INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

Psychological safety Terri Morrissey and Richard Plenty give their perspective on how to create a psychologically safe work environment. Have you ever felt that it would be better not to speak out, ask questions, challenge the status quo, raise issues, or simply make suggestions in your workplace because there might be a price to pay […]

Aviation leaders from across the globe and an impressive 27,000 viewers virtually watched the recent World Aviation Conference (WAC) in South Korea, hosted by Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC). This year’s event was staged a few weeks ahead of the upcoming 20th anniversary of Incheon International Airport, which within five years of its opening was […]

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority has chosen Jacobs to help it enhance the overall airline and passenger experience at Reagan National and Dulles airports. Under the terms of the agreement, Jacobs will provide facilities condition assessment (FCA) and enterprise asset management (EAM) services at both Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and Washington Dulles International […]

Copenhagen Airport continues to struggle with the downturn in traffic caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, today admitting that although its airlines are ready for busy summer take-off, “everything now depends on what the reopening plan for the travel industry will look like”. The Danish gateway adds: “Even with the few people currently travelling, social distancing […]

Fortem Technologies co-founder and CEO, Timothy Bean, provides his thoughts on the challenges airports face from the 1% of drones that pose a threat to aircraft and airfield safety. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the US sees more than 100 rogue drone sighting reports each month, and with the number of commercial and recreational […]

Doha’s Hamad International Airport has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Qatar’s Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) to improve its waste management. As a result, the airport (DOH) says that it will develop and modernise its facilities by implementing new, more effective methods of waste management. The MoU outlines the collaboration between MATAR […]

An old friend returned to Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) today – Southwest Airlines, which is back at the Texas gateway after a 16 year absence. Its return widens the carrier’s footprint in Houston and will provide greater convenience for business and leisure travellers throughout the region, notes Houston Airports. “Welcome back home to […]

Glasgow Airport has been awarded an International Safety Award for protecting its employees from the risk of injury and ill health at work. The airport has won an International Safety Award with a Distinction from the British Safety Council in recognition of its commitment to keeping its workers and workplaces healthy and safe during the […]

Milas-Bodrum Airport greeted its first international passengers of the year when an Azur Air flight from Moscow touched down in Turkey yesterday. The flight, which was met by a traditional water salute,  brought 212 passengers from Moscow Vnukovo to Bodrum. TAV Milas-Bodrum’s general manager, İclal Kayaoğlu, said: “We are happy to welcome the first international […]

Each year airlines begin new sustainability initiatives, experiment with biofuels, and offset their carbon emissions on selected flights; yet, sustainability should not only be a topic of discussion when an aircraft is in the air but also when it’s on the ground. In just one year, a Boeing 777, B787, Airbus A330, and A350, burn […]

ACI World’s vice president for safety and operations, Thomas Romig, reflects on some operational safety considerations for airports in 2021. The last year has brought some significant changes to society as a whole and has had a huge impact on the aviation industry. The most significant of these impacts is the dramatic decrease in passengers […]

New research by the Airport Operators Association (AOA) and ABTA – The Travel Association have questioned the UK government’s new traffic light system for the resumption of international air travel from England. They warn that the cost of PCR testing for international travel in the UK is double that of testing in other European countries. […]

The road to recovery for airports starts at the intersection of health and security, writes Johnson Controls’ Ramsey Nuwar. Although it might not seem like it at the moment, the air travel industry can expect a strong rebound in passenger volumes this year, with a recent study finding that 70% of those surveyed plan to […]

VINCI Airports has won the 30-year concession to operate and develop seven airports in the north of Brazil – Manaus, Porto Velho, Rio Branco, Boa Vista, Cruzeiro do Sul, Tabatinga and Téfé. Considered the gateways to the Amazon region and neighbouring Brazilian states, the airports welcomed 4.7 million passengers between them in 2019, the bulk […]

New research by Amadeus indicates that 90% of travellers would be comfortable using a digital health passport for future travel. Indeed, the study, commissioned by Amadeus and delivered by Censuswide, claims that 41% of travellers were keen to book an international trip within six weeks of restrictions lifting. The study, says Amadeus, found that just […]

Allegiant Travel Company has announced plans to establish a base of operations at the South Terminal at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas. The Las Vegas-based company will invest $75 million to establish the new base in Austin, creating at least 89 high-wage jobs and housing three Airbus A320 aircraft. The company, which focuses on linking […]

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has announced the expansion of its industry-leading plastic-free policy to prohibit the sale of any beverages in plastic bottles. In August 2019, SFO became the first airport in the world to prohibit the provision or sale of single-use water bottles in plastic or aseptic paper packaging. This policy has now […]

Leisure travel in America will push the US domestic airline industry to a COVID recovery by early 2022, according to a new report from consulting firm Oliver Wyman. “A year ago, we would have thought that a full domestic recovery in this timeframe for the US was almost impossible, but the combination of pent-up demand, economic […]

Airport World reviews some of the latest security developments and news stories from across the globe. Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) has launched a pilot programme that uses innovative technology to provide social distancing information and assessment for customers at security checkpoints. The project uses Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology and sophisticated software […]

Despite today’s tough operating climate, airports continue to invest in new infrastructure to enhance their capabilities. Joe Bates takes a closer look at some of the most exciting recent developments. Recent announcements about a number of potentially game-changing infrastructure development projects in Europe, North America, Asia and the Middle East shows that despite the continued […]

London City Airport (LCY) has renewed its commitment to supporting its local communities in East London with the launch of the London City Helpers programme. The new programme, delivered in partnership with the East London Business Alliance (ELBA) and with support from other community partners, will see the airport deliver bespoke engagement activities in the […]

Incheon International Airport, arguably the Airport Service Quality (ASQ) king of recent years, has become the first gateway to achieve a new Level 4 status in ACI’s Airport Customer Experience Accreditation programme. Since ACI launched the world’s first Airport Customer Experience Accreditation programme in 2019, 45 airports around the world joined the programme to improve […]

Continuing to prioritise customer service and listening to the needs of passengers is more important than ever in these uncertain times, writes corporate affairs manager, Bojana Jeremic. With many borders still closed and travel restrictions in place, the recovery process and kick-starting travel is taking longer than we had anticipated. It is clear that people […]

ACI today announced that its world airport COVID-19 health measures data will now be displayed in Apple Maps, making it possible for travellers to more easily access airport health guidance and help prevent the spread of the pandemic. Now iPhone, iPad, and Mac users can simply search for an airport in Apple Maps and find […]

In 2019, the UK became the first major economy to put Net Zero carbon emissions into legislation, writes Atkins’ James Domone and Matt Wills. Aviation currently accounts for 12% of emissions from transport sources (with road vehicles amounting to 74%), and 2% of all global emissions. Refining accounts for 40% of the Green House Gas […]

ACI Europe has welcomed Swedavia’s announcement that all ten of its Swedish airports have achieved Net Zero CO2 emissions across all operations under their control – a world first. Swedavia thus also becomes the first company to deliver on the European airport industry pledge to become Net Zero by 2050 at the latest. Marking the […]

Hamburg Airport today admitted that the coronavirus pandemic has left deep scars in its balance sheet, revealing that the “unprecedented crisis” has resulted in a first-ever annual deficit of €113 million. And the German airport, which saw its passenger numbers drop by 73% to 4.56 million in 2020, notes that without a strict savings programme, […]

INTERPOL secretary general, Jürgen Stock, tells Airport World more about some of the key challenges facing it today and how the organisation works with local law enforcement agencies to help combat crime at airports. When, where and why was INTERPOL founded? The INTERPOL story began in 1914 when police and lawyers from 24 countries met […]

In the UK, a cross-party group of over sixty MPs and Peers have written to the Chancellor calling for the introduction of Arrivals duty free shops at British airports, international rail and ferry terminals. They claim the move would have a hugely positive economic impact for airports and duty free operators in the UK. To […]

A snapshot of the latest news from ACI’s World Business Partners. Grand Cayman’s airfield upgrade Work has been completed on the reconstruction and expansion of the airside infrastructure at Owen Roberts International Airport on Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands. According to the Stantec led design team, the major airfield upgrades are set to increase […]

New analysis from ACI World shows that despite some positive signs for recovery emerging, the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on airport revenues will still be deeply felt in 2021. According to its Advisory Bulletin: The impact of COVID-19 on the airport business and path to recovery published today, 4.7 billion fewer passengers or 47.5% […]

Amadeus has announced that it is to work even closer with ground handler and air service provider, dnata, in support of its drive for “greater standardisation” of the systems used across its global operations. As a result, Amadeus will continue to power dnata’s innovative centralised load control service for airlines at Dubai International Airport (SXB) […]

Airports and the aviation industry continue to go to extraordinary lengths to combat the health risks caused by COVID-19, writes Joe Bates. From deploying mobile medics, the opening of COVID-19 test centres and new cleaning regimes to embracing new industry health standards and the use of some of the most sophisticated technology on the planet, […]

Hong Kong International Airport is extending its relief package for the airport community for another two months to the end of May 2021, in view of the prolonged impact brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. The continuing waiver or reduction of various fees for the aviation industry from April to May 2021 includes parking charges for […]

Passengers passing through Dubai International Airport (DXB) now have free access to Magzter’s collection of more than 7,000 leading magazines, newspapers, journals and comics, arguably making it the world’s first ‘smart reading airport’. A fully contactless and paperless digital experience – using geo-fencing satellite technology – the Magzter partnership enables visitors to download the latest […]

We report on some of the companies that are helping transform Nashville International Airport into an even more modern, passenger friendly gateway. BNA’s dynamic glass Nashville International Airport (BNA) is a major through-point and economic engine for the Middle Tennessee region. Its BNA Vision master plan is transforming the airport into a more modern, efficient […]

Helsinki and ten other Finavia operated airports in Finland are set to embrace cloud technology in a pioneering move to combat COVID-19 disruption and better equip them for future growth. According to IT partner, Amadeus, cloud solutions will help deliver an exceptional check-in and boarding experience at Finland’s gateways and accelerate innovations like contactless payment […]

Copenhagen Airport (CPH) and its airlines have announced that they have “struck an agreement” that they believe will provide the necessary commercial framework for a restart of traffic and the route network at the Danish gateway. The agreement sets out prices and incentives for flying to and from CPH over the coming years following the […]

Airport World considers whether taxi services using electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft are the shape of things to come at the world’s airports. The UK government has awarded an industrial research grant to a consortium led by Atkins to look at the feasibility of introducing an air taxi service using electric vertical take-off […]

President and CEO, Doug Kreulen, tells Joe Bates why expansion and future traffic growth continue to be a key focus for Nashville International Airport. Nashville International Airport (BNA) is an airport with a plan, it aims to become one of the most modern gateways in the US and future large hub, and despite the impact […]

In a hugely pioneering initiative, Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) has successfully conducted the trial of digital health passes on a flight between Hong Kong and Los Angeles. It believes the move signifies its commitment to providing a seamless travel experience for passengers under the new normal as a result of COVID-19. Designed to provide […]

VIEW THE ISSUE HERE Theme: Safety & Security Airport report: Nashville Special report: Vertical take-off and landing taxis Plus: Airport design, IT innovation & People matters Carefully does it Airport World editor, Joe Bates, considers some of the health and safety challenges facing airports in this ‘safety and security’ themed issue. Nearly a year on […]

ACI World has today published new guidance for airports to help them prepare for restart and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on their operations. As the trajectory of recovery has been affected by new variants of COVID-19 and the new restrictions introduced by governments in response, the second edition of ACI World’s […]

ACI World director general, Luis Felipe de Oliveira, reflects on what lies ahead for the aviation industry in 2021 and beyond. It is safe to say that 2020 will go down as the most challenging year ever in the history of aviation. We have, of course, weathered many storms over the last few decades, but […]

Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) in the US and Cologne-Bonn Airport (CGN) in Germany have signed a co-operation agreement to mutually develop air cargo traffic between their two regions. According to the gateways, the new partnership will strengthen the knowledge sharing between these two strong cargo service airports and support their collective air cargo reach. […]

Hong Kong International Airport’s Sky Bridge, a 200-metre long airside bridge connecting Terminal 1 and the North Satellite Concourse (NSC), has received BEAM Plus New Buildings’ provisional gold rating from the Hong Kong Green Building Council. The green features of Sky Bridge recognised in the rating include optimisation of exterior lighting, use of sustainably-sourced construction […]

Munich Airport’s LabCampus innovation centre will shortly have a new tenant – one of the world’s leading technology companies in the autonomous driving sector, Argo AI, which is expected to test and develop vehicles on the site. Established in 2016 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the company has partnerships with US car manufacturer Ford and […]

Airports are accelerating their investment in technology to aid the aviation industry’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report issued today by ACI World. Based on the findings of a survey by IT provider SITA, airports have been agile in adapting to the changing health and safety requirements, focusing on automated and […]

Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs has opened a new art exhibit at New Chitose Airport as part of its ‘Culture Gate to Japan‘ initiative. Artworks by the creative group Naked, Inc. are exhibited at the airport, as well as on the web, with the aim of promoting the appeals of Japanese culture and sharing it with […]

Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) has opened a rapid testing lab for COVID-19 in a bid to facilitate the resumption of air travel and assist with quarantine tracking procedures. The new facility, opened by Abu Dhabi Airports in partnership with Pure Health and Tamouh Healthcare, is believed to be one of the region’s first PCR […]

Blackpool Airport has had no commercial traffic since March 2017 and that situation seems unlikely to change anytime soon, but its local council owners are so confident in its future that they have decided to take over the management of UK gateway. The decision, announced today, means that Blackpool Council’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Blackpool Airport Operations […]

Global ground handler, Swissport, has signed a three-year contract with IAG to provide services to its airlines serving Berlin Brandenburg International Airport (BER). The new additions – British Airways, Iberia and Vueling – means that Swissport now provides ground handling services to 17 airlines at Germany’s new €6 billion capital city airport. A British Airways […]

