NEWS

Darwin Airport will get its own airport resort next week when two former ‘reimagined’ and now integrated airport hotels open as the Novotel & Mercure Darwin Airport Resort. The milestone opening follows a A$30 million investment by the Airport Development Group (ADG), which also owns the adjacent Darwin Airport. Darwin Airport is the northern gateway […]

SSP America has opened a collection of restaurants and bars at Chicago’s Midway International Airport (MDW), with the majority located in a food court area called the Central Market. The collection is comprised primarily of local brands consistent with SSP America’s focus on bringing a ‘taste of place’ to the airports its serves. It has […]

LaGuardia’s Terminal B shows just what can be achieved when it comes to designing an airport terminal that is accessible by all, writes Stanis Smith. Many in the airport industry are aware that LaGuardia’s Terminal B has won a host of host of design and sustainability awards despite its full construction only being completed in […]

ACI World director general, Luis Felipe de Oliveira, has announced his decision to step down from his role at the end of 2024. His departure is driven by family reasons, as de Oliveira expresses his desire to return to Europe with his family after four impactful years at the helm of ACI World. Taking on […]

History will be made at London’s Heathrow Airport today when a Virgin Atlantic test flight to New York becomes the first transatlantic flight powered by 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The B787 flight, which has been made possible by up to £1 million in funding from the UK government, is seen as a significant step […]

Security upgrades are now underway at Leeds Bradford Airport in the UK with the installation of what it calls “game changing” security infrastructure. According to the gateway, the installation of next-generation industry leading Leidos equipment will offer a smoother customer experience and enable passengers to travel through security without the need to remove items from […]

Work to create Scotland’s largest airport-based solar farm is now underway at Glasgow Airport following the successful completion of the development phase of the project. Glasgow Airport, in partnership with energy transition adviser and developer Ikigai Group, has completed the development phase and the subsequent successful financial close for a 19.9MW solar plant with Zestec […]

Brisbane Airport’s Lost Property Auction is back with a record number of items, allowing the public to grab a bargain just before Christmas. A total of 673 lots are on offer this year, with online bidding closing progressively on Sunday, December 17, from 10am. Around 60,000 people per day pass through the Domestic and International […]

Airports Council International today reiterated its support for the “visionary International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) goal for sustainable aviation fuel” to come from the Third ICAO Conference on Aviation and Alternative Fuels (CAAF/3) in Dubai. As reported on Friday, governments from over 100 States, meeting with industry and civil society, have set a goal that […]

ACI’s Technology Innovation Awards, held in partnership with Amadeus, highlight cutting edge initiatives and leadership by airports that improve operations or increase efficiency. In what has now become an annual event, ACI World and Amadeus invite airports to submit innovative technology projects and examples of leadership that enhance the passenger journey, drive operational efficiency or […]

The aviation sector has adopted a collective goal to start the shift away from fossil fuels at the third Conference on Aviation and Alternative Fuels (CAAF/3), convened at ICAO. Governments from over 100 States, meeting with industry and civil society, have set a goal that aviation fuel in 2030 should be 5% less carbon intensive […]

Airport World rounds-up a handful of the latest sustainability news stories making headlines across the globe. New sustainability milestone for Hyderabad and London Luton Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (HYD) and London Luton (have become the latest gateways to achieve Level 4 in ACI’s Airport Carbon Accreditation programme. Achieving Level ‘Transition’ status, HYD – operated […]

Charlotte Ljunggren, director for marketing and commercial business development, tells us more about the opening of Stockholm Arlanda Airport’s new Marketplace development. Are you excited about the first phase opening of Stockholm Arlanda’s new Marketplace development? Absolutely, as it will transform the commercial space in Terminal 5 and is the second big development at the […]

George Richardson, co-founder and CEO of AeroCloud, explains how computer vision can transform airport operations and the passenger experience. The removal of COVID-19 restrictions has allowed a steady return to air travel. According to the UN Aviation Agency, the number of air passengers carried in 2022 was an estimated 47% up on the previous year […]

INFORM’s Alexander Wendorff explains how advanced technologies can help airports better manage and optimise their resources. Today’s challenging market conditions continue to heap pressure on airports to make the optimum use of their resources. Indeed, growing traffic demands, labour shortages, increased pressure to meet sustainability goals and heightened regulations are just some of the reasons […]

ACI’s newest event centred around innovation, Airports Innovate, officially begins today with the Welcome Reception at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre in Muscat. ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East, ACI EUROPE, and ACI World note that the theme of the event is ‘Dynamic Think Tank – Reveal the Future’, and that it will highlight some […]

Sheikh Aimen Al Hosni, CEO of Oman Airports, provides Joe Bates with an update on the progress of Muscat International Airport and the development of his country’s airport system. Can you tell us a little more about Muscat International Airport (MCT)? Muscat International Airport is arguably the jewel in the crown of our airports as […]

ACI World director general, Luis Felipe de Oliveira, considers how innovation continues to make passenger journeys easier and enhance the sustainability of airports. Airports have come a long way since their inception, with innovation leading many of the changes that have transformed them from transport hubs into destinations in their own right. Innovation has been […]

Tulsa International Airport has announced a significant milestone, it handled more outbound passengers in October 2023 than it has in a single month since July 2008. The Oklahoma gateway accommodated a total of 149,876 enplanements in October – 4.5% more than in the corresponding month a year ago, 11% up on October 2019 and the […]

We provide a picture review of some of highlights of the recent ACI World Customer Experience Global Summit in Incheon. Over 600 participants from across the world attended the ACI World Customer Experience Global Summit – the premier global event dedicated to the airport customer experience – in Incheon, South Korea, in early September. The […]

ACI World and Amadeus today open submissions for the prestigious 2024 Technology Innovation Awards that showcase the top airport technology initiatives and leadership that are shaping the future of air transport. ACI airport members are encouraged to submit their candidacy to the fourth and growing edition of ACI World-Amadeus Technology Innovation Awards, which will see […]

Munich Airport is intensifying its existing climate targets and now intends to achieve Net Zero by 2035 instead of 2050 as previously intended. Achieving Net Zero means reducing the emissions that the airport itself can influence – known as Scope 1 and 2 emissions – by a minimum of 90%. The remaining around 10% of […]

In a first for an Australian airport, Google has launched Indoor Live View at Sydney Airport, just in time for the Christmas travel rush. The new augmented reality (AR) feature on Google Maps provides arrows, directions, and distance markers superimposed on the camera view, to point people in the right direction across the terminals. According […]

Amsterdam Schiphol continues to innovate by using smart solutions to enhance its operational efficiency and help secure its long-term future, write the Royal Schiphol Group’s Zahra Merchant and Jan Zekveld. The very nature of the aviation industry ensures that it is constantly evolving and creating new logistical and transformational challenges for airports, which need to […]

London Stansted Airport recorded its busiest ever October as nearly 2.6 million passengers passed through its terminal, surpassing the previous record set in 2018. The UK gateway states that the popularity of its extensive European route network, plus the half-term getaway, ensured that it welcomed more than 28,000 more passengers than in 2018. The total […]

The Golden Arches of McDonald’s Australia are ready to rise for the first time at Brisbane Airport’s Domestic Terminal this summer. It’s one of 10 new food and beverage destinations opening in the coming months as part of the airport’s terminal redevelopment. Last year, 16 million passengers passed through the transport hub, which is the […]

We report on the latest traffic statistics for ACI World, the release of ACI Asia-Pacific’s new Airport Connectivity Report, and ACI EUROPE’s green skies commitment. ACI WORLD news: Global traffic figures close to full recovery ACI World has published its latest quarterly air travel outlook revealing global passenger traffic expected to recover in early 2024 […]

The Shannon Airport Group contributes almost €4 billion (€3.96bn) to Ireland’s GDP and supports over 20,300 jobs, according to a new report. Published today, the report independently produced by economic advisory firm Oxford Economics, highlights the significant positive impact of The Shannon Airport Group to the Irish and Mid-West economy in 2022. It also considers […]

A total of 2.5 million passengers passed through Copenhagen Airport in October, 12% more than in the same month a year ago. The increase was helped by the launch of 13 new services to Asia, Africa and the Middle East this winter, meaning that 228 direct routes across the globe are currently served from Copenhagen. […]

Travellers to Salt Lake City International Airport are now welcomed by a new entry feature titled ‘The Peaks’, a monumental sculpture imagined by Artist Gordon Huether then fabricated and installed by his team. “Salt Lake City International Airport is still growing and transforming just like our City,” said Salt Lake City Mayor, Erin Mendenhall. “For […]

Asia-Pacific’s airports continue to appeal to investors interested in privatisation deals and upgrading infrastructure, writes Modalis Infrastructure Partners’ partner, president and CEO, Curtis Grad. Despite being very slow to remove COVID restrictions, Asia-Pacific remains a key region for airport investment and development as traffic flows are predicted to see some of the biggest rises in […]

Nakhon Si Thammarat International Airport in southern Thailand is set to open its new $40 million international terminal next month. The new eight-gate facility covers 30,000sqm and is said to boast state-of-the-art facilities that will boost the airport’s capacity to four million passengers per annum. Three airlines – Nok Air, Thai AirAsia and Thai Lion […]

Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) in the UK has achieved its highest score to date from The Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB), achieving a score of 95% and being awarded a 5-star rating. An independent organisation, GRESB provides validated Environmental, Social and Governance data for real estate and infrastructure businesses globally. To achieve a rating, […]

Pragma Consulting’s Katie Hastings looks at some examples of retail/F&B innovation at airports across the globe. Airports have enjoyed a sudden influx of high passenger numbers since the end of the pandemic. While this is great news, it has had an impact on airport operations and commercial space capacity has become a major challenge for […]

Budapest Airport handled close to 11 million passengers during the first three quarters of 2023 to ensure that its traffic levels are just 10% below pre-COVID levels. It is confident that the upward trajectory will continue this winter, which will see 36 airlines flying to 107 destinations. Sunday, October 29, saw Ryanair start new services […]

Sydney Airport (SYD) has named the new flyover into the domestic airport after aviation trailblazer, Deborah Lawrie AM. Lawrie was the first woman in Australia to become a pilot for a commercial airline, something she only achieved after winning the country’s first successful High Court sex discrimination case for employment. The decision paved the way […]

Passengers passing through Singapore Changi will be able to enjoy a candy-themed wonderland as part of its festive festivities! From tomorrow and lasting until the end of March 2024, the airport’s candy-themed wonderland will offer whimsical carnival games and rides, as well as a snow house that will transport visitors “into to a world of wintry […]

Dublin and Cork airports welcomed over three million passengers between them in October as traffic levels continue to rise at Ireland’s two busiest gateways. A total of 2.8 million passed through the doors of Dublin Airport in October, which was 4% higher than in the same month last year, according to airport operator daa. While […]

Uptown Phoenix and InMotion are the latest retail outlets to open inside the brand-new S1 Concourse in Terminal 4 at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX). The WH Smith North America (WHSNA) operated stores were celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony, followed by a cheque presentation to the company’s long-time charity partner, Miracle Flights, which […]

Passenger numbers in most of Asia-Pacific should return to pre-pandemic levels over the next 12-18 months, according to S&P Global Ratings, during which time it believes that industrywide capacity constraints, due to supply-chain issues, should support load factors and ticket fares. “Demand-supply dynamics are favouring aviation-related sectors in Asia-Pacific,” said S&P Global Ratings credit analyst […]

Tulsa International Airport (TUL) passengers who are blind or have low vision (BLV) now have free access to the Aira app, which is a visual interpreting service that acts as an assistant to help users navigate their environments and answer their questions. Aira customers are able to use this service anywhere for a fee, but […]

More than 500 business and regional leaders gathered on Wednesday, November 1, for Ontario International Airport’s annual State of the Airport event, and to celebrate seven years of local control of the Californian gateway. Serving one of the most dynamic population and economic centres in the United States, ONT will serve more than six million […]

London Stansted Airport has received planning permission to extend its terminal building. The decision was made by the Planning Inspectorate following a hearing held on 17 October and, according to the UK, the extension “will transform the airport experience and provide capacity to accommodate growth towards the airport’s approved limit”. The scheme will add a […]

