles, sensors that detect when someone is moving against the crowd, intelligent CCTV cameras and the ability to X-ray delivery trucks for dangerous goods.
And the mission to stay one step ahead of the terrorist threat ensures that passenger screening technology will continue to advance and become more sophisticated, effective and customer friendly in the years ahead.
It is a similar story for access control and securing the perimeter fences of airports, which can stretch for dozens of miles across very differing landscapes.
New legislation, often implemented in the aftermath of a terrorist attack or foiled plot, has historically driven the changing face of airport security, and the last few years have
been no exception.
Indeed, the growing number of global conflicts in the past five years alone has seen the perceived threat to aviation escalate to some of the highest levels since the 9/11 terror attacks, ensuring that security remains at the very top of the agenda for airports.
Arguably airports have paid a heavy price for the new environment in which they operate through rising security costs.
In fact many have seen their security costs soar since the turn of the century due to the new technology they have had to install and extra manpower required to guarantee that they
tick all the right boxes.
ACI Europe put this into perspective in 2012 when it revealed that little or no state funding for aviation security across the continent meant that ‘security’ accounts for an average of 20% of the operating costs of Europe’s airports and for 41% of airport staff.
This security-themed edition of Airport World addresses some of the key issues and challenges facing airports today, such as cyber security and the need to improve the passenger screening process and make it more customer-friendly.
Elsewhere in the magazine we learn more about Durban’s King Shaka International Airport and Istanbul’s planned new gateway, investigate the spaceport phenomenon and discover how technology helps Frankfurt make the most of the airport site.
The issue, of course, also contains the usual words of wisdom from ACI World director general, Angela Gittens; leadership advice on motivation and performance; and the latest news from ACI’s World Business Partners.
I hope that you enjoy it and also hope that many of the airport success stories and pioneering new initiatives we’ve shared with you in 2014 have served to help and inspire in today’s tough operating climate.
We will do our best to do the same again in 2015 through our headline features and themes that will cover the hot topics of ‘economics’, ‘small airports’, ‘master planning’, ‘health and wellbeing’ and ‘ground support’ as well as celebrating the 20th anniversary of Airport World.
Here’s to the next 12 months!
Opinion
News
ACI news
View from the top
Director general, Angela Gittens, discusses ACI’s work in the realm of airport security and the importance of knowledge sharing.
Beginning of the journey How is Durban’s King Shaka International Airport faring nearly five years on from its opening? Joe Bates investigates.
Beginning of the journey
How is Durban’s King Shaka International Airport faring nearly five years on from its opening? Joe Bates investigates.
Are you onboard?
ACI’s deputy director general, Michael Rossell, reflects on improving the passenger experience with Smart Security and the growing need for cyber security.
Screen test
Yves Duguay explains why airports should invest more in the customer-friendly planning, design and operation of security checkpoints.
Clear and present danger
Lockheed Martin’s Chris Varley discusses six steps for improving cyber security and asks: how many has your airport taken?
Security news
What’s hot and what’s not in the world of airport security? Joe Bates rounds up the latest global news.
The space programme
The race to build dedicated facilities to handle future spacetourists shows no sign of slowing down despite recent tragic events, writes Justin Burns.
Prized asset
Dr Matthias Alisch reflects on the use of geo-spatial technology to manage the development of the Frankfurt Airport site.
Project watch
News Istanbul Airport
ACI’s World Business Partners
People Matters
Dr Richard Plenty and Terri Morrissey provide their thoughts on: motivation and performance.