Virgin Atlantic has celebrated International Women’s day by naming one of its planes ‘Lady Emmeline’ after Emmeline Pankhurst, the founder of the Suffragette movement and women’s rights activist. As the leader of the WSPU, Pankhurst’s political campaigning was instrumental in securing women in the UK the right to vote at the turn of the last […]

It is not going to be popular, but London’s Gatwick Airport is to go ahead with its decision to introduce a £5 charge for vehicles dropping off passengers directly outside its North Terminal. The UK gateway will introduce the charge from Monday, March 8, and describes it as “a new revenue stream to help protect […]

Tomorrow’s airports will need to be cleaner, quieter, and less reliant on ground-based infrastructure. Clare Williams Fannin spoke to Duncan Walker of Skyports to find out how the use of electric air-taxis can help them achieve these objectives. There can be little doubt that a journey to and from an airport can be challenging. Road […]

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) today welcomed the return of Emirates with the arrival of their first non-stop flight from Dubai in 11 months. The largest airline in the Middle East plans to operate four non-stop flights per week, using Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. Dubai based Emirates suspended operations at SFO on March 29, 2020, due […]

Pre-departure rapid testing that delivers results within 15 minutes is being trialled at Edinburgh Airport as part of recovery planning for aviation in Scotland. The week-long trial started today and uses tests that only require a saliva sample, meaning no nasal swab and a more positive testing experience. PocDoc and BioSure are running the trial, […]

ACI World today revealed the results of its annual Airport Service Quality (ASQ) customer excellence survey, with 33 airports picking up ‘hygiene’ awards in the programme which was modified for 2020 to take into account the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the airport industry’s response to it. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, […]

Gatwick Airport’s CEO, Stewart Wingate, today reiterated his confidence in the airport’s ability to bounce back from the toughest year in its history and experience international passenger growth again from the summer. Wingate says: “It will come as no surprise that, like any other international airport, the negative impact of COVID-19 resulted in a financial […]

Cork Airport has welcomed the news that Lufthansa is to commence a twice-weekly Cork-Frankfurt service for Summer 2021, connecting the two cities for the first time in eighteen years. Lufthansa (operated by Lufthansa CityLine) will operate a Bombardier CRJ-900 aircraft with 75 seats on board – 15 Business Class and 60 Economy Class – offering […]

Autonomous vehicle specialist, Aurrigo, has launched the world’s first automated baggage dolly to the market after a successful trial at London Heathrow two years ago. The company was approached by International Airlines Group (IAG) to use its driverless expertise to develop the world’s first autonomous baggage carrying dolly. The trial (pictured above) started in March […]

Oslo Airport has welcomed a new electrically operated de-icing unit, the Vestergaard Elephant e-BETA, for the final few weeks of winter. In a first of its kind trial in Europe, the airport believes that the Menzies Aviation operated vehicle will improve the performance of its aircraft de-icing operation and lower its carbon footprint. Indeed, initial tests […]

The COVID-19 pandemic refocused IT spending priorities for airlines and airports in 2020 as their revenues plunged and the industry faced new health and operational requirements needed to keep flying, according to SITA. Among the key findings from SITA’s 2020 Air Transport IT Insights, published today, was an accelerated investment in automated passenger processing focusing on […]

London Heathrow today revealed that the airport lost £2 billion in 2020 as its passenger numbers slumped from 80.9 million in 2019 to just 22.1 million last year. It notes that the “devastating impact of COVID-19” led to its overall revenue plummeting 62% to £1.2 billion and adjusted EBITDA falling to £270 million. The UK […]

Lagardère Travel Retail has been awarded the concession to operate 20 F&B outlets at Santiago’s Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport in partnership with Chilean company Global Group Corporation (GGCorp). It will be Lagardère Travel Retail’s first foray into South America and Chile, a market it says offers “remarkable growth prospects” for its future regional development. […]

Zurich Airport’s new 30,000sqm multi-purpose complex, The Circle, features over 30,000 components installed by Siemens that ensure that it is one of the most sustainably designed and energy efficient buildings in Switzerland. The new facility is expected to become one of the most popular attractions at the gateway due to its host of shops, restaurants, […]

Passenger traffic and revenue at Europe’s airports this year is likely to be around 30% to 50% down on 2019 levels, according to a new report by S&P Global Ratings. The global ratings agency’s forecast is based the new travel restrictions implemented to curb the spread of fast-spreading COVID-19 variants, which it claims have “dealt […]

LaGuardia Gateway Partners (LGP) has announced the elimination of single-use plastic straws in the F&B outlets at New York LaGuardia’s Terminal B. LGP is the manager and developer of Terminal B at LaGuardia Airport, and this move comes as part of its commitment to creating a terminal that combines the best of what New York […]

Fentress Architects has announced that the 2021 Fentress Global Challenge (FGC), its annual competition to design the airport of the future is open for entries. Now in its eighth year, the international design competition challenges students to envisage a forward-thinking concept for an airport of the future, and in turn, stimulate innovative design in terminal […]

Air travel has undoubtably been one of the hardest-hit industries during the COVID-19 pandemic. With flight cancellations, grounded fleets and border closures, IATA has estimated that airlines will lose more than $300 billion due to the outbreak. Across the industry, there have been unparalleled job cuts from major airlines across the globe, while the European […]

Christchurch Airport is citing lessons learnt from the earthquakes, extensive changes it made to its business across 2015-2019 and its preparation for events like a pandemic, for its ability to pivot to a domestic operating model that can essentially break even while the pandemic’s impact on the borders evolves. The airport has revealed that it […]

The new security checkpoints at Charlotte Douglas International Airport feature Vanderlande’s automated screening lanes. As part of a $600 million terminal expansion project, the North Carolina gateway decided to consolidate its five security checkpoints into three high-efficiency checkpoints, all equipped with Automated Screening Lanes (ASLs) to increase throughput and enhance security. Vanderlande was selected through […]

Mexican airport operator, Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico (GAP), is to invest more than $500 million on upgrading Guadalajara’s Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla International Airport. The plan includes an additional runway and new terminal building as well as, in the short/mid-term, a radical new $302 million redesign of the commercial space in the existing building. The […]

Miami International Airport has been awarded $39.5 million in COVID-19 relief funding from the federal government, in the second round of airport grants from the Federal Aviation Administration. The second grant follows $207 million in funding that MIA received last April from the federal government’s Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Airport Grant […]

Vanderlande has joined Amazon and Global Optimism in signing The Climate Pledge, showcasing its ambition on sustainability and commitment to achieving a net-zero carbon footprint by 2040 – ten years ahead of The Paris Agreement. With this in mind, Vanderlande has promised that it will routinely report on its greenhouse gas emissions, implement decarbonisation strategies, […]

Frankfurt Airport today unveiled its new state-of-the-art fire rescue complex at CargoCity South. Located on a 2.1-hectare site, the facility is home to a fire rescue station, Firefighting Training Centre, an educational area, workshops and offices, as well as rest and exercise rooms. An integrated training course allows duty firefighters wearing full-gear with respirator masks to […]

The Turkish government has agreed to extend Fraport’s management concession for Antalya Airport by two years to the end of 2026 and to defer its annual concession fee for 2022 to 2024. The global airport operator says that the agreement will help the Fraport TAV Antalya joint venture to relaunch Antalya Airport on a steady […]

Dubai International Airport (DXB) today revealed that it handled 25.9 million passengers in 2020, the figure being boosted by traffic recovery in the second half of a tough year. The total meant that the world’s busiest international airport welcomed 70% fewer passengers than it did in 2019. According to operator, Dubai Airports, DXB’s closing data […]

Europe’s aviation sector today unveiled its flagship sustainability initiative, Destination 2050 – A Route to Net Zero European Aviation. Driven by a new, independent report, it is said to provide a vision and path for meaningful CO2 emission reduction efforts in Europe and globally. This follows recent climate commitments announced by the sector last November in […]

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport has hired The Miller Hull Partnership, LLP and Woods Bagot as joint project design leaders to create a dynamic, performative, and sustainable facility expansion of Concourse C. Airport operators, the Port of Seattle, describes Woods Bagot as a global firm with a “world-class aviation portfolio”, and Miller Hull, as an “internationally recognised […]

Closing the data gaps to automate airport operations is vital to efficiency post COVID, writes Thorben Burghardt, ADB SAFEGATE’s vice president for gate solutions. The new oil of the 21st century is a well-known metaphor used to express the increasing value generated by data. In a recent study, IDC and Qlik have taken it a […]

Lagardère Travel Retail is set to expand its footprint in Africa after being awarded the concession to operate two duty free stores in the new terminal at Tanzania’s Julius Nyerere International Airport. It and local partner, Bevco Limited, will build and operate the outlets in the brand new Terminal 3 at the gateway to capital […]

Finnish airport operator, Finavia, and Napapiirin Energia ja Vesi (Neve) have entered into an agreement on the heating of Rovaniemi Airport with carbon-neutral district heating. “Our objective is to achieve zero net emissions in 2030, and we continue on our journey towards emissions-free airports,” enthuses Finavia’s senior vice president for infrastructure, sustainability, safety and compliance, […]

Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) in the UK is set to become the first regional gateway in the country to have its own hydrogen refuelling station which it will use to power its fleet of ground support vehicles. ITM Power, the largest operator of Hydrogen refuelling stations in the UK, is partnering with Leeds Bradford on […]

Rotterdam The Hague Airport, SkyNRG and Climeworks claim that they are taking the next step in realising Zenid – a demonstration plant producing fully circular sustainable aviation fuel directly from air. Global energy company Uniper has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to support Zenid with engineering and operating expertise. Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) made from […]

ACI World has today revealed those airports that have continued to prioritise listening and engaging with customers during the COVID-19 pandemic. ‘The Voice of the Customer’ recognition is for airports which demonstrated significant efforts in gathering passenger feedback through the Airport Service Quality (ASQ) programme to help them better understand their customers during the pandemic. […]

The pandemic caused obvious disruptions to the travel industry in 2020, but perhaps less obvious, are the lingering and serious emotional impacts on travellers. According to the New York Times, some 74% of travellers report feeling anxious about traveling due to COVID-19, which is a worryingly high figure for the aviation industry. So how are […]

India’s GMR Group, a global airport operator and aviation infrastructure developer, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus to explore collaboration opportunities across aviation services, technologies and innovation. The agreement will see GMR Group and Airbus team up to explore potential synergies in several strategic areas of aviation services including maintenance, components, training, […]

Digital age Terri Morrissey and Richard Plenty share their thoughts on the benefits and drawbacks of new technology when it comes to meeting up and doing business. We may be in the middle of a pandemic, but we have rarely been so busy! During September and October, we delivered three separate ‘virtual’ intensive five-day ACI […]

Miami International Airport (MIA) handled a record 2.32 million tons of cargo in 2020 – 57,382 more than in the previous year. The Florida gateway finished the year exceptionally strong with an average of 210,000 tons in October, November and December, making them the airport’s busiest ever months for cargo volumes. MIA also ended 2020 […]

Hong Kong International Airport is to launch COVID-19 testing schemes for airport staff who are subject to the requirements stipulated in the government’s compulsory testing notice issued today. The Hong Kong Government’s notice requires that everyone employed at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) or providing a hired service in the airport area between now and […]

Autonomous cleaning robots area proven and effective weaponthat airports can deploy in thebattle against the pandemic,writes Brain Corp’s Michel Spruijt. The outbreak of COVID-19 has forced travel authorities and airport managers to re-think terminal operations with a wide array of new technologies being introduced to maximise traveller safety. They include autonomous cleaning robots, which have […]

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has become the first large airport in the US to offer touchless, automated photo identification scanners at all of the airport’s security screening checkpoints. According to LAX operator Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), the move reduces contact with Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers and will enhance the passenger experience. TSA […]

The UK government has unveiled plans to give airports in England up to £8 million each to help get them through the next few months as COVID-19 continues to bring traffic to a virtual standstill across the globe. Under the government scheme opening today, commercial airports and ground handlers could receive a maximum of £8 […]

Work has been completed on the reconstruction and expansion of the airside infrastructure at Owen Roberts International Airport on Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands. According to the Stantec led design team, the major airfield upgrades are set to increase safety and efficiency at the island’s “most vital piece of infrastructure” as it serves as […]

Ferrovial Airports has announced the appointment of former LaGuardia Airport CEO, Lysa Scully, as an independent senior advisor to its US division. Scully, who runs her own US advisory firm, had a distinguished 33-year career as an innovative leader at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. As former CEO of LaGuardia, the […]

Munich Airport today unveiled the latest new addition to its ground handling fleet, an electric powered tug capable of towing wide-body aircraft and achieving a maximum speed of 32 kilometres per hour. Used for de-icing and aircraft towing at Munich Airport, the gateway’s new aircraft tow tractor is equipped with the latest 700V lithium-ion battery […]

Belgrade’s Nikola Tesla Airport has double cause to celebrate this month, recently earning Airport Health Accreditation (AHA) and completing the €2 million upgrade of its central area in partnership with duty free operator, Dufry. The new-look central area is entered immediately after the passport control and includes an expanded and modernised duty-free shop, immediately followed […]

Duncan Hand, Siemens’ business development manager for digital airports, considers how aviation can navigate its way through today’s turbulence. In the last 15 years, we have witnessed the disruption of many industries. The hotel industry by Airbnb, transportation by Uber and retail by Amazon. The aviation industry has now been disrupted by a virus. What […]

Aviation faces a slow and uncertain recovery in 2021 and, without government policy support and assistance, continues to face potential collapse, ACI World warned today. ACI World’s most recent COVID-19 impact analysis revealed the global airport industry experienced a reduction of more than six billion passengers by the end of 2020, representing a decline of […]

​​​​​A consortium led by Atkins, a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group, has been awarded an industrial research grant by the UK Government to look at the feasibility of introducing an air taxi service using electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The project is specifically looking at the possibility of introducing the new air taxi […]