VIEW THE ISSUE HERE Airport profile: Muscat In Focus: Sustainability Plus: ACI World Customer Experience Global Summit; Investing in Asia-Pacific; eVTOLs and Retail/F&B The next big thing! Editor, Joe Bates, reflects on the ‘innovation’ theme of the penultimate 2023 issue of Airport World. I have no idea who first coined the expression, ‘the next big […]

ACI World is to work with global aviation consultancies Netherlands Airport Consultants (NACO) and To70 on the creation of a global standardised framework for improved airport environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) reporting. The association notes that airports “face the ongoing challenge of investing in infrastructure to meet future air travel demand, while also ensuring […]

Sydney Airport’s popular volunteer ambassadors are now sporting a new uniform, which has been 100% Australian designed and made. Since 1999, ambassadors have been offering customer support in the terminals, with teams across T1 international as well as T2 and T3 domestic. The ambassador programme was introduced to help with the influx of visitors for […]

Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) operator, Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK), has signed an agreement with the Dongguan Port Group to establish a joint venture to develop HKIA Dongguan Logistics Park in Mainland China. The new facility will handle sea-air cargo transhipments being transported between Hong Kong and Dongguan. When completed, cargo security screening, palletisation […]

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport has opened its own concrete recycling plant to reduce the CO2 emissions associated with transporting waste rubble to a facility off-site. The new facility will crush old, used concrete from renovation and maintenance projects to make new concrete or foundation material, in collaboration with Heijmans and VolkerWessels Infra Schiphol. The material will […]

ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East today announced the findings of its market research on airport concession business models and non-aeronautical revenues on the opening day of the The Trinity Forum 2023 in Hong Kong. Based on survey feedback from airport operators across the region, the research reveals that airports are giving “noteworthy consideration” to new […]

The air transportation industry is immersed in discussions and events revolving around innovation. However, these conversations often overlook the strategic framework required for effective implementation. In this article, we explore the recent executive-level Forum on Innovation organised by the International Airport Professional Community of Practice (IAP CoP). The objective was to highlight the vital role […]

Idaho Falls Regional Airport in the US will soon get a new look as it embarks on a 18,000-square-foot expansion. The $45 million project, financed through federal airport funding, is expected to begin in early 2024 and finish by 2026. According to the airport, the project will significantly expand and replace the outbound baggage system […]

London Gatwick has achieved Level 4+ ‘Transition’ status in ACI’s Airport Carbon Accreditation scheme – the only institutionally-endorsed, global carbon management certification programme for airports. The global scheme independently assesses and recognises the efforts of airports to manage and reduce their carbon emissions through six levels of certification: ‘Mapping’, ‘Reduction’, ‘Optimisation’, ‘Neutrality’, ‘Transformation’ and ‘Transition’. Level […]

Dublin Airport is targeting an increase in the number of passengers travelling to and from the airport by bus over the coming years. The airport is seeking expressions of interest from bus operators who would like to operate scheduled bus services from the various bus stops outside the two terminals from Spring 2024 onwards. The […]

It’s not just witches on broom sticks taking to the skies over the Halloween bank holiday, Shannon Airport is expecting record breaking passenger numbers with over 44,000 people forecast to take off from the airport throughout the October holiday period. This will be the highest number of passengers to travel through the airport during the […]

The creation of its first ‘Experience Space’ ensures that a new and truly unique experience is awaiting the travellers at Copenhagen Airport, according Gebr Heinemann. The travel retailer reveals that the new innovation centres around the overarching topic of ‘fluid perspectives’ and invites the visitors to enjoy cutting edge innovation with lift and learn technology, […]

Global airport operator, Fraport, is gradually converting its fleet of vehicles at Frankfurt Airport to electric drives. Parallel to this, the charging infrastructure at Germany’s largest air traffic hub is also expanding and evolving. For now, it still works conventionally, with current flowing from a charging point into vehicles’ storage batteries. However, Fraport boldly states […]

Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) has awarded Fraport Washington Partnership LLC (Fraport USA) a ten-year contract to lease, develop and manage the concessions programme at Washington DC’s Dulles and Reagan National airports. Under the new contract with the MWAA, effective in January 2024, Fraport USA will be responsible for day-to-day management of the concessions programme […]

Thomas Woldbye has today officially taken over as CEO of London’s Heathrow Airport. His arrival marks a new chapter for Heathrow, which the UK hub states will see it push innovation in passenger service, sustainability and growth at the airport over the next decade. He is spending his first day meeting colleagues across the airport […]

Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) in the UK has announced over a £100m investment into a vital regeneration of its terminal facilities which will dramatically improve the passenger experience and help unlock economic growth for the region. Approved by Leeds City Council, the work is set to commence in autumn 2023 and is expected to complete […]

Abu Dhabi International Airport’s new Terminal A, which will double the UAE gateway’s current capacity to 45 million passengers per annum, will officially open on November 1, it was announced today. Etihad’s ceremonial flight will take place on October 31, ahead of the terminal’s eagerly awaited opening to the public the following day. Airlines will […]

Announcements, news stories and opinions from ACI World Business Partners across the globe. Jacobs and HOK to work on modernisation of SEA’s S Concourse Jacobs and Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum (HOK) will both play key roles in the modernisation of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport’s S Concourse. Jacobs has beem selected by the Port of Seattle to […]

The San Diego County Regional Airport Authority has completed a major bond financing totalling $1.062 billion. The combination of the bond sales in 2021 and 2023 have provided $2.35 billion towards the projected $3.4 billion cost of San Diego International Airport’s Terminal 1 project, whose first phase is set to open in late summer 2025. […]

Frankfurt Airport (FRA) welcomed some 5.8 million passengers in September 2023 – an increase of 18.2% compared to the same month last year. Operator, Fraport AG, however, is quick to point out that the monthly total was 13.9% down on September 2019. The latest figures mean that Frankfurt Airport handled a total of 44.5 million […]

Terri Morrissey and Dr Richard Plenty consider the importance of creating a work culture where employees feel safe and confident that their opinions will be valued and respected. How many of us have felt we had something important to say at work but failed to do so? Speaking up can be hard to do. It […]

Sam Folley and Nicola Ihnatowicz explore the wider social and stakeholder push for better diversity and inclusion for employers in the airports sector. The pandemic has resulted in a complete shift in working practices. The advent of flexible working is an obvious change, but there has been a fundamental shift in the dynamic between employers […]

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) contributes an estimated $38 billion in direct and indirect payroll support, $24 billion in visitor spending and about $5 billion in state and local tax revenue each year, according to the results of an updated economic impact study. The study also reveals that the Texas gateway also supports more than […]

Self-service check-in and baggage drop will soon be possible for passengers travelling to Kuala Lumpur International Airport from the city’s central rail station as a result of a new deal between aviation technology provider, SITA, and Express Rail Link Sin Bhd (ERL). The agreement will see SITA equip ERL with new self-service check-in kiosks and […]

Associations representing the European aviation sector today adopted a Joint Industry Declaration announcing their intention to make Europe the most efficient and environmentally friendly sky to fly in the world. In line with the EU’s Green Deal objective of reaching climate neutrality by 2050, and to optimise capacity in the skies, associations representing airlines, airports, […]

It has been announced that Porter Airlines and Nieuport have “amicably resolved their outstanding disputes and litigation” relating to terminal fees at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. In autumn 2022, the owner of the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (BBTCA) passenger terminal, Nieuport Aviation Infrastructure Partners GP, obtained judgment against Porter Airlines Inc relating to […]

Trideep Barau, ABB’s global segment manager for infrastructure, considers the challenge of building and operating greener airports. Over the next decade, hundreds of new airports are planned for the global south, while airports in the global north continue to expand capacity, which poses the question, how are we going to do this and reduce carbon […]

Changi Airport Group (CAG) is to extend the concession contract of Shilla Travel Retail (Shilla) for the Perfumes and Cosmetics Concession at Singapore Changi for another four years. The extension covers 22 outlets and spans over 7,700sqm of retail space across Changi Airport’s four terminals, and means that Shilla will be present at the airport […]

One of the new challenges facing US airports today is how to respond to and meet current and future demand for parking facilities for electric vehicles (EVs), writes Vitaly Vinogradov. In 2022, more than 10 million electric vehicles (EVs) found their way into the garages and driveways of consumers across the globe. By the end […]

Erin Rodriguez tells us more about how customer service initiatives such as the chance to meet a sloth and celebrating Christmas in July bring joy to passengers at San Antonio International Airport. Imagine you’ve just landed, or you’re headed to your gate – and suddenly, you see a sloth. Or it could be a snake, […]

Airports, and it seems airport baggage trollies, are getting smarter, as today’s news from Munich Airport confirms. Starting from today, passengers at the German gateway can enjoy a more digital experience in the time before departure. Using a tablet on a carry-on baggage trolley, they can enter their flight data manually or scan their boarding […]

A total of 2.9 million passengers passed through the doors of Dublin Airport in September, 11% higher than in the same month in 2022, according to airport operator daa. Cork Airport, also operated by daa, performed equally well with some 260,000 passengers using its facilities in September – up 12% on the same month a year […]

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) believes that it has elevated the guest experience with the opening of a host of new retail and F&B outlets at the West Gates in the Tom Bradley International Terminal. According to Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) and concessions partner, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW), the new dining options offer a mix of […]

Construction work has begun on Poland’s new multi-modal megahub 40 kilometres southwest of capital, Warsaw. According to its developers, Centralny Port Komunikacyjny (CPK) is a key transport development project for Poland that is crucial for the economic growth of both the country and the wider European region. At its heart will be the largest airport in […]

Heathrow has launched a trial allowing passengers to pre-book security slots ahead of their journeys, one of the first airports in the UK to offer this system. Heathrow Timeslot is a free service which will give passengers a designated time and entry point to the security search area. According to the UK hub, this will […]

Air traffic figures for the first nine months of 2023 show the UK aviation industry is busier than it has been since the pandemic, although still slightly below the record 2019 flight numbers. In the year so far, air traffic control services provider, NATS, has safely managed more than 1.8 million flights in UK airspace, […]

iGA Istanbul Airport has a new acting CEO today in the shape of Selahattin Bilgen, after the sudden departure of Kadri Samsunlu on Friday. According to the airport operator, Samsunlu, who served the airport for six years, left by mutual consent with immediate effect. It notes that he had been at the helm of the […]

Philadelphia International Airport continues to embrace biometric technology to enhance security and ensure the quick and easy facilitation of its passengers, writes SITA Americas director, Kristin Lindsey. With the return of international travel gathering pace, an ever-increasing number of US airports are adopting international outbound biometric boarding solutions to support the efforts of US Customs […]

Driven by an interest in how technology, architecture and artificial intelligence (AI) will transform the face of air travel, Icelandair has utilised an AI image generation tool to envisage the architectural landscape of some of the US’s largest airports by 2050. The AI image generation tool predicts how these airports will look and function in […]

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey today announced that its airports saw more passengers during August 2023 than during any previous month in history. A record high number of air travellers also passed through the airports during the Labor Day holiday travel period. In facts and figures, a record-breaking 13.3 million passengers […]

ACI World today published its latest quarterly air travel outlook revealing global passenger traffic expected to recover in early 2024 as it reaches 9.4 billion passengers. Highlights from ACI World’s 14th Advisory Bulletin on the impact of COVID-19 on the airport business— and the path to recovery, include: • Global passenger volume in 2023 is expected […]

We take a closer look at the growth and development of the Plaza Premium Group, which has evolved from being a lounge operator to one of the biggest airport hospitality providers over the last 25 years. The enthusiasm and desire to grow his business still burns brightly in Plaza Premium Group (PPG) founder and CEO, […]

London Heathrow (LHR) has retained its status as the world’s most internationally connected airport, according to OAG’s Megahubs 2023 data. LHR was the fourth biggest airport in the world in terms of total scheduled capacity in the year to August 2023. British Airways remains the dominant airline at London Heathrow, operating 50% of all flights. […]

London Luton Airport (LLA) has achieved Level 4 of ACI’s Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) scheme, becoming only the third major UK airport to achieve this level. The ACA scheme is a globally recognised carbon management programme that independently assesses and recognises efforts to manage and reduce airport carbon emissions. As a Level 4 accredited airport, […]

ACI World director general, Luis Felipe de Oliveira, considers some of the security challenges facing airports and the aviation industry today. Safety and security have always been the aviation industry’s foremost priorities. Airlines focus on preventing accidents and ensuring the safety and security of passengers and crew during flights, while airports deal with a complex […]

After major data breaches hit American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and the Scandinavian airline SAS this year, it’s become evident that the cyber security threat to aviation is very real, writes Vance Hilderman. As a result, in the US in March of this year, the Transport Security Association (TSA) issued an emergency amendment to the security […]

Airports can redefine perimeter security by embracing unified solutions and deploying emerging technologies, writes Genetec’s Jon Hill. For good reason, airside physical security strategies have traditionally focused on securing and monitoring the perimeter. It’s a proven and effective means of identifying dangerous elements or intruders at a distance before they reach more high-risk zones. Protecting […]

Local business representatives and senior politicians joined UK Aviation Minister, Baroness Vere, and Southampton Airport’s leadership team on the airfield today to officially mark the opening of the runway extension. The event marks the end of a project that got underway on April 3 this year to deliver the 164-metre extension to the northern end […]

Orlando International Airport (MCO) is celebrating the first anniversary of its game changing Terminal C. More than two decades in the planning and development, the new complex has arguably taken the airport to another level in terms of its passenger friendly facilities and operational efficiency. “The anticipation of Terminal C has only been surpassed by […]

Helsinki’s Airport Development Programme has won the World’s Best Data Modelling award for its use of data modelling in various phases of the extension of both the terminals and the apron. It has received the award from BuildingSMART International (bSI), an international organisation that aims to develop open data transfer and management in the design, […]

Traffic growth is well and truly back on track at Munich Airport, with the German gateway today revealing that after a successful summer it expects to set new records for long-haul traffic next summer. Its confidence is based on the 2024 summer schedules, when Lufthansa will have 36 long-haul aircraft stationed in Munich, and will […]

With regional passenger numbers continuing to surge, Perth Airport has started work on three key projects in the Airport Central precinct that will help cater for Western Australia’s growing regional aviation sector. These works come off the back of almost 550,000 intrastate travellers passing through Perth Airport last month – the highest single month regional […]

We report on the latest news from ACI World, including key resolutions announced at WAGA, and ACI EUROPE. Riyadh to host WAGA 2024 Riyadh Airports Company will host the ACI Asia-Pacific/ACI World Annual General Assembly, Conference and Exhibition (WAGA) in Riyadh, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from May 21-23, 2024. ACI World director general, […]

Sydney Airport has announced that Scott Charlton will succeed Geoff Culbert as its chief executive officer on December 1, 2023. According to the Australian gateway, Charlton brings a wealth of experience in the infrastructure, transportation and property sectors, having served as the CEO of Transurban, a leading ASX-listed toll road operator since 2012, and prior to […]

ACI Asia-Pacific, a trade association representing 623 airports from 47 countries/territories, has been rebranded as ACI Asia-Pacific and Middle East (ACI APAC & MID) following the launch of its new office in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. This shift aims to reflect the regions the association serves and cater to the growing Middle Eastern and Asian […]

Nearly 400 delegates and 37 exhibitors made the smart choice by attending the recent SMART Airports & Regions Conference and Exhibition in Edmonton, writes Joe Bates. With its innovative take on everything from embracing renewable energy, working in tandem with its neighbours and the commercial development of its Airport City Sustainability Campus, in many ways […]

Seychelles International Airport (SEZ) has officially achieved Level 1 status in ACI’s Airport Customer Experience Accreditation programme. The achievement comes two years after the introduction of the Seychelles Electronic Border System as well as upgrades to the airport infrastructure and facilities, which are ongoing. The ACI Airport Customer Experience Accreditation is the first and only […]

Work has started on the construction of what will become the largest car rental location in the Netherlands at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. The new facility will be capable of accommodating up to 2,500 vehicles and offer customers the opportunity to rent electric vehicles. The five largest car rental companies at Schiphol are coming together under […]

Airport operator, Fraport, has extended the contract of CEO, Dr Stefan Schulte for a further three years. The move means that Schulte will remain in the hot-seat at Fraport until at least  August 31, 2027. “Stefan Schulte has forged a sustainable strategy, transforming Fraport into one of the world’s leading international airport operators,” noted Michael […]

Seven new specialty retail shops are now open for business at Nashville International Airport (BNA). According to operator Fraport Tennessee, the new arrivals reflect the airport’s record growth in domestic and international travel and boost the shopping appeal of the gateway. Tennessee originals such as the Goo Goo Shop, Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum, […]

Airport World provides a round-up of the some of latest airport and aviation industry security news stories from across the globe. Dawn of new era for airport security? A walk-through security scanner that it is claimed can cut airport passenger queues is seeking to raise investment. A series of demonstrations for investors in August is […]

Nashville’s popular all-natural juice bar and eatery, The Urban Juicer, has touched down at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). The company’s second store outside Music City opened September 8, 2023, and is located in the Terminal F Food Court. The store’s top seller, ‘The Well-Being’ smoothie, is a blend of cucumber, lemon, ginger, apple, spinach, kale, […]

Airport operator, Fraport, today announced that 5.9 million passengers passed through Frankfurt Airport (FRA) in August 2023 – 13% more than in the corresponding month in 2022. While welcoming the news, Fraport notes that the monthly total is still 15.3% down on pre-pandemic August 2019. The latest total means that during the school holidays in […]

ACI World’s senior director for security, technology and innovation, Billy Shallow, addresses some of the key issues facing airport security in a continuously evolving landscape. Travel is officially back, with passengers in the Northern Hemisphere taking to airports to jet off on their summer holidays and business travel beginning to bounce back. As a result, […]

A new solar array which could eventually deliver enough green electricity to power the equivalent of more than 17,000 homes has been announced as part of a new joint venture between SSE Energy Solutions and Teesside International Airport in the UK. The first phase of the project is due to enter construction in early 2024 […]

London’s Heathrow Airport is celebrating the end of a successful summer after 7.5 million passengers passed through its facilities in August. The UK hub says that during the month, passengers checked in more bags than ever before, and claims that its baggage support team “went the extra mile” to help airline handlers get bags away […]

China’s Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport (CKG) has opened a new commercial street of international brands in T3A Terminal. The airport’s new ‘STARRY GALLERIA’ initiative is a result of the work of the Sino-Singapore Chongqing Airport Commercial Management Co Ltd – the joint venture set up by Singapore Changi subsidiary, Changi Airports International (CAI), and the […]

Joe Bates looks back at some of the highlights from June’s eventful ACI EUROPE/ACI WORLD Annual Assembly, Conference and Exhibition in Barcelona. A record 850 delegates, a number of key announcements, the chance to reunite with colleagues and, of course, two days of lively debate in the beautiful city of Barcelona ensured that this year’s […]

While cost and connectivity are still key, the airport experience has become an increasingly important consideration for passengers when booking flights, according to a new report. SITA’s 2023 Passenger IT Insights report, published today, finds customers looking to technology to optimise every aspect of the post-pandemic travel landscape, from addressing pain points in the airport […]

The ACI Customer Experience Global Summit has successfully concluded in Incheon, Republic of Korea. Key highlights of the event dedicated to customer and employee experience included: • Over 500 delegates in attendance including government officials, airport and aviation executives, and customer experience experts. • ASQ Training, Workshop, and Forum, including an executive workshop series by […]

The ACI Customer Experience Global Summit, the airport industry’s annual event dedicated to enhancing the customer and employee experience, got underway in Incheon, South Korea, today. As usual for an event in South Korea, the numbers are good, with more than 500 international delegates, including government officials, airport and aviation executives, and customer experience experts, […]

CEO, Jonny Andersen, tells Joe Bates more about the growth and development of Curaçao International Airport, which boasts one of the newest terminals in the Caribbean and a growing route network. Located just 40 miles north of Venezuela off of the tip of South America, Curaçao International Airport (CUR) is the gateway to the tropical […]

DHL Express has commenced full operations from its Incheon Gateway facility following the completion of a €131 million (KRW 175 billion) expansion project. The investment is DHL Express’s largest in South Korea to date, making Incheon Gateway the largest gateway in the Asia-Pacific. According to DHL, the expansion aims to address the increasing air cargo […]

Birmingham Airport’s Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions fell 25% in 2022/23 compared to the most recent pre-pandemic year of 2019/20, a report published today revealed. While the airport’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report for 2022/2023 showed an increase compared to 2021/22, where COVID-19 forced a 90% drop-off in activity at Birmingham Airport (BHX), the […]

Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) has released its Sustainability Report 2022/23, outlining the sustainability performance of Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) in the fiscal year ending 31 March 2023. The report also highlights the future sustainability plans of AAHK. According to the airport, the key highlights of this year’s edition include: AAHK received an advanced […]

ACI EUROPE today condemned the decision by the caretaker Dutch Government to pursue a capacity reduction at Amsterdam Schiphol to 452,500 aircraft movement as of Winter 2024. It also expressed concerns regarding the conditions under which a ‘temporary’ capacity reduction to 460,000 aircraft movement will be implemented as of Summer 2024. Olivier Jankovec, director general […]

VIEW THE ISSUE HERE Airport profile: Curaçao Event review: WAGA Plus: Customer service; Diversity & Inclusion; Sustainability; and SMART Airports Screen test Editor, Joe Bates, reflects on the important role good security plays in the airport journey and passenger experience in this ‘security’ themed issue of Airport World. I definitely should have known better, but on […]

Abu Dhabi International Airport’s long awaited new state-of-the-art terminal will officially open for business in early November. Known as the Midfield Terminal Building during the construction phase but now known as Terminal A, its opening will mark a significant milestone for the emirate as it has the potential to transform the local aviation ecosystem. Operator, […]

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) today celebrated the groundbreaking ceremony for its West Gate Expansion project. The event was attended by dozens of Central Texas and Austin leaders that included Congressman Doggett, Congressman Casar, Austin Mayor, Kirk Watson, and Austin City Council members Vanessa Fuentes and Ryan Alter. The project is one of the near-term Journey […]

Hong Kong International Airport’s new SkyPier Terminal today welcomed the first group of transfer passengers who travelled by bonded bus from Macau to the airport’s restricted area directly via the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge. The “seamless transfer service” is also available for air-to-bridge transfer passengers from oversea destinations, who travel by bonded bus from the airport […]

London Gatwick’s interim financial results for the first half of 2023 show that it enjoyed a “strong” six months, despite what it called a “challenging operational environment”. The airport’s revenue increased in the first half of 2023, compared to 2022, and it achieved an improved EBITDA and increased net profit in the half year ending […]

A host of new shops and restaurants will open at Stockholm Arlanda this autumn as the first stage of the Market Place is completed. One of the new additions is Gateau, a craft bakery with a French twist that will offer passengers a premium-quality classic Swedish fika, or coffee and pastry. Immediately adjacent to the […]

The second instalment of a permanent exhibition containing the world’s largest private collection of diecast model aircraft officially opens today at Shannon Airport. The new Aviation Gallery, situated in the airport terminal building opposite JJ Ruddle’s restaurant, is open to the general public, and according to the gateway “offers a captivating journey through the evolution of aviation”. Going further, the airport […]

Christchurch Airport’s new approach to minimising waste, and its work mentoring other airports to become more sustainable, has netted two international awards from ACI Asia-Pacific. The airport has won ‘Green Airports Recognition 2023’ and the ‘Airport Carbon Accreditation – Mentor’ awards from the association. The airport’s created a new waste sortation room where a team […]

Vanderlande and Norwegian airport operator, Avinor, have formed an ‘innovation partnership’ to explore ways of fully automating the last mile of the baggage handling process. Vanderlande will supply two innovative solutions – BAGLOAD for integrated robot loading and FLEET Batch for the transportation of ULDs – which will be trialled at Oslo Airport. The ultimate […]

Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) is to open a fifth cargo terminal at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport to provide additional growth capacity and secure its position as the largest independent cargo handler at the gateway. Construction of the new 6,500sqm terminal has now commenced and WFS aims to begin operations from the facility by the end […]

Nieuport Aviation, the owner and operator of the passenger terminal at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, has been officially certified a Living Wage employer by the Ontario Living Wage Network (OLWN). OLWN notes that it is the first aviation entity in the Canadian province of Ontario to become certified. Nieuport Aviation has committed to paying […]