Location intelligence can redefine passenger journeys in today’s COVID-19 world, writes Esri’s global transportation industry director, Terry Bills. Air travel in the best of times has always had its unique challenges, stresses and unknowns for both the occasional as well as the business traveller. Between guessing the travel time to the airport, finding parking and […]

The new terminal at Bermuda’s LF Wade International Airport certainly has the ‘wow’ factor based on the early feedback from passengers and staff. “Really beautiful”, “Fabulous and spacious”, “Absolutely awesome” and “It looks like a world class airport” were just some of the comments given by passengers on the new terminal’s opening day last month. […]

Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport has launched a pilot programme that uses innovative technology to provide social distancing information and assessment for customers at security checkpoints. The project uses Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology and sophisticated software from partner CrowdVision to monitor, analyse and report on physical distancing at the airport’s B security checkpoint. […]

Vienna Airport is optimistic that its passenger numbers will enjoy a “strong upswing” in the second half of the year as the vaccination drive to combat COVID-19 begins to have a positive impact on air travel. Like most other airports, the Austrian gateway experienced a grim 2020 with the pandemic causing traffic levels to decline […]

Global ground handler and air services provider, dnata, has opened a new state-of-the-art cargo complex at Manchester Airport in the UK. The new £30 million dnata City North facility covers 150,000 sqft and will allow the company to significantly expand and consolidate its Manchester operations. Well-situated for ease of airfield access, the purpose-built on-airport facility […]

Templemere PR’s Clare Williams Fannin takes a look at what airports can do to respond to changing passenger demands for retail, F&B and lounge services across their terminals. Non-aeronautical revenues have long been an important line in the airport budget. Closed shops and empty restaurants are clearly not good news for any airport operator. But […]

AGS Airports, which owns and manages Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton airports, is to lead a consortium that will develop and trial the use of drones to distribute medical supplies. If ongoing trials are successful, it will become the UK’s first national drone distribution network to use drones to transport essential medicines, blood, organs and other […]

The world’s biggest airport group comprising gateways operated by France’s Groupe ADP and Turkey’s TAV Airports have signed an ‘Airports for Trust’ charter, announcing their shared ambition to build an even more sustainable and responsible airport industry. The airports span the world and range from hubs like Paris CDG in Europe to Queen Alia in […]

Design changes at airports can support and speed up the safe return of air travel, writes Populous Americas’ aviation market leader and principal, Geoffrey Ax. Whether it’s to see family, clients or simply treat cabin fever with a change of scenery, one thing is clear, people want to travel again. Scratching this itch requires some […]

The Emirates Group today rolled out a COVID-19 vaccination programme for its substantial UAE based workforce in co-ordination with the Dubai Health Authority and the Ministry of Health and Prevention. The inoculation drive began this morning, with priority being placed on its frontline aviation workforce, including cabin crew, flight deck and other operationally focused roles. […]

ICAO has revealed that airline seating capacity fell by around 50% in 2020 as the number of passengers boarding flights dropped from 4.5 billion in 2019 to just 1.8 billion passengers last year. That adds up to a staggering financial loss to the industry of around $370 billion, says ICAO, which noted that airports and air […]

We shine the spotlight on a handful of technology driven initiatives designed to improve the operational efficiency of airports and hasten their recovery from the global pandemic. Reinventing the management of airfields Jacobs has developed a new proprietary cloud-based platform designed to enable the effective asset management of airfields. Indeed, based on the success of […]

Atkins’ future borders technical lead, John Drever, explains how data modelling can reduce queuing times at airports. As transit infrastructure like airports, train stations and borders become busier and more complex, our approach to designing public spaces with security in mind takes on another dimension. However, advances in technology can make these spaces easier to […]

Bahrain International Airport today announced that its long awaited new $1.1 billion terminal will open for business on January 28. According to Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), moving operations to the new state-of-the-art facility is a major step towards achieving the Kingdom’s ambitious Economic Vision 2030. The vision is based on diversification and sustainability goals and […]

Eight of Norway’s biggest airports will soon boast new customer experience feedback technology provided by HappyorNot. Its  Smiley Touch touchscreen terminals will help airport operator, Avinor, collect customer feedback at security checkpoints at the gateways, which include Oslo, Bergen and Stavanger. According to HappyorNot, with this in-moment, actionable customer experience feedback data, “Avinor’s management and […]

Most frequent fliers are already familiar with the concept of offsetting the climate emissions caused by their travel, writes, Eron Bloomgarden. At checkout, you are offered the opportunity to balance your portion of the flight’s emissions by supporting some sort of emission reduction programme, like tree planting. Such programmes are voluntary and have proved popular […]

Brisbane Airport’s efforts to combat COVID-19 and ensure that it is a safe environment for passengers and staff have led to it being accredited in ACI’s Airport Health Accreditation (AHA) programme. The ACI AHA is a global benchmark, independently assessing an airport’s alignment with ACI Aviation Business Restart and Recovery Guidelines, the International Civil Aviation […]

Nashville International Airport’s new Concourse D has achieved LEED Silver certification, which Fentress Architects notes highlights the project’s sustainable, wellness-oriented design and construction process. This distinction makes Concourse D one of only five newly constructed airport facilities in the United States, and one of nine airport facilities worldwide, to earn LEED Silver under the US […]

Cork Airport, Ireland’s fastest-growing gateway in 2019, today revealed that it lost more than two million passengers in 2020 as a result of COVID-19. The 80% decline in passenger numbers meant that just 530,000 people used the country’s second-largest airport last year. Traffic declined across all the geographical markets served by Cork Airport. Passenger volumes […]

Rome’s Fiumicino and Ciampino airports have become the first in the world to successfully complete the new Airport Health Measures Audit Programme. Developed by ACI and Bureau Veritas, the programme is designed to support the airport industry’s recovery from COVID-19 by addressing specific risks and reassuring passengers through an on-site audit. Fiumicino and Ciampino – […]

Miami International Airport (MIA) experienced its busiest day since the pandemic began when it handled 90,000 passengers on January 3. The total helped ensure that the Florida gateway welcomed more than 1.1 million passengers during the 17-day winter holiday travel period from Monday, December 21 to Wednesday, January 6, 2021. In December, MIA averaged 278 […]

German air navigation service provider, DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH, today revealed it handled less than half the traffic it normally does in 2020 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. It recorded a total of 1.46 million take-offs, landings and overflights across German airspace in 2020 under instrument flight rules, and warns that it is […]

Airport World editor, Joe Bates, turns the spotlight on some innovative and pioneering IT projects across the globe. Denmark’s capital city gateway, Copenhagen Airport (CPH), is to form its own IT company to sell digital services to airports worldwide. Operator, Copenhagen Airports, has joined forces with Netcompany to form Smarter Airports A/S, which it says […]

Saudi Arabia’s planned new Red Sea airport is to be managed by daa international, the international business subsidiary of the operator of Ireland’s Dublin and Cork airports. The Red Sea Project is a major development being built over 28,000 square kilometres on Saudi Arabia’s west coast to create a new luxury tourism destination. The first […]

According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and exceeding its expectations, Orlando International Airport (MCO) has started 2021 as the busiest airport in the US for departures. TSA traffic figures show that for eight straight days, from Sunday, December 27, until Sunday, January 3, MCO enjoyed more passenger departures than any other airport in the […]

New analysis from EUROCONTROL reveals that COVID-19 led to a staggering €56.2 billion in net losses for Europe’s airlines, airports and air service navigation in 2020. The losses are a result of 1.7 billon fewer passengers and 6.1 million less flights than in 2019, with traffic between Europe and the rest of the world down […]

Dubai Airports is gearing up for an upsurge in the number of passengers expected to pass through Dubai International (DXB) over the next few days. It is estimated that 545,000 passengers will use DXB between January 1-7, with throughput peaking on January the 2nd and 3rd when more than 78,000 travellers are expected to depart […]

Dublin Airport will end a difficult year on a high after attaining carbon neutral status in ACI’s Airport Carbon Accreditation programme. The gateway is the first airport in Ireland to achieve carbon neutral status and has done so following an extensive programme of activities to reduce and offset its carbon emissions in recent years. The […]

ACI World director general, Luis Felipe de Oliveira, reflects on new technologies and revolutionising the airport experience after COVID-19. Despite the current challenges, airports are examining all aspects of their operations as they seek to recover from the impact of the current crisis, foster confidence in air travel, and reassure passengers that health and safety […]

Moscow Sheremetyevo International Airport, which opened its “new and improved” Terminal C at the start of 2020, has ended a difficult but eventful year by inaugurating its newly reconstructed Runway-1. The runway has two new high-speed-exit taxiways, which according to the Russian gateway, ensure that it has the terminal facilities and airfield capacity to handle […]

Andrew O’Brian, president and CEO of Corporación Quiport, tells Joe Bates about an eventful and challenging year for Quito International Airport. While 2020 has been a tough year for Quito International Airport and operator, Corporación Quiport, a string of firsts for Latin America and breaking ground on a new cargo complex means that it has […]

VIEW THE ISSUE HERE Theme: Information Technology Airport report: Quito Special report: The retail/F&B challenge Plus: Airport Design, People Matters & WBP News Better times ahead Airport World editor, Joe Bates, reflects on a traumatic year for the world and the important role IT will play in aviation’s recovery from the pandemic. After the year […]

Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) will hand over the operation of its lounges, fast track and meet and assist services to Plaza Premium Group on January 1, 2021. Under the terms of the concession, Plaza Premium Group has agreed to invest in a series of enhancements and service and facility upgrades at the airport […]

Global airport operator, Fraport, is to issue a request for proposals (RFP) to assess market interest in the construction of a sports/multi-functional hall on a vacant plot of land at Frankfurt Airport. The project is part of a larger urban development initiative with the 30,000sqm plot of land earmarked for the project centrally located behind […]

London City Airport (LCY) is celebrating the completion of the construction of a full-length parallel taxiway and eight new stands capable of handling larger and more fuel-efficient aircraft. The new additions were the key projects of its City Airport Development Programme (CADP) and ensure that the airfield infrastructure at LCY has undergone a significant transformation […]

ACI Europe’s latest traffic analysis shows that 6,000 air routes previously operated from Europe’s airports have been lost to the COVID-19 crisis. The routes, which have been axed by the airlines this year and not resumed, expose “the systemic collapse of the aviation network and air connectivity due to the COVID-19 crisis,” according to ACI […]

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport’s environmental efforts include becoming a carbon neutral airport by 2030 and now turning used cooking oil from its F&B outlets into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). DFW recently set the ambitious goal of reducing its carbon emissions to net zero by 2030. To achieve this, the Texas gateway looked at its waste […]

Whether it ever happens or not is another matter, but a third runway at London’s Heathrow Airport is now potentially back on the agenda following the Supreme Court ruling that the government’s decision to approve its expansion was lawful. Today’s ruling overturns a decision by three leading judges earlier this year that former Transport Secretary, Chris […]

London Gatwick Airport is expecting to see a significant increase in passengers travelling over the Christmas period, with up to 200 flights a day forecast to operate to and from the gateway, with top destinations including Dublin, Geneva and Tenerife. While typically Gatwick would normally see more than 700 flights a day during this time, […]

The travel industry has experienced unprecedented setbacks during the COVID-19 pandemic, with US airlines reporting a 65% year-over-year reduction in scheduled service passengers in September, writes Ramsey Nuwar. For airports, this means a steep reduction in non-aeronautical revenues usually generated by passenger dining, shopping and parking. While the industry is seeing promising improvements in passenger […]

India’s planned new Delhi Noida International Airport will boast a passenger terminal designed by architects Grimshaw, Nordic – Office of Architecture, Haptic and Indian practice STUP. The team was selected from a shortlist of three by Zurich Airport International for “demonstrating a proficiency in balancing passenger comfort with sustainability, and timeless design with flexibility for […]

Swedish airport operator, Swedavia, has secured a €49 million loan from the Nordic Investment Bank to help it through COVID-19. The seven-year SEK 500 million loan agreement is a COVID-19 response loan aimed at facilitating financing for industries heavily impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. “The loan helps to further strengthen our liquidity at a time […]

Brisbane Airport (BNE) is set to welcome more than 30,000 daily passengers tomorrow for the first time since March 16, declaring the milestone a clear sign that domestic travel is recovering. Specifically, on Friday, the airport’s Domestic Terminal will see more than 16,000 arrivals and 14,000 departing passengers from a total of 309 flights. Off the back of interstate borders re-opening, […]

ACI World has published its fifth COVID-19 economic impact analysis revealing the devastating effect on the airport industry and the prospects for recovery. The Advisory Bulletin, The impact of COVID-19 on the airport business, reveals the global airport industry will record a reduction of more than six billion passengers by the end of 2020 compared […]

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), which is owned and operated by the Port of Seattle, is one of the fastest-growing large hub airports in North America where over the past five years, passenger traffic has grown 41%. Indeed, in 2019, SEA was the eighth busiest airport in the US serving 51.8 million passengers a year and […]

Aviation provides huge benefits to society, but the industry has recognised the importance of reducing carbon emissions and together have agreed a number of low carbon goals, writes Gigi Yuen, Air bp’s global carbon neutral leader. These include carbon neutral growth from 2020, and halving total carbon emissions by 2050, relative to 2005 levels. There […]

London City Airport today published its new master plan which sets out the long-term vision for how it can grow in a sustainable and responsible way, supporting London’s recovery from COVID-19. The publication of the master plan follows a 16-week consultation carried out in summer 2019. All comments received from local residents, stakeholders and passengers […]

Alitalia and Rome airport operator, Aeroporti di Roma (ADR), have announced that from Tuesday, all passengers travelling on one of the three weekly flights to and from New York must present a certification proving that they have tested negative for COVID-19, carried out 48 hours before the flight, or take the antigen test directly at […]

US firm Surfacedesign has won an award for its landscape architecture and urban planning for Auckland International Airport in New Zealand. “Because 75% of New Zealand’s visitors land in Auckland, airport management wanted to highlight the country’s historic land-use practices at and around the terminal,” says the San Francisco based company’s co-founding partner and Auckland […]

SITA’s vice president for border management, Jeremy Springall, explains how technology will play a key role in aviation’s recovery from COVID-19 by helping protect ‘travel bubbles’ from popping. In 2020, new vocabulary has seeped into the global consciousness. From ‘new normal’ to the more practical, yet equally disliked, ‘social distancing’, the additions to this year’s […]

The opposition to quarantine measures and other travel restrictions appears to be gathering pace with ACI Europe and a number of other international aviation associations today urging European governments to abolish them. The calls follow new Recommendations published by EASA and the European Centre for Disease Prevention & Control (ECDC), which unequivocally rejects their use […]

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) has introduced a cloud based data sharing platform for cargo customers that it is confident will ensure “seamless transactions across the supply chain”. Over time, says the Texas gateway, this will include freight forwarders, shippers, ground handling agents, 3PLs, airlines, US Customs and Border Protection, and trucking companies – empowering […]

Helsinki Airport’s COVID-19 sniffer dogs, on duty daily to help prevent the spread of the pandemic, have received Special Hero Dog Awards from the Finnish Kennel Club. Trained to do their jobs by Wise Nose, to date the four enthusiastic new members of airport have sniffed samples taken from more than 2,000 passengers. And on Wednesday, […]

London City Airport (LCY) today announced TIPA as the winners of its Sustainable Security Bag Challenge. According to the airport, TIPA were able to provide it with a product made from fully transparent materials, aligned to regulatory standards, and can be composted at home by London City passengers or disposed as food waste at the […]

Atkins has been working on a major facelift to Terminal 1 at Dublin Airport under plans that have been lodged this month with Fingal County Council. The design will replace the core façade and roof with a new modern, energy efficient envelope that will completely transform the external appearance of the terminal, giving it a […]

Cambodia’s Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanouk airports have been accredited in ACI’s Airport Health Accreditation programme. The gateways are key assets of VINCI Airports and their accreditation is in line with its strategy of demonstrating that all the airports in its global network are fully aligned with industry best practices designed to protect the […]

People sustainability Terri Morrissey and Richard Plenty share their thoughts on sustainability and how building a sustainable future for airports requires investment in people. Sustainability has been defined by the Brundland Commission as the “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. In […]

Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport has become the first airport in India to deploy Internet of Things (IoT) enabled smart baggage trolleys that allow operator, GHIAL, to track them in real-time and ensure that there is always enough available to meet demand. The airport has deployed a LoRa (Long Range) IOT platform for its entire […]

Copenhagen Airport’s operator today revealed that 380 staff are to begin sharing jobs in a bid to reduce further redundancies as a result of the downturn in traffic caused by COVID-19. With traffic currently at less than 10% of normal levels, Copenhagen Airports has just completed negotiations for its second cost-cutting round in only three […]

Rome Fiumicino is set to become the first airport in Europe to activate ‘COVID-tested’ safe air corridors on flights coming from the US, ending the need for passengers to quarantine on arrival, according to operator Aeroporti di Roma (ADR). ADR, which believes that “it is necessary to assess and implement new and additional control systems […]

The latest news from ACI’s World Business Partners. Time to build? Carrie Shaeffer, Swinerton’s vice president and national director of aviation considers the challenge of building up aviation’s built environment in North America. Consumer confidence is paramount to the long-term financial sustainability of airlines and airports. After all, there is no silver bullet when it […]

ACI World has signed an exclusive partnership with Routes that is designed to help airports recover from the most challenging period the aviation industry. It is hoped that the formal agreement between the two organisations will provide platforms and guidance for airports at a world level, recognising the vital role they will play in driving […]

Christchurch Airport has taken a major step forward in its commitment to fight against climate change, becoming the first airport in the Asia-Pacific region and in the world to reach Level 4 Transformation status in ACI’s Airport Carbon Accreditation programme. The New Zealand gateway believes that the high achievement is evidence of its continued efforts […]

Etihad Airways is trialling the the use of facial biometrics to check in cabin crew at its Crew Briefing Centre at Abu Dhabi International Airport. The trial will use facial recognition technology provided by SITA to identify and authenticate crew members, allowing them to complete check-in procedures and mandatory pre-flight safety and security questions digitally […]

According to booking platform Omio, Madrid Barajas is Europe’s most “passenger friendly” capital city airport based on a study of 30 gateways across the continent. The study ranked Madrid Barajas (MAD) top for its level of comfort and passenger-friendliness after assessing each individual airport’s facilities that included shops, restaurants and other F&B outlets. Omio states […]

A handful of architects and consulting companies consider how COVID-19 will impact on the use and future design of airport terminals. Architect: Ricondo Risk, resilience and flexibility Airport operators are looking to the industry for guidance on how future best practices will evolve to promote increased passenger safety, maintain operational efficiency and capacity, and accommodate […]

The ACI Online Learning Centre (OLC) has launched a new Security for Airport Executives course for executives and managers who require an awareness and understanding of airport security and have a shared responsibility for creating an effective security culture at their airport. The OLC is one of the world’s leading aviation online training providers supporting […]

It will cost money to use, but London Gatwick and ExpressTest today announced the opening of a brand-new COVID-19 screening centre at the airport. The site, located within the airport’s Long Stay Car Park at the South Terminal, will offer a fast and accurate and lab-analysed PCR swab test. It will be available for both […]

AMPAP administrator Pierre Coutu, reflects on the launch, history and success of ACI-ICAO’s flagship airport management training programme. The Airport Management Professional Accreditation Programme (AMPAP) is a joint ACI-ICAO initiative that offers a unique executive development curriculum to airport management professionals and stakeholders. The programme covers all the functional areas of the airport business, promotes […]

ACI World’s senior director for sustainability, environmental protection and legal affairs, Juliana Scavuzzi, explains why sustainability and environmental protection must remain a priority despite today’s challenges. The aviation sector is currently facing two major challenges: to navigate and survive the unprecedented impact of COVID-19 in the short-term; and, to keep its long-term commitments regarding climate […]

It’s not all doom and gloom out there as LaGuardia Gateway Partners (LGP) has announced the opening of the eagerly awaited state-of-the-art water feature in the brand new Arrivals and Departures Hall at LaGuardia Airport’s Terminal B. LGP is the private entity managing and redeveloping the new terminal. The Arrivals and Departures Hall opened earlier […]

Star Alliance has completed development of what it calls “an interoperable biometric identity and identification platform” that it says will significantly improve the travel experience for its frequent flyers. According to the airline group, the Star Alliance Biometrics platform advances the ability of member airlines to deliver a seamless customer journey, while strengthening loyalty value […]

ACI Europe president, Jost Lammers, has acknowledged that emerging news of an effective vaccine gives reason for hope. However, this cautious optimism was delivered with a caveat – that airports along with the rest of the aviation sector cannot simply wait out the inevitable time challenges of safety confirmation and herd immunity. Delivering his keynote […]

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport has introduced biometric boarding for all passengers on departing international flights. According to the Florida gateway, its new system delivers a touchless boarding experience whilst complying with US Customs & Border Protection Agency (CBP) requirements for all international travellers to biometrically validate they have departed the country. Developed in partnership with […]

ACI World today issued a timely reminder that sustainability should be at the core of the recovery plan for aviation, noting that climate change is a global challenge that requires worldwide collaboration and action. A resolution issued by the ACI World Annual General Assembly emphasises that climate change, adaptation, and resilience should be included in […]

Airport World shines the spotlight on a handful of pioneering sustainability initiatives in the UK, US and Germany. In the UK, AGS Airports is trialling the use of oxo-biodegradable 100ml security bags at Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton airports and believes the move could remove more than two million single-use plastic bags annually across the group. […]

Abu Dhabi International Airport is trialling a new enhanced ‘Smart Travel’ system, which it is confident will “shorten queues and streamline processes throughout the airport to deliver a smoother and more seamless passenger experience”. Developed by airport operator, Abu Dhabi Airports, in partnership with ConvergentAI and powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI), the new system is […]

ACI World has issued a resolution at is World Annual General Assembly declaring that airport slot allocation policies should support the recovery of air transport. Airport connectivity, it notes, is essential for the recovery of air transport, and will be a key driver of the wider global economic recovery, which is why it is urging […]

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has held a topping out ceremony to celebrate the securing of the final beam for Phase 1 of its $1.86 billion Sky Way transformation project to modernise, upgrade and connect he Tom Bradley International Terminal with terminals 2 and 3. “LAX is a central pillar of our economic strength — […]

Global airport operator, Fraport, today confirmed that COVID-19 continues to badly hit traffic figures at airports across its network. Just 1.1 million passengers passed through Frankfurt Airport (FRA) In October 2020, for example, a significant 83.4% down on the same month a year ago. The total means that FRA’s cumulative traffic during the January-to-October 2020 […]

ACI World’s economics director, Patrick Lucas, considers the financial challenges facing airports and the policy levers needed to support aviation’s recovery amidst the pandemic. Airports are an integral part of the aviation ecosystem, but they currently face a crisis that they are not financially set-up to experience: a sudden and prolonged collapse in traffic levels. […]

The three global airline alliances, oneworld, SkyTeam and Star Alliance, have joined ACI World in announcing their support for ICAO’s second-phase Council on Aviation Recovery Task Force (CART) report. The airline groups are urging governments to implement the report guidelines for passenger testing protocols, as well as the adoption of digital health pass technology, so […]

ACI Asia-Pacific welcomes the implementation of a quarantine-free air travel bubble between Hong Kong SAR and Singapore. It claims that the arrangement, open to all types of travellers, is a much-needed progressive step towards recovery of the sector. “This first-of-a-kind arrangement is a leading example of a risk-based approach that balances the risk of virus […]

What lessons in responsiveness and resilience can airports, airlines and architects draw from the current crisis? Robert Chicas, HOK’s senior principal and director of aviation + transportation, investigates. It’s impossible to overstate the impact COVID-19 has had on the aviation industry. At the time of writing, the virus has resulted in the cancellation of 7.5 […]

Munich Airport subsidiary, AeroGround, has become the biggest ground handler at Germany’s new Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER). The addition of the Lufthansa Group and Eurowings as clients means that AeroGround Berlin GmbH is the dominant ground handling company at the newly opened gateway. Simon Batt-Nauerz, managing director of AeroGround Berlin GmbH, says: “We are all looking […]

The Adani Group has officially taken over responsibility for operating three Airports Authority of India (AAI) managed airports. The company, which harbours ambitions to become a key player in the Indian market, added Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPI Airport) to its airport network at the weekend. The move follows the addition of Mangaluru […]

The Canadian government has revealed that it is developing a package of assistance to help the nation’s airlines, airports and aerospace sector through the COVID-19 crisis. “A strong and competitive air transport industry is vital for Canada’s economy and the wellbeing of Canadians,” reads a statement issued by Minister of Transport, the Honourable Marc Garneau, […]

Glasgow Airport has scooped the International Safety Award from the British Safety Council in recognition of its commitment to keeping its workers and workplace healthy and safe. The airport is one of 87 organisations to win a Distinction in the 2020 International Safety Awards, which are health and safety’s most prestigious scheme. They recognise organisations […]

Amadeus Airport IT’s senior vice president for strategy and marketing, Iyad Hindiyeh, explains why he believes we should be preparing for the ‘uberization’ of airport services. Over the past decade the way we communicate, shop, get around and are entertained has arguably been transformed by a handful companies such as Uber, Amazon, Facebook and Netflix. […]

Dublin Airport’s Terminal 1 is to undergo a major facelift under plans that have been lodged with Fingal County Council. The core façade and the roof of the terminal are to be replaced with a new modern, energy efficient structure that will completely transform the external appearance of Terminal 1 and give it a new […]

The COVID-19 pandemic is without doubt the worst crisis the aviation industry has ever faced and could permanently change the way we travel, writes Armando Brunini, CEO and general manager of SEA Milan Airports. Like other airport operators, SEA Milan Airports, responded to the pandemic by implementing a number of measures aimed at safeguarding the […]

Airport director, Jesus Saenz, tells Joe Bates why he believes that it is only a matter of time before growth is back on the agenda at San Antonio International Airport. With such a strong military presence all around it, it should come as no surprise to learn that San Antonio International Airport (SAT) is determined […]

Santo Domingo’s Las Américas International Airport in the Dominican Republic has opened its new cargo terminal. The new €14 million complex is a key component of VINCI Airports modernisation plan for the airport, which it has been responsible for operating and developing since 2016, along with five other gateways in the Dominican Republic. It notes […]

Europe gained a new airport at the weekend when Berlin Brandenburg Airport Willy Brandt (BER) finally opened for business. The new €6 billion airport is expected to take travelling to Berlin to another level, albeit it nine-and-a-half years later than originally planned. Its opening will mean the closure of Berlin Tegel, which is scheduled to […]

ACI World urges the world’s governments to back COVID-19 testing as an alternative to quarantine measures, writes external relations manager, Bojana Jeremic. The airport sector, as an integral part of the global aviation ecosystem, has been among the industries most heavily affected by the global pandemic. Airports around the world are adjusting to the complexities […]

Lagardère Travel Retail has opened eight Luxury Beauty & Fashion stores in China’s Shanghai Hongqiao and Shenzhen Bao’an airports. In Shanghai Hongqiao Airport, Terminal T2, Lagardère Travel Retail has opened six stores: Chanel Beauty and Accessories; Parfums Christian Diorl Givenchy; Shiseido; Gucci Watches & Jewelry;  and Sandro. In Shenzhen Bao’an, Terminal T3, Lagardère Travel Retail […]