Just a month after Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, turned the first sod on Newcastle Airport’s A$110 million terminal expansion, the airport has marked another major milestone with the planning approval for development applications (DA) of the first two building projects on Astra Aerolab. Two multi-tenanted buildings, a hybrid office/industrial office and a central hub […]

Officials from Dominion Energy and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) were joined by federal, state and local leaders on Tuesday to break ground on the Dulles Solar and Storage project at Dulles International Airport. Once completed, it will be the largest renewable energy project ever developed at a US airport, capable of generating up […]

The Salt Lake City Department of Airports (SLCDA) has published its annual Environmental, Social and Governance Report for Salt Lake City International Airport. It highlights the airport’s efforts to minimise the negative environmental impact of aviation and adhere to the highest standards in creating a more sustainability airport. Highlights from the report include: Energy Efficiency: […]

Passenger numbers continue to grow at Hong Kong International Airport, rising by 14.9% in July on the same month a year ago as a total of 3.8 million travellers passed through the gateway. According to operator, Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK), the daily passenger average in July exceeded 120,000, recovering to 60% of the pre-pandemic […]

London Gatwick has donated more than two tonnes of toiletries and hygiene products to local communities through a partnership with charity The Crawley and Horley Hygiene Bank. Since the partnership began earlier this year, 2.1 tonnes of toiletries have been donated. The items include unused and unopened hygiene products such as shower gels, deodorants and […]

Changi Airports International (CAI) has signed two agreements with Cairo Airport Company to jointly develop Cairo International Airport, one of the busiest airports in Africa and the largest airport in Egypt by passenger and cargo traffic. The first consultancy agreement is passenger focused and seeks to implement impactful solutions to improve passenger experience at Cairo […]

Amsterdam Schiphol has announced that it is replacing its fuel generators with 30 new electric Ground Power Units (e-GPUs) and introducing the use of more electric systems that provide fresh air on board aircraft. It notes that these are are important steps towards emission-free ground handling at the airport. According to the airport, aircraft parked […]

San Antonio International Airport (SAT) made history in July with more than one million passengers flying in and out of the airport, according to the airport’s passenger data. This comes on the heels of SAT’s busiest ever May and June – as well as the busiest single day on July 31, with 41,560 passengers. The […]

Passengers traveling through Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) in the US will begin to see a transition in food and beverage offerings this month as part of the airport’s new concessions programme. SSP America was recently awarded a contract to operate a collection of post-security restaurants at Fresno Yosemite International Airport including Peet’s Coffee, Ike’s […]

Aena’s Spanish airports handled a new July high of 29.7 million passengers – 10% more than in the same month a year ago and 1.2% above pre-pandemic levels. Aena’s airports also handled 242,222 aircraft movements (+5.1%) and 86,779 tonnes of cargo (+8.6%) in July as traffic across its airport system continued its strong recovery from […]

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) has announced that LaGuardia Airport’s new Terminal B has won the National Academy of Construction’s inaugural Recognition of Special Achievement Award. The award celebrates the creativity, innovation, and vision behind the construction of a world-class airport terminal. “The National Academy of Construction’s Recognition of Special […]

SSP Group has been awarded a seven year contract extension at London City Airport, which will see the opening of brand-new concepts. The deal comes as part of a £12 million upgrade of the Departure Lounge which includes a revamp to the F&B offer with the aim of providing the modern traveller with unique, local […]

Copenhagen Airport recorded a profit before tax of DKK167 million in a busy second quarter to reverse its loss before tax from the winter months. As a result, the Danish airport posted an overall profit before tax for the first half year of DKK108 million, during which time it handled 12.4 million passengers – 31% […]

Arrive at any major international airport, and a multitude of languages greet visitors. A wonderful recognition of the international nature of the crowds who visit, the gesture also has a strategic purpose: to make those visiting feel more comfortable in what could be a chaotic environment. These could include an uncertainty about car parking. Disorientating check-in […]

The Shannon Airport Group has launched a Biodiversity Action Plan and, as a resut, 30 bat, bird and bee boxes are being erected in the surrounding lands of the Shannon Airport campus to lend a hand to nature. The nest boxes are part of The Shannon Airport Group’s new Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP), which was […]

An innovative partnership between Australia’s Newcastle Airport and the University of Newcastle has seen students working in a ‘living laboratory’ at the gateway on ways to solve problems with the baggage handling system and better service the growing number of passengers. The establishment of the living laboratory at Newcastle Airport is part of the University’s […]

Hamad International Airport (DOH) continues to enjoy impressive traffic growth, experiencing a 35% rise in passenger numbers  during the first half of 2023. The Qatari gateway also witnessed an 18.1% increase in aircraft movements compared to the same period a year ago. The airport saw a total of 20,775,087 passengers during the first half of […]

TAV Airports, a member of Groupe ADP, served 24.3 million international and 15 million domestic passengers in the first quarter of the year. The international traffic of the group increased by 42% compared to the same period last year. TAV Airports Holding CEO, Serkan Kaptan, commented: “Turkish tourism has remained very strong and highly demanded […]

New Incheon International Airport CEO, Hak-jae Lee, has outlined the gateway’s new focus on creating smart logistics clusters and further enhancing its global route network. Indeed, the airport states that his leadership “promises to infuse fresh vitality into the airport’s logistics operations” that will fulfil the vision of establishing Incheon as a global logistics hub. […]

Seven additional gates opened at Newark Liberty International Airport’s Terminal A today marking another significant milestone the new $2.7 billion facility. The new gates will be used by United Airlines and JetBlue and opened as part of the second phase development of the new terminal, following the unveiling of more concession and retail offerings over […]

Record-breaking passenger figures have been recorded at Shannon Airport during the first six months of 2023, for the first time in over a decade. The airport, which has been experiencing increased demand for overseas travel since last year, recorded 902,603 passengers from January to June of this year. When compared to the same period in […]

A new programme that enables airport personnel to discreetly identify and assist passengers with invisible disabilities has launched at Reagan National and Dulles airports in Washington DC. Anyone travelling through either airport who needs assistance can pick up a free sunflower lanyard at all pre-security information desks, including baggage claim, and the USO lounges at […]

VINCI Airports today finalised the financial arrangements for the acquisition of seven airports in Cabo Verde, completing the concession agreement signed with the government a year ago. VINCI Airports secured €60 million in financing, maturing over 20 years, from three development banks: World Bank-IFC, Proparco (France) and DEG (Germany). This financing is certified under the […]

Nearly 400 delegates and 37 exhibitors from across the world landed in Edmonton today for the start of the 8th SMART Airports & Regions Conference and Exhibition in the Canadian city. The annual event will explore the catalytic effect and critical success factors driving the economic development of SMART airports and the regions they serve, […]

Plans for a brand-new contingency control tower at Heathrow have been agreed, with NATS contracted to deliver the installation and transition of the new operations room. Work on the new Virtual Contingency Facility (VCF), which is due to be operational in 2025, has already commenced. It will replace the existing backup ‘tower’ and represents a […]

Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) president and CEO, Deborah Flint, has provided an update on Toronto Pearson International Airport’s mid-summer performance. Since last summer, Toronto Pearson has tangibly improved passenger experience across its operations, implemented digital innovations and bolstered staffing. These advancements, she says, have expedited check-in and boarding processes, reduced wait times and upgraded […]

Dubai International Airport (DXB) has received an accreditation from ACI World under its Accessibility Enhancement Accreditation Programme, a first-of-its-kind initiative that recognises global airports’ commitment to accessible travel operations. The certification acknowledges DXB’s ongoing prioritisation of a safe and inclusive airport experience for passengers with both physical and hidden disabilities. This aligns with the 2019 […]

Atkins, working with IATA, has created a suite of innovative digital tools for airports that it claims will, for the first time, allow operators to estimate the embodied carbon associated with the construction of terminal buildings and aviation assets. According to the creators, the digital toolkit will enable airports to better understand and mitigate the […]

Ensuring that Milan Bergamo Airport is able to meet future demand is why it continues to invest in upgrading its facilities, according to operator, SACBO. The Italian gateway reports that it recently handled 54,571 passengers in just one day, a record for the Italian airport, and SACBO insists that its ongoing development programme is an […]

Dr Richard Plenty and Terri Morrissey consider the pros and cons of adopting a systematic data-based approach to decision-making in the workplace. The Nobel prize winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman in his book ‘Thinking Fast and Slow’ describes two human systems for decision making: fast, intuitive thinking and slow, rational thinking. Both types of thinking are […]

San Diego International Airport’s new Terminal 1 will feature restaurants and shops that look, feel, and taste like San Diego, according to the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority Board. The Board has approved the final group of New T1 concessions leases for restaurants and retail shops that offer a mix of local, regional, and […]

We report on the latest news, views and developments from ACI World, ACI Asia-Pacific and ACI EUROPE. ACI World news: New Sustainability Expansion Plan for Montréal ACI World has partnered with the Canadian Government, Government of Québec and City of Montréal on a new Sustainability Expansion Plan for Montréal, which will be funded by Montréal […]

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) today announced a $125 million commercial redevelopment programme for Terminal 8 at John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK). The project, carried out in partnership with American Airlines and Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) Airports, will feature a new Great Hall and is expected to bring more than 60 […]

Munich Airport’s new innovation centre, LabCampus, was officially opened today by airport CEO, Jost Lammers, and State Minister, Albert Füracker. A wholly-owned subsidiary of Munich Airport, LabCampus is described as a new, top location for innovation at the centre of Europe that will bring together research institutions, high-tech industries, young companies and up-and-coming talents from […]

Brisbane Airport is this week trialling therapy dogs in the Domestic Terminal as a way of reducing preflight stress for the travelling public. The trial initiative brings canine ambassadors into the terminal to provide a furry support to manage any anxiety. Sarah Whyte, head of communications and brand marketing at Brisbane Airport Corporation, enthused: 

”Therapy […]

Shannon Airport has been ranked the country’s best airport brand according to the RED C Brand Reaction Index (BRI) Ireland 2023. The index, which has just been released, shows Shannon Airport placed in the top 100 emotionally connected brands at number 54 and is the highest-ranking airport brand in Ireland. RED C conducted the BRI Test among the 170 brands across 22 sectors, to see which brands have the highest connection […]

SITA has been awarded a landmark deal by the Airports Authority of India to provide technology to 43 of India’s biggest airports. India’s Civil Aviation is among the fastest-growing aviation markets globally and will be a major growth engine to make India a $5 trillion economy by 2024. The deal will see improvements over 2,700 […]

ICF’s Lewis Burroughs and Rob Rushmer look to the future and consider how the transition to electric and autonomous vehicles could impact on existing drop off and car parking infrastructure at airports. Ever since an airport was first invented in the early 20th century, most people – passengers and employees – have accessed it by […]

London Gatwick today submitted an application known as a Development Consent Order (DCO) to the UK’s Planning Inspectorate (PINS), outlining its ambition to bring the airport’s existing Northern Runway into routine use alongside its Main Runway. By investing in its long-term future, London Gatwick says that it will also enhance the crucial economic role it […]

Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), Hong Kong’s gateway to the world, celebrated its 25th anniversary today. The Chek Lap Kok gateway, which replaced the former downtown airport of Kai Tak Airport on July 6, 1998, marked the occasion with a series of music and dance performances in the terminal and the give away of commemorative […]

Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, made a flying visit to Newcastle Airport today for the official ground-breaking ceremony for the Terminal Expansion Project. The event marks the beginning of construction for the project, which is designed to enhance the airport’s capacity, efficiency, and overall user experience. Newcastle Airport CEO, Dr Peter Cock, says the transformative […]

San Francisco International Airport sets the industry standard for climate action and health, writes Kirsten Ritchie, Gensler’s global director for climate action and sustainability. The aviation industry is known as a significant contributor of carbon emissions around the world, and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) wanted to change this narrative. When SFO began to consider […]

Traffic levels in Sweden continue to rise, with nearly 3.2 million passengers passing through Swedavia’s airports in June – the most in a single since the start of the pandemic. Swedavia notes that “strong demand” for international travel, particularly from Stockholm Arlanda, is driving the recovery. During the month, an increase in domestic travel was […]

Manchester Airports Group (MAG) believes that it is well-placed to enter a period of investment and growth, after reporting a positive set of full-year results. In the period 1 April 2022 – 31 March 2023, the UK’s largest airport group recorded a revenue of £1 billion for the first time in its history, as demand […]