Tulsa International Airport, Oklahoma’s gateway to the world, today unveiled its newly renovated Schwab Hall. Construction on Schwab Hall, the area adjacent to the security checkpoint and rental car counters, began in December 2019 and took nearly eleven months to complete. The project relocated walls, art installations, and utility infrastructure in order to provide an […]

Philadelphia International Airport has become the first US gateway to offer a new product collaboration between two leading in-airport contactless food services, Grab and AtYourGate. According to the airport, the Grab Airport app with delivery powered by AtYourGate aims to ease the airport concessions experience for travellers by offering contactless meal ordering and delivery capabilities […]

ACI World director general, Luis Felipe de Oliveira, reflects on planning for a sustainable recovery of the world’s airports. The airport sector, as an integral part of the global aviation ecosystem, has been among the industries most heavily affected by the global pandemic. The world is changing fast and, and while COVID-19’s impact on the […]

ACI Europe today warned that 193 of the continent’s airports face insolvency in the coming months if passenger traffic does not start to recover by the year end. These airports are estimated to support 277,000 jobs and €12.4 billion of Europe’s GDP. According to ACI Europe, unless governments step up and provide support now, Europe […]

Salt Lake City International Airport opened its new Concourse B today meaning that all airlines serving the Utah gateway now operate out of new facilities. The new 21 gate concourse B will house Alaska, American, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest and United and its opening signals the end of passengers being handled in concourses C, F […]

Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport has become the first airport in India to introduce e-gates for passengers boarding international flights. The gateway was the first to introduce paper e-boarding on domestic flights, and began trialling its new digital solution for international services – developed in-house by operator GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd (GHIAL), this month. […]

VIEW THE ISSUE HERE In the spotlight: Sustainability Airport report: San Antonio Special report: AMPAP review Plus: ACI news, People matters & WBP innovation Year of living dangerously Editor, Joe Bates, reflects on the significant economic, operational and environmental challenges facing airports in this ‘sustainability’ themed issue of Airport World. Aviation leaders speaking at the […]

Cambodia’s three international airports have once again demonstrated their green credentials by upgrading their status in ACI’s Airport Carbon Accreditation programme to Level 2 – Reduction. Launched in 2009, the independently administered and verified programme has four levels of certification – Mapping, Reduction, Optimisation and Neutrality, the latter being the ultimate goal for Phnom Penh, […]

In normal times, Louisville’s airports are responsible for some 82,723 jobs across the region and have an annual economic impact of around $10.4 billion, according to their latest economic impact survey. Key drivers of the local economy, the Kentucky city’s airports – Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) and Bowman Field (LOU) – also usually […]

The island nation of Dominica, geographically part of the Windward Islands chain in the Caribbean Sea, is making progress on plans to  build a new international airport, according to Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit. He says that the government has acquired around 411 acres of land required for the new airport and that “rapid progress” is […]

The ACI Online Learning Centre (OLC) is offering a special promotion to help ease the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its customers by offering a 20% discount on all online courses. “We are trying to soften the impact of these difficult times and make our training more accessible to our airport partners worldwide”, says […]

Dublin Airport ‘s efforts to ensure the safety of its passengers and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic have been formally recognised by ACI World’s Airport Health Accreditation programme. The airport health accreditation programme provides airports with an independent assessment of the new health measures and procedures that have been introduced as a result of the […]

Global operator, TAV Airports, today revealed that three of its airports have been certified under ACI’s Airport Health Accreditation programme and that they will soon be joined by another eight. Ankara Esenboğa in Turkey, Skopje in Macedonia and Zagreb in Croatia have already received their certification. While Izmir Adnan Menderes, Gazipasa-Alanya and Milas-Bodrum in Turkey; […]

Cork Airport’s managing director, Niall MacCarthy, has admitted that Ryanair’s decision to close its base at the airport this winter is a major blow for the Irish gateway. “The team here at Cork Airport is really devastated to hear of Ryanair’s decision to close its base at Cork with the loss of so many direct […]

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) has introduced touchless technology that allows passengers to record their satisfaction levels at the world’s busiest gateway without the need to press any buttons or screens. The new technology from Avius has also been launched at LEGOLAND Florida as the operators of the airport and the theme park search for […]

Portland International Airport (PDX) is 80 years old today, and it has chosen the milestone to share a sneak peek of what its new $1.5 billion main terminal will look like when it opens in 2025. PDX operator, the Port of Portland, has no doubt that the new terminal and other planned projects will ensure […]

Digital solutions provider, AOE, has announced the launch of a new e-commerce model for airlines ahead of its planned acquisition of onboard sales and supply chain specialist SHIFTEO. The agreement includes SHIFTEO’s In-flight ePOS, Supply Chain Management and Back Office for Catering Management solutions. According to AOE, the enhanced capabilities of its new integrated platform […]

Cambodia’s Sihanouk International Airport is today celebrating the completion of the extension and renovation of its runway, an upgrade that will effectively allow it to handle direct long-haul flights operated by bigger aircraft. The airport, which serves as the gateway to the country’s main seaside resort, now boasts a 3,300m long runway, which has been […]

Munich Airport International (MAI), the international management and consulting arm of Munich Airport, is to expand its influence to Central America by developing and operating a new cargo terminal at San Salvador’s El Salvador International Airport. MAI, part of the SOF Connect consortium which this summer signed finalised the concession agreement to operate and develop […]

The latest news from ACI’s World Business Partners. Zoeftig unveils new social distancing barrier UK-based Zoeftig has launched a new social distancing barrier, iZolate, in bid to help combat the spread of COVID-19. The solution is an adaptable and flexible system that can be retrofitted onto a wide range of seating types in a breadth […]

Copenhagen Airport (CPH) is to form its own IT company to sell digital services to airports worldwide. Operator, Copenhagen Airports, has joined forces with Netcompany to form Smarter Airports A/S, which it says will be 100% dedicated to developing a new, market-leading digital platform for the efficient and sustainable operation of the airports of the […]

Washington DC airport operator, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, is implementing a new sustainability plan designed to improve its facilities environmentally, operationally and financially. Developed in conjunction with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, it reveals that the plan is the result of a year long effort to interview stakeholders and analyse operations at Washington National, […]

ACI World has published a policy brief calling for an end to the “economically inefficient and discriminatory taxation of aviation”, which it believes is hampering the industry’s recovery from COVID-19. The new publication, Policy Brief: Taxation of international air transport and airports – Economic benefits and costs, explores, and provides potential remedies to, the imbalance […]

Doha’s gateway to the world has become the first in the world to achieve independent verification from BSI (British Standards Institution) for its implementation of ICAO’s COVID-19 Aviation Health Safety Protocols. The verification for Hamad International Airport (HIA) was conducted following its successful audit for compliance of measures outlined by the ICAO Council Aviation Recovery […]

Quito International Airport’s ambition to have the most modern import air cargo terminal in Latin American took a huge step forward yesterday with the groundbreaking ceremony for a $2 million cargo logistics centre. Expected to be completed in mid-2021, the Tabacarcen cargo logistics centre will become the new import cargo distribution centre for Quito International […]

The votes are in and The Green Gateway – a zero-emission, highly sustainable multimodal hub – has been named as the winner of the 2020 version of the Fentress Global Challenge (FGC) design competition. Launched by Fentress Architects in 2011, the annual global student design competition represents a key part of the firm’s commitment to advancing […]

It won’t prove to be a popular move with passengers, but Gatwick Airport today revealed that it will start charging for vehicle drop offs outside its terminals, using the money to help it offset some of its COVID-19 losses. Surprisingly it won’t be the only UK airport to do this when the £5 fee is […]

Sustainable design must be high on the agenda of the world’s airports post COVID-19 to enable the industry to build back better, writes Roger Swinbourne, Arup’s sustainability leader for the Australasia region. Sustainability is a concept that aims to optimise outcomes for human and natural environments, both now and with a view to the long-term […]

Virgin Atlantic has become the first UK airline to introduce COVID-19 pre-flight testing at its Heathrow base for its cabin crew and pilots. Launched on the September 30 on flights to Shanghai and Hong Kong, the airline plans to extend the trial to Barbados and select services later in October, before a wider roll out […]

Terri Morrissey and Richard Plenty share their thoughts on the importance of restoring passengers’ confidence in the aviation industry. How quickly times change! If you’d asked people what they thought about flying at the start of 2020, the vast majority of answers would probably have revolved around ticket prices and the enjoyment, and hassle factor, […]

Up to 46 million aviation related jobs around the world will be lost due to the severe downturn in air traffic caused by COVID-19, followed by a slow recovery, according to new industry figures released today. Under normal circumstances, aviation and the tourism facilitates support 87.7 million jobs worldwide. Over 11 million jobs are within […]

Traffic volumes might be down across the world, but it hasn’t stopped some airports from adding much needed infrastructure, and this certainly applies to Fraport, which today began construction of a new truck parking lot at Frankfurt Airport’s CargoCity South. The roughly 14,500-square-metre lot is located within the airport’s operational area near Airport Gate 32 […]

Joe Bates finds out more about Amsterdam Schiphol’s plans for a Hyperloop link and a cargo version of the technology that its inventors believe can provide super-fast transport links to airports. Amsterdam Schiphol has confirmed that it is still looking at introducing a revolutionary ‘Hyperloop’ ground transport link in the future. The new transport system […]

In new analysis released today, the aviation sector details how it can meet its climate goal of cutting CO2 emissions in half by 2050, compared with 2005. It also highlights that net-zero emissions from air transport across the global could be achieved a decade or so afterwards. The plan will rely on a significant shift […]

Doha’s Hamad International Airport is trialling new check-in kiosks that use infra-red technology to detect passengers’ fingerprints and therefore eliminate the need for them to touch any screens. The kiosks, which utilise happyhover and SITA Mobile Solution technology, are being trialled for contactless self-check-in and baggage drop. The introduction of these advanced smart solutions is […]

Quito International Airport continues its recovery from the worst of COVID-19, welcoming back a significant number of international and domestic flights since resuming operations this summer. Between them Avianca, LATAM and Aeroregional have resumed services to eight domestic destinations – Guayaquil, Cuenca, Esmeraldas, Galapagos, Manta, Loja, El Coca and Santa Rosa. While its international route […]

Airport World takes a closer look at two very different new airports that are expected to be built over the next five years – Delhi Noida in India and Mirage in Saudi Arabia. Delhi Noida International Airport It may still be a few years away from becoming reality, but a second Delhi airport is now […]

Now is the time to step up the industry’s efforts against cyber-crime, writes Dominic Nessi, vice president of strategic engagement for the Aviation Information Sharing & Analysis Center (Aviation-ISAC). A series of successful cyber-attacks on airports in late 2018 helped focus the industry’s attention on the need to up its game in the battle against […]

Montréal-Trudeau has followed up its Airport Health Accreditation award by becoming the first Canadian airport, as well as the first facility in Québec, to earn GBAC STAR Facility Accreditation from The Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC). GBAC is a Division of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, and GBAC STAR is an international accreditation focused […]

ACI World has today reinforced industry calls for the widespread deployment of COVID-19 testing of international passengers before travel as an alternative to restrictive quarantine measures. As a result of the pandemic, ACI recently revealed that the airport industry is anticipating global passenger numbers to decrease by 5.6 billion with an unprecedented $104.5 billion reduction […]

Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton have become the first airports in the UK to trial a new Oxo-Biodegradable 100ml security bag. All three are operated by AGS Airports Ltd, which believes that the new, free, bags will now remove more than two million single-use plastic bags each year across the group. The technology involved ensures the […]

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) has announced the implementation of a Clean Construction Program, which it claims is one of the most ambitious programmes of its kind among US transportation agencies as it is designed to reduce carbon emissions throughout the design and construction processes. This important measure ensures that […]

MXD’s Chris LeTourneur explores growth opportunities for e-commerce, health and food logistics in the wake of COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic has had devasting impacts on every aspect of how we live, work, play, socialise and move around, with aviation being one of the hardest hit sectors as passenger numbers have plummeted. The decline has led […]

Stockholm Aranda Airport has received a delivery of 210 tonnes of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from fuel products supplier, Air bp. Purchased by Swedish airport operator, Swedavia, and its partners SOS Alarm, Systembolaget and the 2030 Secretariat, the fuel is part of an initiative to promote the large-scale production of SAF and its use as […]

Operator, GHIAL, has announced that Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport has achieved Airport Health Accreditation (AHA). The accreditation recognises the airport’s efforts to make it a safe environment for passengers and staff in line with ACI’s Aviation Business Restart and Recovery guidelines and ICAO Council Aviation Recovery Task Force (CART) Recommendations along with industry best […]

Marshall Retail Group (MRG), a WHSmith Group company, has opened its newest airport store in Terminal at New York LaGuardia (LGA). Called the DEAN inside LaGuardia Airport (LGA), the 5,000-square-foot retail space is said to be specifically designed to “the needs of the modern LGA passenger”. According to MRG, it offers a one-of-a-kind shopping experience, […]

Chicago Rockford International Airport proves secondary airports can be pandemic heroes and economic juggernauts, writes executive director, Mike Dunn. While Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) may never be a hub, it is one of the top 20 cargo airports in the United States and cranks out cargo like one. The seismic shift – almost overnight […]

Like many other industries across the globe, with the pandemic still in full swing, airports around the world continue to add enhanced layers of protection to ensure the safety and wellbeing of passengers, and optimising the ventilation systems in terminals to improve the air quality is one of them. Here are some ways airports are […]

Over 20 travel and tourism bodies as well as unions across Europe united today in an unprecedented call for European Commission leadership to replace quarantine restrictions with an EU Testing Protocol for Travel in a bid to save the livelihoods of more than 27 million Europeans who work in the sector. In an open letter […]

A new 10 MW solar energy farm is taking shape at Melbourne Airport, which is set to produce enough clean energy to provide power to all four passenger terminals. The renewable solar farm will generate 16.8 GWh of electricity every year, which is almost 15% of the airport’s annual consumption needs. Once live in January […]