Hong Kong International Airport today became the latest gateway to hold a jobs fair, with its one specifically aimed at the younger generation. The event, Airport Youth Career Day 2023, attracted more than 40 recruitment booths and 1,400 people participants, many of which were interested in some of the 3,000 jobs up for offer. The jobs […]

Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport has secured $30 million in federal funding to build a US Customs and Border Protection Preclearance facility for passengers travelling to the United States. Neil Pakey, president and CEO of terminal owner and operator, Nieuport Aviation, believes that the decision is a game changer for the Canadian airport and marks […]

Aena has awarded its electricity supply contract to Endesa Energía SAU and Iberdrola Clientes SAU as it steps up its bid to develop solar power installations across its entire airport network. It states that the purpose of the new deals is to carry out the procedures related to the purchase of energy with 100% renewable […]

Spanish airport operator, Aena, has signed a sustainable syndicated credit line (sustainability-linked RCF) for €2 billion, which it says proves its commitment to the environment, social responsibility and good corporate governance. The financing has been granted by 14 national and international financial institutions and has been led by Banco Santander as Arranger and Sustainable Agent. […]

Copenhagen Airport boss, Thomas Woldbye, has agreed to become the new CEO of London Heathrow, succeeding John Holland-Kaye, who is stepping down later this year after nearly 10 years in post. The UK hub states that Woldbye emerged as the standout candidate among a pool of exceptional contenders during an extensive, global, recruitment process. Woldbye […]

News stories and developments from ACI World Business Partners across the globe. Rosenbauer’s electric fire truck bound for Christchurch Christchurch Airport has signed up to buy the world’s first Rosenbauer Electric Fire Truck to operate at an airport. The New Zealand gateway’s head of aviation operations, Tim Morris, says that the new addition will provide […]

Aerotropolis concept creator, Dr John Kasarda, explains why certain hubs prosper and describes what it takes to become a world-class air logistics hub. A frequent question asked by executives of larger commercial airports and their surrounding jurisdictions is, what can we do to become a major air logistics hub? They ask this question because air […]

Munich Airport (MUC) and Lufthansa are celebrating the 20th anniversary of Terminal 2. The terminal building was jointly planned and financed by Munich Airport and Lufthansa and has been jointly operated since the end of June 2003. This partnership between an airport and an airline remains unique worldwide and has been gradually further developed. In […]

Joe Bates talks to a handful of airport operators across the globe about the impact the pandemic has had on staffing levels at their gateways. The global pandemic may be officially over with the World Health Organization officially declaring that COVID-19 is no longer a “global health emergency”, but its impact on the aviation industry […]

ACI World and the World Economic Forum today launched the Airports of Tomorrow initiative aimed at accelerating the decarbonisation of the aviation industry. The announcement was made to over 800 aviation delegates at the ACI EUROPE/ACI WORLD Annual General Assembly, Conference, and Exhibition in Barcelona, Spain. Airports of Tomorrow will bring public and private stakeholders […]

Thomas Romig, ACI World’s vice president for safety, security and operations reflects on the evolution of the airport workforce and the recruitment challenge ahead for airports. The aviation industry is facing a significant new capacity challenge, and it’s not due to infrastructure or system restrictions as previously, but due to the availability of workforce. According […]

Sonia Corrochano, director of Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport, talks to Joe Bates about the growth, development and future expansion plans of Europe’s seventh busiest passenger gateway. Barcelona’s Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) is Spain’s second biggest gateway after Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas and the seventh busiest airport in Europe based on the 41.6 million […]

Digital technology can help airports access new talent to fill major labour shortages, writes Jess O’Dwyer. As a result of various factors including the impact of the global pandemic, Brexit and the war in Ukraine, aviation is one of many industries struggling to find and recruit the staff that they need to meet their requirements. […]

The Board of Commissioners of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) has approved $30 million in funding to plan and design improved bus service to LaGuardia Airport. It believes that the decision marks an important step toward implementing the recommendations of an expert panel after an exhaustive analysis of 14 mass […]

London Gatwick Airport has estimated around 630 new jobs will be created for local construction workers, if its plans to bring its Northern Runway into routine use are given the go-ahead. These jobs would be generated across the county council areas of West Sussex, East Sussex, Surrey and Kent, the unitary authority of Brighton and […]

MXD’s Chris LeTourneur highlights the many dimensions of Edmonton International Airport’s innovative economic and sustainable development initiatives. As hosts of this year’s SMART Airports and Regions, Conference and Exhibition, Edmonton International Airport will be showing the world how it’s more than just an airport, it’s an innovative economically diversified Airport City Sustainability Campus. Edmonton International […]

ACI World director general, Luis Felipe de Oliveira, considers some of the human resources issues facing airports today and the industry’s response to the challenge. A huge increase in air traffic demand is hitting the headlines, alongside the suggestion that aviation’s recovery from the pandemic is almost complete. What’s more, ACI World’s latest forecasts reveal […]

America’s airports are abuzz as big changes take place. Upgrades, expansions, diverse transportation options, and all kinds of new amenity projects are either underway or being prepared for launch. Planning is rampant as air travel is modernised, made safer and more convenient. However, the current activity and the projects underway at airports today will likely […]

Cork Airport has taken delivery of five new fully-electric, zero-emission vehicles as part of the airport’s commitment to its sustainability strategy. The new additions, which will form part of the maintenance, electrical and airport police fleets, are part of Cork Airport’s ongoing commitment to reducing emissions by 51% by 2030, in line with targets set […]

ACI World has today published its latest quarterly airport traffic outlook showing strong air travel demand will continue to improve into the northern hemisphere summer season. Highlights from ACI World’s 13th Advisory Bulletin on the impact of COVID-19 on the airport business—and the path to recovery include: • The easing of inflation and rising consumer […]

The planned new megahub 40 kilometres southwest of Warsaw will help drive the economic development of Poland and Central and Eastern Europe, writes NACO’s Lucas-Jan Ebels and Piet Ringersma. Centralny Port Komunikacyjny (CPK) is a transport development project in Poland that is crucial for the economic growth of both the country and the wider European […]

Hong Kong International Airport’s Sky Bridge has its own cocktail bar after today’s opening of ‘Intervals’ by the Plaza Premium Group. PPG boldly promises that the first-of-its-kind concept will offer “an unparalleled world-class cocktail and dining experience”. Indeed, it describes as Intervals as being a destination in its own right, offering “a creative concept that […]

May was a good month for the Fraport Group, with Frankfurt Airport welcoming more than 5.1 million passengers and most of its airports worldwide experiencing double-digit growth rates. The monthly passenger total in Frankfurt (FRA) represented a 12.2% increase over the same month a year ago. However, compared to pre-crisis May 2019, FRA’s passenger traffic […]

VIEW THE ISSUE HERE Airport profile: Barcelona In Focus: Edmonton’s airport city Special report: Logistics hubs Plus: The evolution of the airport workforce Building momentum Airport World editor, Joe Bates, reflects on the continued recovery of the aviation industry and the ‘planning and design’ theme of this issue. I am not sure if it is […]

SITA and UrbanV, the Italian vertiport operator, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop a digital-first passenger experience for UrbanV’s vertiports in Rome, one of which is set to be at the city’s Fiumicino Airport. From UrbanV’s test vertiport at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport, both parties will design, test, and refine a new passenger processing […]

Amadeus has acquired a minority stake in Caphenia — a future producer of synthesis gas, the feedstock of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) — forming part of the technology firm’s commitment to supporting the industry on its journey toward sustainable travel. In just 12 months, this represents Amadeus’ second investment in a company focused on making the […]

According to London Heathrow, it currently has more daily flights than ever before between the UK and USA as airlines switch capacity to North Atlantic routes and away from European and East Asian markets, which have been slower to recover. In May alone, it says that 1.6 million passengers used the UK hub to fly […]

A new study has ranked San Antonio International Airport (SAT) second in the United States for having a short security wait time. According to luggage storage service, Bounce, SAT’s average time is six minutes and six seconds. “San Antonio has moved from eighth to second since last year, seeing its average wait time shrink by […]

A new era has begun for Maastricht Aachen Airport with the Royal Schiphol Group taking a 40% stake in it and the start of a new period of strategic cooperation between the gateways. The agreement, signed today between the Royal Schiphol Group and the province of Limburg, will see the province maintain keep a 60% […]

Key players in the Australian aviation and green hydrogen industries have today officially launched the Hydrogen Flight Alliance (HFA) at Brisbane Airport. The aim of the alliance is to ensure Australia plays a leading role in the aviation industry’s transition towards net-zero by 2050. The initial focus will be on enabling Australia’s first commercial emission […]

Ahead of the summer season, S&P Global Ratings has raised its European air passenger traffic forecasts, anticipating that travel demand will continue to resist economic pressures. In a new report, the ratings agency anticipates that European air passenger traffic should return to pre-pandemic levels in 2024, up from 85%-95% of 2019 levels in 2023. Airlines’ […]

Dr Richard Plenty and Terri Morrissey reflect on the implications of ChatGPT for the world of work. Can you tell if this article is written by a human or by a computer? A year ago, this was a question that very few people thought worthy of consideration. But since ChatGPT was released in November 2022, […]

ACI World has welcomed the launch of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Net Zero Roadmaps and calls for continued collaboration of aviation stakeholders in building a sustainable aviation industry. ACI and airports have been leaders in the decarbonisation transformation, being the first to commit to a long-term environmental goal of net zero carbon emissions […]

Pittsburgh International Airport is actively working to cut back aviation-related emissions, through a new partnership with Pittsburgh-based Ecotone Renewables. Joining the airport’s xBridge innovation program, one of the company’s digesters has been stationed outside the landside terminal and nicknamed ZEUS translating as Zero Emissions Upcycling System. Launched in 2020, ZEUS aligns well with the programme […]

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) and LaGuardia Gateway Partners, the developer and manager of LaGuardia Terminal B, have revealed that LaGuardia Airport’s new Terminal B has retained both its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) v4 Gold Certification and the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure’s Platinum Envision Award. The Port […]

Hamad International Airport (DOH) is celebrating the UN’s World Environment Day by backing its goal to Beat Plastic Pollution. Today’s event focuses on encouraging people and businesses around the world to review their plastic consumption and introduce a shift towards a circular economy. The Qatari gateway notes that part of Hamad International Airport’s environment sustainability […]

We focus on some of latest the IT news stories from ACI World Business Partners across the globe. Enhancing the passenger experience in Budapest Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD) is set to enhance the passenger experience and optimise its operations by implementing Veovo’s Passenger Predictability solution. The passenger flow analytics platform will initially focus on […]

A major landbank between the runways at Dublin Airport is this week being placed on the market by JLL. The lands are privately held by the long-term owners. The infrastructural land which is available for sale by private treaty in its entirety or in three separate lots, totals approximately 260 acres. Of strategic international importance […]

ABM says that it is evolving its innovative data-enabled smart parking solution, ABM Vantage, “through the introduction and expansion of services tailored to the aviation industry”. “America’s relationship with air travel is notoriously stressful, and parking at airports has historically been no different,” said Sean Bromfield, president of aviation at ABM. “We are changing airport […]

Blueprint Power’s chief technology officer, Nick Schmidt, considers some of the energy monitoring and emissions reducing options open to airports at the beginning of their decarbionisation journeys. Governments and organisations around the world are grappling with energy and sustainability challenges as they try to lessen their environmental impact and support global climate goals and airports, […]

Cork Airport is set to welcome it’s one millionth passenger of 2023 today as the airport prepares for a busy June Bank Holiday weekend, with over 56,500 passengers expected. As the peak summer season begins, the busiest day of the bank holiday weekend will be Friday, June 2. This weekend’s passenger figures indicate an increase […]

A total of 500 airports across the globe are now certified under ACI’s Airport Carbon Accreditation programme having fulfilled the stringent requirements set by its accreditation levels. Launched back in 2009 by ACI EUROPE, with then just 17 trailblazing airports achieving accreditation, the Airport Carbon Accreditation programme has since become the global standard for carbon […]

Radio frequency cyber technology can help combat the dangers posed by the growing number of rogue drones flying close to airports and, in some cases, breaching the perimeter fence, writes Jeffrey Star, CMO of D-Fend Solutions. Drone sightings and incidents around airports have increased significantly in recent years. Since the beginning of 2023 alone, there […]

It’s take-off for Shannon Airport’s new Chicago service with United Airlines today as the first flight takes to the skies towards the windy city. At 8.50am this morning, excited passengers boarded the Boeing 757-200 aircraft departing at 9.30am, for the first daily seasonal Chicago service from Shannon bound for O’Hare International Airport. Speaking at a gate celebration to mark […]

Global airport operator, Fraport, continues to invest in green wind energy, signing a new Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the European energy services and solutions provider Centrica Energy Trading A/S. The deal will provide Frankfurt Airport with annual wind energy volumes of around 63 gigawatt hours, starting this July. The energy will come from a […]

New computed tomography (CT) security scanners in Terminals 1 and 2 will make passenger and baggage checks at Munich Airport safer, faster and more convenient. “We have subjected the technology to extensive tests, and the results are unequivocal: Passengers like the scanners because they no longer have to unpack their laptops and liquids, which makes […]

Uzbekistan Airports Joint Stock Company (JSC) and Changi Airports International (CAI) have signed an agreement to jointly develop Islam Karimov Tashkent International Airport in Uzbekistan. The gateway is the largest international airport in the Republic of Uzbekistan and the third busiest airport in Central Asia based on pre-pandemic passenger levels. The agreement – CAI is […]

Regular visitors to Birmingham Airport (BHX) in the UK will notice big changes to the terminal as construction of its new security hall progresses. With upstairs queuing space reducing due to the £40m project, BHX has moved its car hire counters to one of its car parks to create alternative queueing areas downstairs. Its ‘assisted […]

Esri’s global transportation industry director, Terry Bills, explains how the digital transformation of airfield inspections has enhanced safety and operational efficiency at two very different US gateways. Maintaining the continuous safety of an airport’s runways, taxiways and ramps requires dedicated teams focused on a large number of details. Each light, pavement marking, navigational aid and […]

Swedavia is planning to build a new hotel at both Stockholm Arlanda and Kiruna airports as its looks to future proof its Swedish airport network. At Stockholm Arlanda Airport, a full-service hotel is being planned which will be located close to the terminals and include 540 double rooms, conference facilities and a wide range of […]

Sydney Airport will shortly begin the search for a new CEO after revealing that Geoff Culbert will step down at the end of the year. Culbert, who has held the position for almost six years, joined the publicly listed Sydney Airport as CEO in January 2018 from GE and will continue in his role until the […]

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) believes that it could handle up to 218,000 passengers a day during peak travel days around the Memorial Day holiday weekend. If the projections prove to be true, it will make the days between Thursday, May 25, through Monday, May, 29 the highest for passenger volumes at the airport since […]

A consortium led by Glasgow Airport and net zero consulting co-developer, Ikigai, has successfully secured funding from the Scottish Government to test the feasibility of a hydrogen production, storage and distribution hub that would support zero emission flight at the airport. The funding was confirmed by the First Minister of Scotland, Humza Yousaf, and forms […]

Hamburg Airport has launched an international public tendering process for four food & beverage locations in two lots. Three of the locations are within the security-controlled area and one in the publicly accessible area. The airport stresses that it places “great value on a diverse food & beverage offering” and is seeking “a wide range […]

Hong Kong International Airport handled 3.1 million passengers in April, a massive upturn on the 126,000 that passed through its facilities in the travel restricted same month a year ago. Compared to the same month last year, flight movements more than doubled to 21,545, while cargo throughput declined by 7.7% to 347,000 tonnes. All passenger […]

Clare Williams Fannin of Templemere PR explores how innovative tech is transforming the airport passenger experience. By definition, airports are tech-forward spaces. But technology shouldn’t only be reserved for the complex processes of managing flights. It also has a role to play in helping to deliver the best possible experience to passengers. Mark Smith, chief […]

Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) has celebrated the opening of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)’s new Security Badge Office. The occasion marked another milestone in the transformation that is underway at the airport. The multi-billion-dollar capital improvement programme is already being recognised with awards and receiving positive reviews for improving the experiences of airport guests, […]

Irish airport operator, daa, has announced proposals for new sustainability measures to incentivise airlines to operate lower CO2 emission aircraft at Dublin Airport. Under the new proposed incentive scheme, a low emissions discount will apply to Dublin Airport’s ultra-low cost aeronautical charges, the lowest of any capital city airport in Europe and the airport operator, […]

Low-cost carrier, easyJet, today announced it will open a base for three of its aircraft at Birmingham Airport (BHX) from March 2024. This major investment by easyJet will create around 100 direct jobs, including pilots and crew, and will support 1,200 indirect jobs in the West Midlands region. Basing three of its 186-seat A320 aircraft […]

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport has signed an agreement with Burrell Aviation to invest upwards of $20 million on a new air cargo warehouse at the the US gateway. The new complex will be located on a 4.5 acre site at the airport and replace former outdated cargo facilities demolished last year. Burrell Aviation develops, operates, […]

Elena Avila, head of the airport and airline operations business unit at Amadeus, talks to Airport World about some of the IT challenges, and potential solutions, facing airports today. What would you say to those that argue that such is the rapid advancement of IT systems that any new technology is almost out of date […]

Airlines and airports are facing a surge in baggage mishandling rates amidst the growing number of passengers, with the number of mishandled bags almost doubling from 2021 to 2022 to 7.6 bags per thousand passengers, according to SITA’s 2023 Baggage IT Insights report released today. SITA claims that the shortage of skilled staff, resumption of […]

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) reached a post-pandemic milestone last Thursday and Friday, exceeding 70,000 departing passengers per day through its checkpoints for the first time in over three years. Having cleared this threshold, SFO is looking forward to a busy summer travel season, forecasting the highest levels of passenger traffic since the pandemic began. […]

Shannon Airport has reached new heights in its sustainability goals after achieving Level 2 ‘Reduction’ status in ACI’s Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) programme. The accreditation acknowledges the commitment set out in The Shannon Airport Group’s Sustainability Strategy to green its operations and reduce the airport’s carbon footprint. Steps taken by Shannon Airport to achieve Level 2 ‘Reduction’ […]

Kevin Cox, CEO of Ferrovial Vertiports, considers the key role airports can play in unlocking the benefits of urban air mobility. The revolution in Urban Air Mobility is gathering momentum globally with a new model of sustainable transport set to become reality within a few years. Electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOLs) will transform […]

A bumper Easter getaway boosted London Stansted’s traffic figures for April as the airport welcomed more than 2.4 million passengers during the month. The monthly total was up 16% on April 2022, with the airport also experiencing its busiest day of the year so far with 87,000 passing through the terminal on Easter Monday. The […]

SITA Americas’ head of technology, Sherry Stein, explains how the travel trends of tomorrow are shaping airport IT agendas today. SITA recently released two pieces of research giving a glimpse into the transformational change taking place or expected in the air transport industry. While the topics and timelines of these reports differed, clear lines connect […]

ACI EUROPE has today released a comprehensive and empirical analysis of competition between European airports. It depicts a new aviation market paradigm where the increasing buyer power of the airlines in Europe squeezes Europe’s airports ever further as they strive for financial stability and resilience. The synopsis, Fierce Competitors, Fragile Foes builds upon the Frontier […]

ACI World’s senior director for security, technology and innovation, Billy Shallow, considers how technology and the smart use of data will continue to transform the airport industry. If we look at the glass being half full instead of half empty, recent flight delays and disruption could actually be seen in a positive light as it […]

ACI World has partnered with the Canadian Government, Government of Québec and City of Montréal on a new Sustainability Expansion Plan for Montréal, which will be funded by Montréal International. The plan sees continued investment in Montréal, the world capital of civil aviation, and in the sustainability of airports as essential enablers of economic growth […]

Heinemann Duty Free Malaysia has officially launched its redeveloped stores at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Terminal 2 (KLIA Terminal 2). As a result, it claims that passengers travelling through KLIA Terminal 2 departures can now look forward to a “refreshed and inviting store across all categories, further enhancing the overall airport experience”. The new store […]

Global airport operator, Fraport, today revealed that it has “successfully started the new 2023 business year, achieving a noticeable improvement in the Group’s key financial figures during the first quarter of 2022. The positive performance, it says, was driven by ongoing traffic recovery across Fraport’s global network of airports. As a result, Group revenue increased […]

April was another record month for passenger numbers at Dublin Airport, with a total of 2.83 million passengers travelling through during the month, according to airport operator, daa. The numbers passing through Dublin Airport were marginally higher (+0.7%) than the 2.81 million passengers who passed through in the previous busiest April in 2019 and up […]

We report on the top 10 busiest airports in the world in 2022, the infrastructure development challenge in North America, and Airport Carbon Accreditation success in Africa and Europe. ACI World news: The top 10 busiest airports on the planet in 2022 ACI World has revealed the top 10 busiest airports on the planet for […]

Hong Kong International Airport has a new ‘Cool Zone’ for the rising volumes of perishable and temperature-sensitive e-commerce traffic passing through the world’s biggest cargo hub. The facility is operated by Hong Kong Air Cargo Industry Services Limited (Hacis), the value-added logistics arm of Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl), which operates the airport’s […]

Airport World reports on the planning, design and opening of Kansas City International Airport’s new $1.5 billion terminal. After five years of development, design and construction, the new 40-gate terminal at Kansas City International Airport (KCI) has opened for business, ushering in a new era of air travel for the region. At 1.1 million-square-foot and […]

Heinemann’s eye catching confectionery shop at Hong Kong International Airport has re-opened for business following an upturn in passenger numbers at the gateway. According to Heinemann Asia Pacific, its Sweet Dreams outlet, which debuted at the airport in July 2018, aims to “delight and inspire travellers both young and old, with interactive displays and playful, […]

ACI World director general, Luis Felipe de Oliveira, reflects on the key role technology, IT innovation and data will play in the future development and success of the world’s airports. Collaboration across the entire aviation ecosystem is essential to ensuring that it can function efficiently and grow sustainably. After all, all aviation stakeholders share the […]

We pay tribute to ACI World’s 2022 Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Award winners whose customer service excellence continues to enhance the airport experience for passengers. Airports big and small across the world have been recognised for their customer service excellence throughout 2022 in ACI’s annual Airport Service Quality (ASQ) awards. Winners ranged from the big […]

Mayor, Matt Mahan, made a flying visit to San José Mineta International Airport this week for the official opening of Jim Stump’s Taproom + Kitchen in Terminal B. The new restaurant, located near Gates 23 & 24, serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and is open daily from from 6am to 9pm. It’s the latest project […]

Western Sydney International Airport (WSI), which is on track to open in late 2026, has chosen Amadeus as its strategic airport systems technology partner. In the long-term, the airport is expected to become one of the biggest gateways to Australia. As a result of the technology partnership, Amadeus is confident that passengers can look forward […]

Shannon Airport is in store for a bustling May Bank Holiday as over 45,000 people are expected to travel through the airport over the holiday period. If it happens, it will represent  a 42% increase on passenger traffic when compared to the same period of last year (2022) and beats pre-pandemic traffic levels for the May Bank Holiday in 2019 by close to 30%. Director […]

The A$110 million expansion of the terminal at Newcastle Airport in Australia will include significant upgrades to the airport’s existing terminal building as the gateway strives to provide a world-class passenger experience for the region. The airport today appointed Construction Control as the managing contractor for the project. “The biggest beneficiaries of the airport’s upgrade […]

The latest industry analysis from ACI EUROPE has described a market segment which is simultaneously outperforming with a positive summer ahead, whilst also warning of disparities in the pace and strength of recovery and continued financial challenges. Unveiled at the 14th Annual ACI EUROPE Regional Airports Conference and Exhibition in Chania, Crete, the new analysis […]

CEO, Geoff Culbert, talks to Joe Bates about Sydney Airport’s recovery from the global pandemic and ongoing efforts to enhance the Australian hub’s facilities and services. At October’s ACI Africa/World Annual General Assembly, Conference & Exhibition in Marrakech, you described what a difference a year had made in terms of SYD’s recovery from COVID. Six […]