Moscow Sheremetyevo International Airport today inaugurated its new hangar and maintenance complex for aircraft operated by the Aeroflot Group. According to the Russian gateway, construction of the hangar complex was completed in 12 months, a record time for the construction of such “complex technical facilities”. The first facility of this kind in Russia, airport operator, […]

Communicating confidence through digital platforms such as omnichannel retail can help drive aviation’s recovery from the COVID crisis, writes Kian Gould, CEO of AOE. Developing a clear picture of the post-lockdown passenger journey will be crucial in establishing passenger confidence as the launch pad for recovery. The urgent sharing of information across so many locations, […]

Today at 4am local time, Salt Lake City Department of Airports (SLCDA) turned the key and opened the first phase of The New SLC Airport. As the lights dimmed on the existing airport, the lights brightened on a new parking garage, gateway centre, central terminal and Concourse A-west. Delta Air Lines will occupy the 25 […]

Miami (MIA) and Hong Hong (HKG) have become the latest airports to become accredited under ACI’s Airport Health Accreditation programme. The initiative recognises the high hygiene standards and procedures in place at both airports, with accreditation seen as an important first step that will help aviation’s recovery from COVID-19. “From the onset of the pandemic, […]

Stuttgart becomes the first airport in Germany to embrace Amadeus’ cloud computing technology for passenger services. More than 200 check-in counters and gates, as well as 30 self-service kiosks have transitioned to to the new technology, which Amadeus says ensures a smoother check-in experience. Thanks to this technology, the migration was handled largely remotely, with […]

Since the arrival of COVID-19, industry commentators have shared a common theme – businesses need to be more tech-smart and flexible, to face the challenging times ahead. For airports, this is nothing new. The digitisation of operations has long been on the radar for all but the smallest. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has often been advertised […]

What can we expect from Berlin Brandenburg Airport when the long awaited new gateway opens to traffic later this year? Joe Bates investigates. There will be a mix of emotions when the German capital’s new €6 billion gateway, Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), opens for business on October 31 this year. Pride and relief will certainly […]

Fraport owned Lima Airport Partners (LAP) has signed a $450 million financing agreement for an airside development programme at Peru’s Jorge Chávez International Airport. Four international banks – comprising KfW IPEX-Bank, the Bank of Nova Scotia, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), and Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria – are providing the loan. Fraport’s and LAP´s finance […]

Toronto Pearson International Airport has become the first Canadian airport to be accredited under ACI’s Airport Health Accreditation programme. Deborah Flint, president and CEO of operator, Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), believes that the award shows how seriously Toronto Pearson is taking COVID-19 and reflects the airport community’s efforts to prioritise the health and wellbeing […]

LaGuardia Terminal B gives the airport and New York a world class facility that it deserves, writes Vantage Airport Group’s chair and CEO, George Casey. One of the few industry highlights of 2020 has to be the completion of the spectacular new Arrivals & Departures Hall at LaGuardia Airport’s Terminal B, a key moment in […]

Aviation has many benefits for our world. Arguably, no other industry has done more globally to connect people, power economies, and enable progress than aviation. For each new generation thus far, aviation has opened new frontiers and created new opportunities for connecting people and ideas. Right now, the aviation industry is working to recover from […]

It is time to take a look at the possible airports of tomorrow courtesy of Fentress Architects’ 2020 Fentress Global Challenge (FGC). Fentress today announced the 22 entries that have been shortlisted in its annual airport design competition, which this year garnered more than 100 entries from students in over 15 countries. This year’s competition […]

Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) in the UK has released some new CGI images of the proposed new terminal it hopes to shortly receive the green light to build. The new images show what the new look check in hall, departures lounge and arrivals gate could look like if the complex is approved. Large glass fronted […]

Despite the boost of the end of summer holiday traffic, only 650,000 passengers passed through Swedavia’s 10 Swedish airports in August – 83% down on the corresponding month a year ago. Swedavia, which reveals that 3.7 million passengers used its gateways in August 2019, notes that last month’s air traffic recovery “slowed somewhat in late […]

Technology will play a key role in ensuring that aviation security is equipped for a COVID-19 environment and beyond, writes Smiths Detection’s global aviation director, Richard Thompson. Though the COVID pandemic continues to unfold, airlines and airports around the globe are slowly restarting their operations as domestic and international travel begins to pick-up once again. […]

San Antonio International Airport (SAT) has become first airport in the world to purchase and deploy the Xenex LightStrike robot to help it combat COVID-19. The Texas gateway is confident that the locally made machine’s ultraviolet (UV) room disinfection technology will eliminate SARS-CoV-2 – the virus that causes COVID-19. “The health and safety of our […]

Vienna Airport’s Julian Jäger talks to Joe Bates about the ongoing transformation of Terminal 2, surviving COVID-19 and what the future might hold for Austria’s gateway to the world. Julian Jäger is the type of boss that is always upbeat and positive, and despite today’s difficult operating conditions, he has plenty to be optimistic about […]

ACI World is to introduce a new ‘Hygiene’ award category to its Airport Service Quality (ASQ) awards this year to reflect the changing landscape in customer experience introduced in response to COVID-19. The impact and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have brought the global airport industry to a standstill with an estimated reduction in passenger […]

Egis and local subsidiary, Projacs, has signed a contract to deliver project management consultancy services for airside projects at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport (KKIA). KKIA is managed and operated by Riyadh Airports, which is currently working on upgrading the airside infrastructure at Saudi Arabia’s capital city airport, adding new services and facilities that it […]

UK pilots union, the British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA), today called on the government to listen to IAG CEO, Willie Walsh, and use effective Covid testing as an alternative to punitive quarantine measures. BALPA, which freely admits that it is one of Walsh’s biggest critics, supports his call to end  the constantly changing and travel […]

Preparing for the new normal: ACI launches Airport Health Accreditation programme to assess airport health measures, writes external relations and special events manager, Bojana Jeremic. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a global crisis, bringing airports, airlines, and the entire aviation community around the world to a virtual standstill. As the aviation industry begins to […]

Quito International Airport continues to lead the way in Latin America by becoming one of the first airports in the region to be accredited under ACI’s Airport Health Accreditation (AHA) programme. The ACI Airport Health Accreditation is based on the recommendations of ICAO to establish common sanitary measures and is aligned with the best practices […]

Ontario International Airport (ONT) “experienced significant growth” in commercial air freight shipments in the first five months of 2020 as consumers and businesses increasingly relied on e-commerce sources for household goods and personal protective equipment as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold. The assessment from Fitch Ratings notes that ONT and Alaska’s Ted Stevens Anchorage International […]

The Emirates Group today marked Emirati Women’s Day, which celebrates the achievements of women who are making a positive difference to the nation in their diverse roles, particularly amidst the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. The group’s executive vice president for human resources, Abdulaziz Al Ali, says: “Women play a vital role in supporting the […]

Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport has won ACI-NA’s Environmental Achievement Award for Environmental Improvement with Limited Resources for the airport’s updated Master Plan. The updated plan was released in November 2019 after a two year public consultation and stakeholder engagement programme and focuses on areas such as infrastructure requirements, activity forecasting, environmental initiatives and future planning. […]

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is moving forward a runway improvement project by two years to take advantage of the current reduced flight activity resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The gateway has decided to act now and complete the project in October 2020 instead of 2022 as originally planned as it believes that it will […]

Munich Airport (MUC) has introduced a A CO2-neutral passenger bus with an innovative drive concept as it strives to reduce its carbon emissions and become an ACI NETZERO gateway by 2050. The bus has been fitted with a generator-electric drive, developed by Rohrbach-based start-up CM Fluids, that has allowed it to be converted so that […]

In an exclusive first interview, new director general, Luis Felipe de Oliveira, talks to Joe Bates about today’s challenging operating environment and his goals and ambitions for ACI World. Replacing a popular predecessor is never easy in the best of times, throw in COVID-19 and its decimating global impact on aviation, and it quickly becomes […]

Miami International Airport (MIA) today unveiled a new online service designed to help passengers beat checkpoint queues and better manage their journeys through its facilities. According to the Florida gateway, its passengers now have a personal travel assistant available around the clock, ready to tell them the fastest checkpoint for their flight and how to […]

VIEW THE ISSUE HERE Theme: Planning & Design In the spotlight: Vienna Airport Special report: Berlin Brandenburg Plus: Cybersecurity, Cargo and Omnichannel communication The next step ACI World is under new management for the first time in 12 years, with Luis Felipe de Oliveira officially succeeding Angela Gittens as the new director general of the […]

Moscow Sheremetyevo International Airport reports that it handled 11.2 million passengers in the first seven months of 2020, including nearly 1.5 million in July. It reveals that the bulk of passenger traffic travelled on Aeroflot, Nordwind Airlines, Rossiya, Ikar, Royal Flight and Air France flights as the airport accommodated 112,998 aircraft movements in the first […]

ACI World has today announced that Thomas Romig, currently head of operations control and development at Geneva Airport, will succeed ACI stalwart David Gamper as director of safety, operations and technical affairs. Gamper’s retirement will mark the end of an era for ACI World as he has been with the organisation since 1992. For Romig, […]

New biometric technology can ensure a completely contactless experience for passengers passing through Beijing Capital International Airport. The human-free journey is possible as the airport has completely automated the entire passenger journey using SITA technology – from check-in and bag drop through to immigration, security, and finally boarding. As a result, passengers only need to […]

One of the most exciting sources of growth in the travel industry today is the increased use of travel Application Programming Interface (API). 

APIs enable business agility and inter-connectedness and are integral to improving customer experiences as well as internal operations. However, according to Mohamed Amin, head of data and APIs at SITA, the aviation […]

Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) has opened a new $5.6 million Central Receiving and Distribution Center (CRDC) to improve the security screening – and enhance the health and safety – of all goods entering the airport. Operated by Bradford Airport Logistics, the new 22,000sqft facility will receive goods for delivery to the existing airport […]

Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) today announced that its relief package for the airport community will extend for another two months to end of October 2020 in view of the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The coronavirus pandemic and continuing political unrest in Hong Kong has had a huge impact on traffic at Hong […]

Leaving Washington Dulles International Airport by road is about to get a whole lot easier with the August 18 opening of a newly constructed passenger pick-up kerb built to more efficiently accommodate app-based ride services. The kerb, located on the ground level outside of baggage claim, was built to better accommodate transportation network company (TNC) […]

London City Airport has decided to temporarily pause its Capital Development Programme (CADP) at the end of the year upon completion of new aircraft stands, a full-length parallel taxiway and new passenger facilities. Since recommencing commercial flights on June 21, the airport has welcomed back four airlines, including its home-based carrier, BA City Flyer, and […]

Munich Airport (MUC) continues to slowly grow its route network, with the gateway currently served by 45 airlines operating services to 140 destinations. The combination of returning airlines and routes meant that the airport handled around 1,100 take-offs a week in early August. The German airport believes that the upturn in traffic reflects the desire […]

ACI World and ACI Europe today revealed that Istanbul Airport is the first airport to be accredited through its new Airport Health Accreditation programme. ACI’s Airport Health Accreditation programme assists airports by assessing new health measures and procedures introduced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in accordance with ICAO Council Aviation Restart Task Force […]

San Francisco International Airport’s on-site hotel, the Grand Hyatt at SFO, has won a Project/Team Award in the ‘Commercial/Office’ category in the Design-Build Institute of America”s 2020 National Awards. It will now compete for a National Award of Excellence and Project of the Year to be announced at DBIA’s Design-Build Conference and Expo Awards Ceremony […]

With the UK starting to head towards the new abnormal and travel resuming, many industry voices, including Heathrow and Gatwick airports, are calling for measures, such as COVID-19 testing, to encourage the reinvigoration of international tourism. Questions are, however, being raised around the benefits and drawbacks of collecting and processing large quantities of sensitive data. […]

Miami International Airport began August with a triple shot of new air services, when it welcomed back three more airlines – each of which is serving international routes. Volaris began serving Guadalajara again on August 2 with two weekly flights, Air Europa resumed weekly service from Madrid on August 3, and SWISS returned on August […]

Professor Zhiqiang Chen, chairman, president and CEO of NUCTECH, gives his thoughts on aviation’s battle against COVID-19 and the new technologies and solutions that will ensure that airports are safe environments for passengers and staff. How do you think passenger journeys and the airport security process will be impacted/changed by COVID-19? I believe COVID-19 will […]

Worldwide Flight Services’ (WFS) investment in state-of-the-art facilities as part of its long-term commitment to Brussels Airport has earned it a new five-year contract with Air France KLM Martinair Cargo. Under the terms of the agreement, which commences this month, WFS will provide a total handling solution including cargo, mail and truck handling, and services […]

Saskatchewan’s Moose Jaw Municipal Airport is to receive a C$2.1 million cash injection from the Canadian province and federal government to enhance its airfield and help its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The money will pay for the rehabilitation and expansion of the existing runway and taxiway, ultimately allowing the gateway to accommodate larger planes, […]

Terri Morrissey and Richard Plenty share their thoughts on some of the early lessons learned from COVID-19. In our last ‘People Matters’ column, we focused on how to build and sustain resilience in a crisis situation. Crises occur suddenly, require immediate responses, and are generally of short duration. Not so this one. This crisis has […]

Copenhagen Airports (CPH), arguably one of the world’s best run airport operators, today revealed that its COVID-19 survival plan includes potentially making a quarter of its staff redundant. CPH notes that to “secure its long-term competitive strength”, it will align its organisation to the lower level of activity which the aviation industry is currently experiencing […]

Kansai International Airport in Japan has become the latest gateway to introduce e-gates supplied by Vision-Box. The Osaka located airport has opened five banks of 12 pre-security gates (GT11) at Terminal 1 as it strives to ensure a ‘Fast Travel’ experience for passengers. By automating the boarding pass confirmation procedure at the departure gate, the self-scan […]