VIEW THE ISSUE HERE Focus on: IT innovation Airport profile: Sydney Special report: Kansas City’s new terminal Plus: ASQ Winners, Vertiports & Sustainability Tech time The ‘IT innovation’ theme of this issue provides Airport World editor, Joe Bates, with the chance to reflect on the constant growth and development of new technology. The laughter of […]

The UK’s busiest airport is preparing to welcome 12,000 flights in the 10 days around the coronation – with passengers including dignitaries, heads of state and international tourists. Heathrow has a long-standing association with the British royal family. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II took her first steps on British soil as a monarch at Heathrow, […]

ACI World and ICAO today announce SITA’s renewed and long-standing support of the leading training and leadership programme for airport executives, the Airport Management Professional Accreditation Program (AMPAP). Since its launch in 2007, AMPAP has become the globally recognised and respected curriculum for career development and excellence for airport executives, benefitting over 1,200 participants to […]

Getting to San Francisco International Airport’s Harvey Milk Terminal 1 will get a lot easier for travellers from tomorrow with the re-opening of the facility’s AirTrain people mover station. The station has been closed since July 2021 to facilitate construction of a connection to the new terminal. According to SFO, AirTrain vehicles will begin stopping […]

The daa Group, operator of Dublin and Cork Airports, duty free firm Aer Rianta International (ARI), and international investment partner, daa International (daaI), recorded a profit before exceptional items of €98 million in 2022. The total compared to a loss of €101 million in the previous year and follows cumulative daa group losses during COVID-19 […]

ACI Asia-Pacific and ACI EUROPE have jointly called on India and the European Union (EU) to establish a comprehensive aviation agreement to liberalise traffic rights and boost regulatory alignment, including the acceleration of decarbonisation policies between the two regions. The call was made during this week’s EU-India Aviation Summit organised jointly by the European Commission […]

More than 100,000lbs of soon-to-expire food donations from concession operators at Philadelphia International Airport’s (PHL) have been donated to a local charity that helps “neighbours in need”. In total, the joint effort between Philabundance and PHL merchants has resulted in 108,825 pounds of food and approximately 141,500 meals donated. An event was held to commemorate […]

Finavia today announced that it will start the €8 million renovation of Runway 2 at Helsinki Airport on May 2. As as result of the work, until mid-September, aircraft landing directions will differ from the normal, although the gateway insists that the work will not affect passenger traffic. “The runway comes under enormous stress, and […]

VINCI Airports has unveiled plans for a 14-hectare solar power plant at Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport in France. It will cover 5,800 parking spaces at the airport and become one of the largest shaded power plants in the country. According to VINCI, the new addition will have a capacity of 20MWp and produce 24GWh of green […]

In recognition of National Autism Awareness Month, Miami International Airport has hosted its first MIA Airport Instruction and Readiness (MIAair) tour since 2019 for more than 40 children with special needs. The tour allowed participants to walk through the airport travel experience from start to finish in a safe and controlled environment. Attendees included children […]

Pocket Bar & Bistro has become the latest new F&B offering to open its doors at Stockholm Arlanda Airport. Airport operator, Swedavia, notes that the new addition offers “fantastic views of the runway” and aircraft taking off and landing from its location, one level up in SkyCity. It promises to be a busy year for […]

Aéroports de Montréal (ADM) has unveiled its first ever Sustainability Plan 1.0, which it believes demonstrates that it has listened to its neighbours and placed sustainable development at the heart of its mission. And the Canadian airport operator even goes as far as to suggest that it plans go beyond basic considerations to ensure that […]

Plaza Premium Group has unveiled its second lounge at Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport (FCO) in Rome, Italy. Located in Schengen Area of Terminal 1, the lounge is said to provide a “serene and restful space complemented with a world-class in-lounge experience thoughtfully curated by a team of passionate hospitality experts for all types of travellers”. […]

In a major milestone for Sydney Airport, the Australian hub today welcomed its 50th airline with Vietjet’s inaugural service from Ho Chi Minh City arriving this morning. This is the highest number of airlines flying regular scheduled passenger services the airport has ever seen in its 103-year history. Flight VJ85 touched down in Sydney this […]

San Diego International Airport (SAN) has taken delivery of its first shipment of renewable diesel for the fleet of airside vehicles operating at the Californian gateway. San Diego County Regional Airport Authority notes that renewable diesel can reduce emissions by up to 75% or more compared to petroleum diesel. The sustainable fuel is now being […]

Finavia and the Finnish family firm Relove believe they are bringing a unique second-hand concept store to Helsinki Airport as it will combine recycling culture with a popular café. According to the Finnish airport operator, it will be the world’s first second-hand shop at an airport and will feature high-quality second-hand clothes and accessories and […]

The latest 2022 Airport IT Insights Survey reveals that airports are ramping up their investment in technology to digitalise their operations and streamline the passenger journey through more self-service options. The report – produced annually by ACI World and SITA – notes that with the quicker than expected recovery of air travel demand, chief information […]

Brisbane Airport is set to undertake the largest industrial project in its history for global logistics and delivery company Aramex Australia. Operator, Brisbane Airport Company (BAC), will kickstart the development of Airport Industrial Park with the construction of international courier business Aramex’s new 26,120sqm office and warehouse – equivalent in area to more than three-and-a-half […]

Designers and authors Adam Scott and Dave Waddell extol the virtues of Munich Airport, pioneers in the design and management of the experience-led ‘always-meanwhile’ airport. In the often extremely long-term world of capital works programmes, so-called ‘meanwhile-state’ planning is the temporary use of land earmarked for development. At it’s very best, it’s where key stakeholders […]

Newcastle Airport in Australia is embarking on a significant expansion plan, in partnership with Commonwealth Bank (CBA), which is acting as sole financier. The A$240 million deal includes the expansion of Newcastle Airport to enhance domestic capacity and develop a new international terminal and finance to accelerate the activation of Astra Aerolab including the construction […]

March was another record month at both Cork and Dublin airports with 181,000 and 2.48 million passengers respectively travelling through the gateways, according to operator, daa. At Cork Airport, March has followed the trend set in January and February, with another impressive performance. Last weekend, Cork Airport surpassed 500,000 passengers in the year to date. […]

Digitising airport CCTV systems can offer big gains in efficiency and cost savings, writes Andrew Dallmann. Airports in the US continue to squeeze in more flights, more people and more processes under their roofs while, in many cases, operating within spaces that were built decades ago to accommodate much lower traveller capacity. With recent studies […]

ACI World today reveals the the Top 10 busiest airports on the planet for passenger traffic, cargo and aircraft movements in 2022. It notes that each Top 10 welcomed back some of the world’s largest hubs, particularly in terms of passenger throughput, following the global re-opening of borders to international traffic. Passenger traffic The top […]

Lima’s Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM) in Peru has officially opened its new runway and air traffic control tower. The departure of the first commercial flight marked the event. Fraport’s Peruvian Group airport is the country’s first aviation gateway to have two runways. Fraport CEO Stefan Schulte said: “We’ve once again proven that we can […]

Passenger numbers across Europe’s airports soared by 48% in February compared to the same month a year ago, providing further evidence of aviation’s growing recovery from the global pandemic. ACI EUROPE, which notes that air travel in February 2022 remained constrained by Omicron-related restrictions, says that last month’s upturn in traffic was predominantly driven by […]

Outside knowledge Dr Richard Plenty and Terri Morrissey reflect on the recruitment challenges facing airports and the potential benefits of bringing back older, more experienced staff. As we embark on another year, many of us engage in the ever-optimistic pursuit of making New Year resolutions. We resolve to get fitter, lose weight, eat less, join […]

In this article, Artemis Aerospace’s Jim Scott investigates how airport three-letter codes came about and the history behind some of the more unexpected ones. Your suitcase has set off down the conveyor belt sporting a label marked LAX or SYD or JNB, and that’s where you hope both you and it will end up. These […]

Swedavia’s “green transition” continued in 2022 with a number of key achievements, according to the company’s newly published Annual and Sustainability Report for 2022. “The aviation industry’s climate transition is necessary so that people can continue to meet in the future, despite long distances, in the most efficient way possible,” writes Swedavia’s president and CEO, […]

OTG has expanded its operations at Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport (MSP) with the opening of four innovative new F&B concepts. Following its initial makeover of Concourse G – which introduced over 43,000 square feet of elevated dining and retail programmes and secured MSP’s 2013 distinction of ‘Best Food & Beverage Program in North America’ from […]

The Shannon Airport Group has welcomed the allocation of €4.623,486 million in government funding to Shannon Airport announced today by Jack Chambers TD, Minister of State at the Department of Transport. Almost €17 million in exchequer funding for regional airports was announced by Minister Chambers at a media event held at Shannon Airport this morning. […]

John F Kennedy International Airport’s Terminal 4 is expanding its arts and culture programme to present a curated, ongoing series of installations, exhibits and performances throughout the year that it says will represent the full New York City experience, from local art to food, culture and beyond. Operator, JFKIAT, formed a new committee to facilitate […]

Aiding the development of Zanzibar’s gateway to the world Global air and travel services provider, dnata, has launched operations at Zanzibar Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) with its partners Emirates Leisure Retail and SEGAP – a joint venture between airport infrastructure and operations specialist Egis – and private equity fund manager African Infrastructure Investment […]

Incheon International Airport (ICN) today celebrates its 22nd anniversary, just a few weeks after handling its 100 millionth transfer passenger. The number of transfer passengers at Incheon Airport has steadily increased since recording 1.63 million passengers at the time of its opening in 2001, reaching 7.23 million passengers in 2019. In 2021, which was hit […]

VINCI Airports has achieved another sustainability first, with its Portuguese airports all being awarded ACA 4+ ‘Transition’ status in ACI’s Airport Carbon Accreditation programme. The certification recognises that the airports have fully accounted and reported direct and indirect CO2 emissions related to their activities and operations, have significantly reduced their direct emissions, offset their residual […]

Passengers may get a glimpse of the future at Amsterdam Schiphol this spring as the airport begins trials of self driving buses. The trials are a result of the Royal Schiphol Group teaming up with nlmtd and TNW (The Next Web) to further accelerate innovation at the airport. According to the airport, nlmtd and TNW […]

The UK government today announced that it is continuing its review of night flight policy with a new consultation on the noise objectives for Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports. It says that the review will ensure that aircraft operations at those airports are managed so that the negative impacts of night flying on local residents […]

Gilles Bussutil, vice president, global guest experience, at leading airport lounge and travel experience provider, Airport Dimensions, explores the concept of hospitality and what it means in the airport environment. At the lounge, a warm welcome and a respite from the rigours of travel is, of course, expected. But a welcoming airport has many facets. […]

Today marks three years since the start of the first COVID lockdown in the UK, and reflecting on the occasion, OAG’s chief analyst, John Grant, states that although traffic still lags behind 2019 levels, the national recovery is going in the right direction. He says: “Our data shows that, three years on from the pandemic, […]

A year on from the launch of its refreshed sustainability strategy, Heathrow 2.0: Connecting People and Planet, Heathrow’s 2022 Sustainability report updates on the airport’s progress. Over half of the commitments towards net zero aviation and making Heathrow a great place to live and work have been marked as “on track” or “progressing”. In 2022, […]

ACI World has today published its 2023 edition of the Airport Economics Report and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), presenting a comprehensive view of the airport industry’s financial performance for the 2021 year. The annual Airport Economics Report presents an in-depth global analysis of airport industry revenues by source, costs, and related trends across the globe […]

Finnish airport operator, Finavia, today confirmed that its revenues grew substantially in 2022 and the operating margin turned positive. Nevertheless, the result for the financial year was negative due to the low passenger volumes at the regional airports and the low level of transfer travel at Helsinki Airport. The traffic decline at Helsinki Airport meant […]

Real estate development could act as the catalyst for the successful future development of many African airports, writes NACO’s aviation director for Africa, Marcel Langeslag. As airports continue to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, many are looking for ways to build a more resilient business that is less dependent on revenue generated […]

Hong Kong International Airport has selected SITA to provide a carbon management platform to monitor data on carbon emissions across the airport environment. The move will help the airport track key performance indicators as the airport progresses towards its net zero carbon goal. SITA’s carbon management platform, to be fully deployed by summer 2023, will […]

Auckland Airport has commenced its biggest redevelopment since the airport opened in 1966 with a brand-new domestic terminal to be fully integrated into the international terminal. “This is a major investment for Auckland Airport, one which we have been working towards for many years,” noted the New Zealand gateway’s chairman, Patrick Strange. “The domestic terminal […]