As air traffic across the US recovers from the severe and sudden drop in demand as a result of COVID-19, Crawford, Murphy & Tilly (CMT) – a well-established and growing aviation consultancy – wanted to get a clearer picture of what is happening at airports across the country. Using information from the Transportation Security Administration […]

Canberra Airport has installed a new security screening system with technology from Smiths Detection to further improve the screening of passengers and their carry-on luggage. Head of aviation, Michael Thomson, notes that the new machines will provide even better screening of passengers and safer flying at his gateway. “Canberra Airport is open for business with […]

Aviad Amalgor reports on the use of one of Boston Dynamics’ autonomous robot dogs during the ongoing revamp of Denver International Airport’s Great Hall. Performing construction work in an operating airport is a complex and challenging project. Doing so in one of the busiest airports in the world is even more demanding and requires an […]

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has agreed to extend its deal with Kennedy International Airport Cogeneration (KIAC) Partners to operate, maintain and upgrade the on-airport heating and cooling facility serving the Central Terminal Area at New York JFK. “The Port Authority is thrilled to continue our partnership with KIAC to bring […]

LaGuardia Gateway Partners (LGP) today announced that it will officially open the first seven gates of the Western Concourse of the new state-of-the-art Terminal B at LaGuardia Airport on August 5, 2020. With the opening of these seven gates, Terminal B is one step closer to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s vision of a 21st century LaGuardia […]

Salvador Bahia Airport’s sustainability success has led to the Brazilian gateway becoming a case study for students taking sustainable air transport management courses at the ITAéria Business School in Spain. The airport was recognised as the most sustainable airport in Brazil in 2019 by the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) and the accolade brought it […]

Anaerobic digestion can help airports become more environmentally friendly and reduce their carbon footprint, writes the World Biogas Association’s Jocelyne Bia. As countries prepare for a post COVID-19 recovery, aviation will resume, and the industry will once again be questioned about its impact on the environment and called upon to reduce its carbon footprint. Many […]

According to a new consumer insights report, there are positive signals for the industry regarding global travellers’ planned shopping trends, but significant behavioural changes across all shopper segments are to be expected. The report, published by industry research agency m1nd-set, is the latest in a series of studies focusing on how travellers from all world […]

We shine the spotlight on a handful of initiatives designed to help airports safely resume operations after the global COVID-19 lockdown ends and air travel is back on the agenda. Boosting airport operations Amorph Systems and VANTIQ have announced a strategic partnership to create a new application that will help airports worldwide address real-time operational […]

ACI World has today launched the Airport Health Accreditation programme to assist airports by assessing new health measures and procedures introduced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic against global standards. As airports around the world begin to restart and then prepare to sustain continuing operations they are, of course, focused on the health and […]

Sofia Airport will shortly be under new management after the SOF Connect consortium signed the concessionaire agreement for the gateway with the Bulgarian Ministry of Transport. Yesterday’s signing ceremony means that the project has now entered a new phase and SOF Connect partners Meridiam, Strabag and Munich Airport say that they are “looking forward to […]

The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) is urging governments to ease what it claims are “unduly onerous restrictions on international air travel” to re-establish global connectivity with evidence-based measures to safeguard public health. More than six months into the COVID-19 pandemic, the Asia Pacific air transport industry notes that it is taking initial steps […]

Amsterdam Schiphol is a vital cargo gateway for the Netherlands and has helped keep essential cargo moving across Europe during the COVID-19 pandemic, writes Justin Burns. Cargo is a vitally important part of the business for Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS), which is the main hub for freight into the Netherlands and a key gateway for Europe. […]

NEC Corporation and SITA have agreed to form a global partnership to develop market-leading solutions to make the dream of a secure walk-through travel experience at airports a reality. The partnership comes as airports and airlines increasingly look to low-touch and automated passenger processing in order to comply with new hygiene requirements following the global […]

Quito International Airport has been given the green light for air traffic to return to 50% of its pre-COVID-19 levels from August 1 after successfully proving the effectiveness of its coronavirus prevention measures to Ecuador’s National Emergency Operations Committee (COE). The airport has had permission to handle up to 30% of its usual airline frequencies […]

ACI World’s World Airport Traffic Report Dataset covering passenger traffic, cargo volumes, and aircraft movements for 2019 provides a timely reminder of why the world needs a healthy aviation industry. In 2019, the world’s airports accommodated 9.1 billion passengers, 120 million metric tonnes of cargo and more than 102 million aircraft movements while the industry […]

Plaza Premium Lounge has announced that it has begun to resume operations across the globe with its facilities in Hong Kong, Macau, Taipei, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Langkawi, Abu Dhabi, Hyderabad and Vancouver among the first to reopen. Between them they serve over 100 airlines, which include American Airlines, Air China, British Airways, Cathay […]

The development of airport cities can help future-proof airports post COVID-19, according to a white paper issued today by consultants, NACO. The white paper reports that, with almost 90% of airports revenues being passenger-related, there is a clear need for airports to diversify their revenue streams in order to reduce both revenue volatility and the […]

Dr Richard Plenty and Terri Morrissey consider the importance of strong leadership and the management qualities that will be needed to help airports survive and bounce back in these uncertain times. Despite the fact that a global pandemic had been widely anticipated and predicted for many years, the world has been caught completely unprepared for […]

Nashville International Airport’s new Concourse D will handle its first flights today, with Southwest Airlines operating the first services from the six new gates at the complex. “On behalf of the Board of Commissioners and everyone associated with Nashville International Airport [BNA], I wish to express our excitement with this excellent addition to our airport […]

S&P Global Ratings today lowered the ratings on four European airports/associated companies (and a further two CreditWatch revisions) as the rating agency anticipates a slower recovery in passenger traffic than first anticipated. The four downgrades are: • Royal Schiphol Group NV (Schiphol). Ratings to ‘A’ from ‘A+’ • Flughafen Zurich AG. Ratings to ‘A’ from […]

Heathrow today revealed that it has rolled out a “raft of anti-viral measures at key touchpoints to protect passengers, reducing the risk of transmission when travelling”. The measures include the introduction of UV cleaning robots, anti-viral disinfecting wraps and sealants, and 100 hygiene-technicians as the airport ramps up its response to COVD-19 and the UK […]

Lufthansa Consulting’s Catrin Drawer and Andreas Jahnke consider what the impact of COVID-19 is likely to be on the investment appeal of airports across the globe. Does COVID-19 mean that airports have finally lost their mantra of being a safe, long-term investment opportunity for investors? The short answer is ‘no’, because airport investments have never […]

Edmonton International Airport (EIA) is welcoming a new large-scale investment that it claims will create the largest airport-based solar farm in the world. According to the Canadian gateway, Airport City Solar will dramatically transform the west-side of EIA’s lands, create jobs and bring in a potential new power source for airport operations and the Edmonton […]

ACI World’s external relations manager, Bojana Jeremic, reports on ACI and IATA’s roadmap for the recovery of the aviation industry post COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought airports around the world to a virtual standstill and continues to have a dramatic impact on the wider aviation ecosystem. Most airports are operating at vastly reduced capacity, […]

Houston Airports is looking to purchase $3 million in new art for George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) and William P. Hobby (HOU) Airports. The airport operator already boasts one of Texas’ largest public art collections and its decision to boost its collection, in co-ordination with the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (MOCA), will be welcomed by […]

London City Airport today became the latest gateway to resume international flights as the UK government’s ‘Travel Corridors’ policy come into effect. And, possibly to the surprise of many, the return of flights to popular European holiday destinations from London City Airport (LCY) has been met with massive demand from travellers. According to the airport, […]

Today marked another milestone day in Dubai International Airport’s recovery from the COVID-19 as the UAE gateway welcomed the resumption of scheduled operations by foreign carriers. A total of 13 international airlines resumed scheduled flights this week as Dubai, and Dubai International Airport (DXB), effectively opened for business to overseas tourists from July 7. Airlines […]

Duty free operator Gebr Heinemann has announced that chief commercial officer, Kay Spanger, is retiring after more than 40 years with the Hamburg-based company. Spanger, who will work as an advisor to the company from September until the end of the year, is to be replaced on the Executive Board of Gebr Heinemann by Dr […]

Airports are leaders in the use of new technology, which will make touchless travel possible and hasten aviation’s recovery from COVID-19, writes Collins Aerospace’s Tony Chapman. There was a time not long ago when commercial airline passengers arrived early at airports to shop at high-end boutiques, eat at nice restaurants and enjoy a cocktail before […]

Saudi Arabia has unveiled plans for a new airport to serve what has been described as a new “ultra-luxury destination” on its Red Sea coast. The new destination is called AMAALA and the airport, which is slated for completion in 2023, will boast a design that that is said to have been inspired by the […]

Virgin Australia will be the first airline to depart on Brisbane’s new runway when it officially opens on Sunday. After eight years of construction and five decades of planning, the new and efficient runway system will provide Brisbane Airport with the greatest runway capacity of any capital city airport in the country. The A$1.1 billion […]

Budapest Airport claims that LOT Polish Airines has shown an “unwavering commitment” to the Hungarian market by launching its 12th and 13th route from Budapest Airport. Increasing the number of new destinations on the airport’s own route map, the Polish airline has commenced weekly services to Dubrovnik (Croatia) and Varna (Bulgaria). Budapest Airport (BUD) notes […]

Norwegian airport operator, Avinor, is rolling out an ambitious end-to-end touchless travel programme to tackle the impact of COVID-19 and help restore traveller confidence ahead of Norway’s summer season. Passengers travelling from any of Avinor’s airports can soon begin to check-in, drop their bags, pass through security, and board the aircraft without interpersonal contact, or […]

Salt Lake City has been one of the Midwest’s key transportation centres for over 150 years, firstly due the railroad and in more recent times because of its airport, and current executive director, Bill Wyatt, has no doubt that this lofty status will be cemented and strengthened by the opening of effectively a new gateway […]

DepARTures, an all-new, art-immersed store has opened for business at San Francisco International Airport’s Harvey Milk Terminal 1. Purpose built for SFO, DepARTures is said to replicate the character and mood of the local art community by “blending artisan merchandise sourced from San Francisco neighbourhoods with newsstand necessities and new technology to celebrate the modern […]

Los Angeles International Airport is trialling the use of virtual help desks at its information booths as US airports step up their fight against COVID-19. The technology connects users with a remotely located member of LAX’s guest experience team via a two-way video monitor, and is currently being trialled in Terminal 2. Los Angeles World […]

Orlando International Airport (MCO) has installed new vending machines that give the travelling public easy access to a variety of face masks, hand sanitisers and other personal protective equipment (PPE). “It is our top priority to make travellers and employees feel safe within our world-class airport,” explains Phil Brown, CEO of  the Greater Orlando Aviation […]

Singapore Changi today announced that it has begun “transforming the passenger experience with new contactless and cleaning innovations for a safer, but yet seamless, airport journey”. It notes that the measures, which include touchless technology and autonomous cleaning robots, will be rolled out airport-wide in preparation for when air travel into and out of Singapore […]

Airport World provides a global snapshot of how airports have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic and are planning for a brighter future. While passenger traffic has almost ground to a halt across the world, air cargo volumes have soared at many airports in the first four months of 2020 as they handled vital goods and […]

ACI World today released its Smart Security Vision 2040 , which it is confident sets the foundation for achieving a seamless airport security screening experience in a post-COVID-19 operational reality. It is part of the Smart Security programme, which promotes concepts and solutions that take a risk-based approach, increase efficiency, and enhance the passenger experience, […]

Aviation leaders pay tribute to outgoing ACI World director general, Angela Gittens, by sharing their personal memories of working with her during her 12-year tenure at the helm of the ‘voice of the world’s airports’. It is fair to say that ACI World reached new heights under the leadership of Angela Gittens, who oversaw the […]

In 2020 new vocabulary has seeped into global consciousness. From ‘new normal’ to the more practical yet equally disliked ‘social distancing’, the additions to this year’s dictionary paint a bleak, dystopian picture, writes SITA’s Jeremy Springall. But in the last few weeks, fresh terms are being met with interest from wanderlust-stricken travellers and cautious optimism […]

Belgrade’s Nikola Tesla Airport has turned to Amadeus to transform check-in and flight management operations with the deployment of its Altéa Departure Control for Ground Handlers solution. According to Amadeus, the solution paves the way for new services to provide passengers with a tailored experience, key to restoring traveller confidence in today’s changed travel environment. […]

Edmonton International Airport’s Airport City continues to grow with the news that manufacturing company, Plant Plus, will shortly become its newest tenant. The company specialises in making plant fibre polymer tech (PFP tech) products such as cups, straws and mobile phone cases that are recyclable and compostable alternatives to plastic or paper. According to Edmonton […]

Collaboration and co-operation will prove key to overcoming COVID-19 although aviation potentially faces a long road to recovery, writes Inderjit Singh. Aviation is one of the most important pillars of the global economy as the sector provides millions of jobs across the world and contributes heavily to its GDP. It is also a survivor, as […]

VIEW THE ISSUE HERE In the spotlight: Leadership and COVID-19 Airport report: Salt Lake City Cargo hub: Amsterdam Schiphol Plus: Anaerobic digestion, robots & investing in airports Leading the way Airport World editor, Joe Bates, reflects on the ‘leadership’ theme of this issue, the traffic decimating impact of COVID-19 on aviation, and the industry’s efforts […]

Edinburgh Airport is to add antimicrobial technology to the security tray return systems at its security checkpoints. It notes that implementation of antimicrobial technology from Leidos complements other measures it is taking to minimise the spread of bacteria in the airport. This is Leidos’ first order of the antimicrobial security tray technology introduced to mitigate […]

DHL Express Germany has signed an agreement to construct a new cargo building at Munich Airport. The new €70 million complex will be built on the site currently occupied by the car parks P80 and P80 West and will have a gross floor area of more than 8,000 square metres. For the first time, the […]

Etihad Airways is to launch a COVID-19 risk-assessment tool that it claims will empower passengers to make informed decisions about travelling. Powered by technology from Austrian-based healthcare technology company Medicus AI, the risk-assessment tool will supposedly guide Etihad’s passengers in evaluating the probability of having contracted the COVID-19 coronavirus by responding to a set of […]

Outgoing ACI World director general, Angela Gittens, reflects on the growth and development of Airports Council International over the past 12 years and highlights the importance of some ongoing initiatives. After twelve years of leading ACI World, I will step down as director general on June 30, 2020, and hand the reins over to Luis […]

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) officially has a new boss today following the appointment of Justin Erbacci as the CEO of Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) on a permanent basis. Erbacci, who joined LAWA in 2016 and has served as Interim CEO since predecessor Deborah Flint left for Great Toronto Airports Authority, was nominated for […]

COVID-19 is massively affecting airfields around the world and of every size, from the mega-hub airports to tiny airfields on Scottish islands and (potentially even) urban air mobility terminals. Demand for passenger aviation had been growing consistently year-on-year, but passenger numbers are currently reduced by over 90%. This year the situation is likely to remain […]

ACI World has today called for urgent government assistance and relief for airports to underpin the operational restart of the aviation industry and sustain their long-term industry recovery. It notes that the COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on the industry and broader economy has halted the airport industry at global level, potentially losing them 4.6 billion passengers […]

CAA International (CAAi), the technical co-operation arm of the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority, has completed the first milestone of a major aviation oversight programme to help Kazakhstan adopt a new aviation oversight framework based on the UK system. Over the past nine months, regulatory experts from CAAi have reviewed Kazakhstan’s Primary Aviation Legislation and recommended […]

GMR Airports Ltd (GAL) today confirmed that that one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries has signed an agreement with the government of Andhra Pradesh to build and develop a new greenfield  airport at Bhogapuram. The airport will be designed, financed, built and operated by GMR Visakhapatnam International Airport Limited (GVIAL) in exchange for a 40 year […]

Swedish airport operator, Swedavia, has received a SEK3.15 billion cash injection from the government to help it survive the COVID-19 crisis. Swedavia says that the “contribution” from its shareholder, which amounts to around €300,000, will secure the “financial position” of the state owned company. “We welcome our owner’s support in a very difficult situation. Society […]

Based on the latest flight data from Flightradar24, here are some end of week aviation recovery highlights courtesy of ICF. The Chinese domestic flights continue to recover gradually (now at -20% vs last year, compared to -40% a month ago). However, signs of nascent recovery in Chinese international flights has stalled at around -70% compared […]

It appears as if aviation has another new facility to be proud of as San Francisco International Airport’s Harvey Milk Terminal 1 has become the first airport terminal in the world to achieve Fitwel certification, a building rating system that provides guidelines on how to design and operate healthier buildings. San Francisco International Airport (SFO) was […]

Amsterdam Schiphol today confirmed that it is still looking at introducing a revolutionary ‘Hyperloop’ ground transport link in the future. The new transport system essentially involves pods capable of holding people, freight and cars being transported at super high speeds inside sealed tubes, that theoretically make it possible to travel hundreds of kilometre distances in […]

Frankfurt Airport is set to turn to wind power to provide the bulk of its electricity as part of its ongoing commitment to meeting its climate protection targets. Operator, Fraport AG, has revealed that it intends to agree upon an annual minimum purchase quantity with the operator of an offshore wind farm from no later […]

Despite IATA’s warning that passenger demand will not fully recover until 2024, flight data consolidator OAG is reporting green shoots of recovery, writes Veovo’s marketing manager, Siobhan Boyle. Travel lockdowns are easing in many regions, with over sixty airlines relaunching services in June. As air traffic ramps up, airports face daunting capacity planning challenges. Pre […]

ACI Europe reports that Europe’s airports continued to be at an almost complete stand-still during the month of May, with passenger traffic an alarming 98% down on the same period last year. As a result, only 4.3 million passengers travelled through the European network of 500+ airports in May, compared to 216.8 million last year. […]

The Supreme Administrative Court of Bulgaria has ended almost a year of legal wrangling by confirming that Meridiam and its partner, Munich Airport subsidiary Munich Airport International (MAI), has won the concession to operate and development Sofia Airport. The companies make up the SOF Connect consortium awarded the concession by Bulgaria’s Ministry of Transport in […]

Richard Plenty and Terri Morrissey provide their thoughts on adversity and crisis management. The COVID-19 crisis has profound implications which require global, collective and personal responses. We live in a VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous) world, and when we hit a crisis like this it can test us all to the limit. Can we […]

Irish airport operator, daa, today revealed that it is currently losing €1 million per day and has lost an estimated €160 million in turnover so far this year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. It notes that it has operations in 16 countries and that the global pandemic has affected all of its businesses, “which […]

The Airport Consultants Council (ACC) claims to have identified more than $31 billion in rehabilitation and maintenance projects at 46 US airports, based on responses to one of its surveys conducted earlier this year. In February, it released an updated report providing an overview of more than 100 airports’ upcoming capital development spending needs through […]

Airport World turns the spotlight on the green initiatives of three North American airports – Québec City Jean Lesage (YQB), San Diego (SAN) and Vancouver (YVR). YVR’s ambitious new Environmental Management Plan Vancouver International Airport’s 2020-2024 Environmental Management Plan (EMP) outlines the gateway’s commitment to become carbon neutral in 2020 and achieve net-zero carbon emissions […]

Despite the imminent introduction of a mandatory 14-day period of self isolation for all passengers arriving in the UK, London City Airport today announced plans to restart commercial operations from the end of June. With more details to be announced alongside airline partners shortly, it is expected that domestic services to key UK cities and […]

ACI World has welcomed the publication of the ICAO Council Aviation Recovery Task Force Report. As airports and the wider aviation industry prepares to restart amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, a variety of new measures, processes, and procedures are already being considered or introduced around the world. ICAO, member states, and representatives of the industry – […]

Canberra Airport has announced that passengers are now able to fly without restrictions to Sydney and Melbourne. Head of aviation, Michael Thomson, said that his gateway is open for business, and passengers are safe and secure to fly to and from Melbourne and Sydney for business and leisure. “We are very excited people can now […]

Cambodia’s Sihanouk International Airport has unveiled a new master plan to accommodate its projected traffic growth for the next 20 years. Construction of a second passenger terminal between now and 2030, extending the airport’s runway by 800 metres to 3,300 metres, a new taxiway and additional aircraft stands are the key projects of Phase 1 […]

Six of the best Plaza Premium Group now boasts six Plaza Premium Lounges in the Middle East following the opening of a new 1,260sqm facility in Dubai International Airport’s Terminal 3. “Dubai International connects travellers to more than 220 destinations across the globe including the US and Canada, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, India, Taiwan, Europe […]

COVID-19 has disrupted the world in a way rarely seen before, with aviation as one of the hardest hit sectors. But as the industry looks beyond the immediate response phase and thoughts turn to recovery, we find ourselves with the unique chance to think differently. Just-in-time (JIT) production has been a core principle of the […]

Istanbul’s new $10.2 billion airport has been awarded LEED Gold certification by the US Green Build Council (USGBC). The award recognises the sustainability efforts that went into designing and constructing the airport’s terminal, which becomes the largest LEED certified building in the world. Commentating on award, Kadri Samsunlu, CEO and director general at İGA Airport […]

Bristol Airport in the UK has invested in a new drone management system to combat the threat of unauthorised drones at the West Country gateway. The airport has agreed a three-year contract with telent and its technology partner Digital Global Systems (DGS) to install the latter’s CLEARSKY Drone Threat Management system. Its implementation at Bristol […]

Airport security screening and passenger flow expert, Cameron Mann, looks back at how security has evolved over the last 10 years and considers what the coming decade might bring for airports and passengers. In a rapidly evolving threat environment, it is worth pausing at the new decade to reflect on the changes in aviation security […]

ACI World has today published comprehensive guidance for airports as they prepare to restart operations to assist them in sustaining a business recovery in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The association estimates that the coronavirus crisis will cost airports more than 4.6 billion passengers and around $97 billion in revenue in 2020. The publication […]

According to a recent poll by Tourism Australia and Newcastle Airport, locals have a much stronger willingness to return to air travel in the short to medium term than their compatriots across the nation. Hunter residents have indicated they are twice as likely to travel for leisure than the rest of the country in the […]

Lagardère Travel Retail Pacific has begun to re-open some of its stores across the region, starting with a handful of outlets in the domestic terminals at Auckland, Brisbane, Christchurch, Perth and Melbourne this week. According to the travel retailer, the small selection of stores will be used as test cases with restricted trading hours, with […]

The innovative, efficient and sustainable design of airport terminals is nothing new to the Asia-Pacific region, writes Terence Seah, director of Benoy Singapore. Asia-Pacific (APAC) is one of the fastest-growing aviation markets in the world, with passenger numbers more than quadrupling over the last 15 years and both ACI and IATA forecasting that the region […]

The impact of COVID-19 on the aviation industry has been unprecedented, with ACI recently reporting that air travel is down by 95% from a year ago as a result of the travel ban and lockdowns in many countries. They have also estimated that passenger numbers for 2020 could drop by 40%, representing a significant decline […]

The FAA has awarded Jacobs Engineering Group an architect and engineering design services contract to help it modernise and sustain more than 13,000 facilities that support US’s National Air Space (NAS). The FAA estimates the nationwide, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) to be worth around $166 million over the next nine years. “We’ve stood firmly […]

Emirates believes that it has set industry-leading safety standards for its passengers with the introduction of complimentary hygiene kits that include masks, gloves, antibacterial wipes and hand sanitiser. It states that the new hygiene kits, launched for today’s resumption of services to nine destinations from Dubai International Airport (DXB), show the care being taken at […]

ACI director general, Angela Gittens, reflects on the key role information technology will play during the COVID-19 crisis and some of the challenges airports face in managing their IT systems. Information technology (IT) infrastructure has become a key enabler for airport management and operations. It underpins all systems and services critical to not only the […]

Passengers are being tested for COVID-19 at Quito International Airport as the Ecuadorian gateway steps up its response to the coronavirus crisis. The airport has installed 10 temporary testing stations to assess all passengers entering the country on international repatriation flights in a new initiative organised by Ecuador’s National Emergency Operations Committee (COE in Spanish). […]

ACI World and the IATA have called on governments to ensure that any new measures introduced for airports and airlines in the wake of COVID-19 are supported by scientific evidence and are consistent across the world. The aviation sector has been brought to a standstill and a balanced and effective restart and recovery depends on […]

According to a new survey by the country’s National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC), Salvador Bahia Airport is the most sustainable gateway in Brazil. Salvador Bahia, part of the VINCI Airports’ network of airports, has been recognised by ANAC for its waste management; energy efficiency; solid waste management; and efforts to protect local wildlife and flora […]

Open architecture, often referred to as ‘open interfaces’ or ‘open platform’, is an emerging trend in the aviation industry, writes Smiths Detection’s global aviation director, Richard Thompson. Open architecture supports the interfacing of equipment, software and algorithms from multiple suppliers to deliver a single integrated solution. For aviation security systems, open architecture can be applied […]

Qatar Airways will resume services to Brisbane Airport this week, the first of three weekly scheduled services from Doha touching down at the Queensland gateway on Thursday. The services will operate under existing bilateral rights until June 30, 2020, with the airline carrying both commercial passengers and freight, providing a critical cargo channel for Australian […]

Exploring and developing ways of sharing technology will make airport operations more efficient and cost effective and help transform the passenger journey, writes Sarah Samuel, Amadeus’ head of airport IT for Asia-Pacific. Modern technology is playing an ever-increasing role in ensuring airports can meet the challenges faced today by the industry globally. Whether it’s the […]

The €500 million expansion of Vienna Airport continues, with the gateway’s joint CEO, Julian Jäger, recently sharing a post on social media showing the ongoing transformation of Terminal 2. The facelift is part of the Austrian airport’s ambitious development programme, which will see also see it add a 70,000sqm extension to Terminal 3 by the […]

Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) in the UK has submitted its planning application to build a new, state-of-the-art replacement terminal by 2023. The proposal aims to dramatically improve passenger experience, deliver one of the UK’s most environmentally efficient airport buildings, and support the region’s economic prosperity. Submitted to Leeds City Council, the plans, first announced in […]

Smiths Detection has announced the launch of its new ultraviolet (UVC) light kits, which it states are capable of destroying up to 99.9% of microorganisms present on baggage trays at the security checkpoint. It notes that demonstrating heightened hygiene standards will be important as airports seek to restore the confidence of travellers and staff during […]

Dubai International Airport (DXB) handled 17.8 million passengers in the COVID-19 hit first quarter of 2020, 20% down on the corresponding period a year ago. Compared to other airports, DXB fared quite well, and with Emirates announcing yesterday that it will resume operations to nine major cities on May 21 (Chicago, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Melbourne, […]

Aerotropolis concept leader, Dr John Kasarda, provides an update of airport city and aerotropolis developments in the Americas, Europe, Africa and the Middle East, and considers the implications of the coronavirus pandemic on aviation and future developments. Last issue, I described how the Asia-Pacific region leads airport city and aerotropolis development. Other world regions are […]

ACI Europe today warned that the continent’s airports are “on their knees” and facing irreversible consequences unless air travel can restart, in a COVID-19 safe way, this summer. The warning follows a 98.6% drop in passenger numbers in April, when just 2.8 million people passed through Europe’s 500+ airports. “Europe’s airports are on their knees. […]

Heathrow Airport is urging the UK government to outline its strategy for exiting the about to be imposed 14-day quarantine period for the bulk of passengers arriving in the country. The airport believes that a clear exit strategy is vital to assist the UK’s ailing aviation industry, which has seen British Airways, Ryanair and Virgin […]