ACI World’s vice president and chief economist, Patrick Lucas, and vice president for airport customer experience, Dimitri Coll, remind us of the economic challenges facing small airports and how enhancing customer service can boost revenues. Airports are asset-intensive businesses that require large investments just to accommodate a single aircraft landing. They must achieve a critical mass […]

VPorts has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) Airport to build and operate a first vertiport in RAK designed to establish the UAE as a world-class global AAM hub. ‘‘With the support of the Department of Civil Aviation of Ras Al Khaimah, we are excited to build […]

London Gatwick Airport has today published its financial results for 2022, and recognising the urgent need to make net zero a reality has accelerated its commitment to be net zero for its own Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 2030, 10 years ahead of its previous commitment. This commitment, it says, is aligned with […]

Airport World talks to Olivier Baric, Egis’ aviation director for Africa, about the infrastructure specialist’s interests in Africa, potential challenges ahead, and why he believes that long-term partnerships are key to delivering on airport promises. What is Egis’ involvement with African airports? We are investors and long-term partner operators in three airports in the Congo […]

SITA has been selected as the preferred digital and IT systems partner for vertoports for Volocopter, a pioneer of urban air mobility (UAM). Under the agreement, SITA has become the latest investor to join Volocopter’s Series E funding round, cementing the strategic vision espoused by this partnership.  According to its backers, UAM will offer “a […]

ACI EUROPE claims that the combined efforts of the continent’s airports to reduce their carbon emissions was a highlight of ACI’s Airport Carbon Accreditation annual report for 2021-2022, published today. Indeed, it goes as far as to state that European progress made within the global carbon standard for airports emerged as the standout star. ACI […]

The Royal Schiphol Group is starting a collaboration with security technology company Pangiam to investigate ways of screening hand baggage more quickly and safely at Amsterdam Schiphol. The new technology, powered by artificial intelligence, could eventually help enable travellers to go through security checks faster, without compromising on safety. The aim of the collaboration is […]

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has celebrated the topping out of the Tom Bradley International Terminal Core with a beam signing ceremony. The Tom Bradley International Terminal Core is one of seven new cores that make up the $490 million dollar Terminal Cores project at LAX. The project, which is scheduled to complete in 2024, […]

A total of 5.2 million passengers travelled through Heathrow during February, with 26th February the busiest single day in Terminal 5 since Christmas 2019 with over 94,000 passengers. According to the UK hub, it “successfully managed” the February half-term getaway, when top holiday destinations were Dubai, New York and Madrid. It notes that overall passenger […]

ICF’s vice president, Eliot Lees, and senior consultant, Tod Yankee, consider the reasons why airports should implement green concessions programmes. Ready or not, airport managers are facing a major behavioural shift in consumers making purchases from retail and food and beverage concessions, which has given rise to a whole new discipline – Green Concessions Programming. […]

Shannon Airport is expecting to handle some 30,000 passengers during the upcoming St Patrick’s Day weekend – a healthy 24% more than the 21,000 passengers it handled during the same period last year. Mary Considine, CEO of Shannon Airport Group, said: “Our passenger forecast over the St Patrick’s period is a positive start to what […]

Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) has become the seventh major commercial airport in the United States to launch a zero-waste sustainability programme that collaborates with partners to collect used cooking oil and convert them into renewable fuels. As a result of the airport’s partnership with Fraport Maryland and Mahoney Environmental, BWI is now collecting used […]

Executive board member and chairman of the executive committee, Franck Mereyde, explains why ever expanding TAV Airports is eyeing new opportunities in Africa. Africa arguably offers the greatest development potential of any aviation market as its growth, which started with services in the 1920s by European operators Air France, Imperial Airways and Deutsche Lufthansa before […]

Brisbane Airport (BNE) has become the first Australian airport to receive Level 4 ‘Transformation’ status in ACI’s Airport Carbon Accreditation programme. The new status recognises Brisbane Airport’s long-term carbon management strategy towards absolute emissions reductions and evidence of forging meaningful partnerships to reduce the emissions of airport partners. “Given Australia’s reliance on air travel to connect […]

Fraport has set itself the ambitious new target of aiming to reduce the carbon emissions directly under its control at Frankfurt Airport to 50,000 tonnes by 2030. The new total is 25,000 tonnes less than the previous target announced by Germany’s largest aviation hub. “Aviation needs to make a significant contribution towards protecting our planet’s […]

China’s re-opening to international travel is likely to be more of a slow burner than a game changer for the aviation industry, writes OAG’s chief analyst, John Grant. The news of China re-opening to all international travel from January 8, 2023, came as a surprise to most forecasters. Indeed, considering how much China’s capacity has […]

London Gatwick Airport will open two new restaurants and wine bars this spring – Vagabond Bar & Kitchen and South Downs Sparkling Wine Bar. The new outlets, the airport states, will showcase “a vast array of the best local wines, beers and produce from across the region, alongside global options”. Award-winning urban winery, Vagabond, will […]

President, Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, today opened his country’s first new international airport terminal since independence, a key milestone in developing the pivotal West African state as a regional aviation hub. The new $270 million facility is three times the size of the existing terminal with capacity to handle up to one million […]

Airports big and small across the world were today recognised for their customer service excellence throughout 2022 in ACI’s annual Airport Service Quality (ASQ) awards. Winners ranged from the big hubs of Istanbul and Rome-Fiumicino in Europe; Dallas/Fort Worth and San Francisco in the US; and Singapore Changi and Shenzhen Bao’an in Asia-Pacific to some […]

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport’s executive vice president of global strategy and development, John Ackerman, tells Joe Bates more about the growth and future development plans of the Texas gateway. It feels like Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and the Dallas Metroplex area are on a bit of a roll, with the Texas gateway building a […]

Singapore Changi and Brussels Airport have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to augment their strategic partnership in air cargo development. With the goal of deepening cargo competencies, it is said that both airports will jointly drive initiatives to enhance their respective capabilities in pharmaceutical logistics, undertake studies and trials in the fields of digitalisation […]

Sacramento International Airport has become the latest gateway to deploy facial biometric technology at select boarding gates. The US airport has installed state-of-the-art technology from Amadeus that it says will “revolutionise the process of verifying traveller identities by comparing live photos to the traveller’s existing passport or visa photo in secure US Department of Homeland […]

Marshall Retail Group (MRG) and InMotion, both WHSmith companies, have unveiled ten exciting new outlets inside the brand-new Single Terminal at Kansas City International Airport (MCI). The new terminal at MCI features MRG retailers in both concourses, with a wealth of new concepts designed just for Kansas City, Missouri. MRG says that it takes pride […]

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is anticipating a busy spring break travel period that is expected to draw more than 12 million passengers to the airport between March and April. The increase in passenger and vehicle traffic will make this spring break the most travelled at LAX since 2019, leading Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) […]

Brisbane Airport is literally brewing up employment opportunities for people with a disability at its new Boronia Brew café. Indeed, to date, 10 staff with a disability have found employment at Boronia Brew, which officially opened a few days ago. Operated by HELP Enterprises, the social enterprise is providing training for supported workers, with hopes […]

ACI news is back, rounding up the latest announcements, initiatives and views from ACI World and across the ACI regions, this issue also featuring input from ACI EUROPE and ACI Asia-Pacific. ACI World news: Restoring economic equilibrium ACI World is urging regulators to support the economic sustainability of airports as social and economic engines of […]

Fraport AG Ground Services are currently trialling an autonomous baggage and cargo tractor at Frankfurt Airport. The electric vehicle will operate on an eight-kilometre-long test route within Frankfurt Airport’s secure area. The trial is designed to determine whether and under what conditions an autonomous vehicle can support regular baggage and cargo operations on the apron. […]

Hundreds of jobs will be on offer this weekend when Dublin Airport holds a two-day jobs fair for prospective candidates. Hosted by airport operator, daa, the Jobs Fair will take place at the Radisson Hotel, Dublin Airport, on Friday, March 3 (2pm-5pm), and Saturday, March 4 (10am-1pm). The free-to-attend daa Jobs Fair will provide attendees […]

ACI Africa secretary general, Ali Tounsi, considers some of the main challenges and opportunities facing Africa’s aviation industry and tells us more about the goals and ambitions of ACI Africa for the year ahead. Africa’s aviation industry is no stranger to challenges and while many of the traditional, and indeed global ones of safety, security […]

The first flights will depart from the new single terminal at Kansas City International Airport today, marking the end of a five-year development, design and construction effort and ushering in a new era of air travel in the region. The 1.1 million-square-foot, design-build project was delivered ahead of schedule and on budget while providing a […]

ACI World director general, Luis Felipe de Oliveira, considers the growth potential of Africa. As many of you will know, ACI World had the pleasure of partnering with ACI Africa for the ACI Africa/World Annual General Assembly, Conference and Exhibition last October. The successful event, which attracted over 500 delegates, took place in Marrakesh, Morocco, […]

New South Wales’ minister for tourism, Ben Franklin, announced today that Qantas Group has been successful with its application for the NSW Aviation Attraction Fund to support routes from Newcastle Airport to Cairns and Adelaide. Responding to the news, Newcastle Airport CEO, Dr Peter Cock, said the announcement was significant for the gateway and surrounding […]

A welcome point at London Luton Airport (LLA) has supported almost 30,000 Ukrainian arrivals and assisted 500 UK Homes for Ukraine sponsors since being established in March 2022. The welcome point at LLA has provided a range of support and services to Ukrainian arrivals including the provision of food and drink, overnight accommodation and SIM […]

VIEW THE ISSUE HERE Focus on: Africa Airport profile: Dallas/Fort Worth Special report: Small airports Plus: Green concessions & China traffic analysis Back in business Airport World editor, Joe Bates, looks forward to a more positive year for aviation, introduces some exciting changes to the magazine, and reflects on the ‘Africa’ theme of this issue. […]

Shannon Airport today welcomed Ireland’s Minister of State for the Department of Transport, Jack Chambers, for a flying visit. The Minister, who was met by Conal Henry, chair of the Shannon Airport Group, and the group chief executive officer, Mary Considine, was briefed on the facilities and operations at the airport and activities across the […]

Although current shopper behaviour among the young Gen Z traveller demographic does not show engagement or excitement with the duty free and travel retail offer, this is a clear contrast with their potential, the latest research from m1nd-set reveals. Following significant interest among industry partners and stakeholders in this young, high-potential age-segment, the Swiss-based travel […]

Hamad International Airport (DOH) has successfully renewed its Level 3 ‘Optimisation’ status in ACI’s Airport Carbon Accreditation programme for another year. The Qatar gateway says that the successful recertification is a reassurance that its carbon management processes and activities have effectively reduced CO2 emissions. During the recertification process, operator, MATAR, was audited by independent third […]

Changi Airport Group (CAG) has signed a formal partnership agreement with Aurrigo International for the continued joint development and testing of the company’s autonomous vehicles. According to Aurrigo, its innovative solutions offer the ability to reduce emissions and improve efficiencies in getting passenger bags to and from the terminal. The multi-year partnership with CAG provides […]

London’s Heathrow Airport has reminded the world about its ongoing ‘green revolution’ as it embarks on the second year of its Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) incentive scheme. In 2022, Heathrow launched a world first – an airport SAF incentive programme which aimed to cover up to 50% of the extra cost, making the fuel more […]

Dubai Airports today labelled 2022 a banner year for Dubai International Airport (DXB), revealing that it handled 66 million passengers during 12 months of robust growth. It notes that growth outpaced the annual forecast yet again in the final months of the year following an exceptionally strong fourth quarter, and believes that it is now […]

Zero-emission, hydrogen-powered air travel is the aim of a new partnership between ZeroAvia and Birmingham Airport (BHX). The companies have entered into a long-term partnership to make on-airfield hydrogen refuelling and regular domestic passenger flights of zero-emission aircraft a reality in the coming years. Hydrogen-electric engines use hydrogen in fuel cells to generate electricity, which […]

Assaia is confident that the deployment of its turnaround control solution at Halifax Stanfield International Airport will ensure the more efficient use of the Canadian gateway’s existing infrastructure, improve the on-time performance of its airlines and enhance safety. The solution, a combination of Artificial Intelligence and computer vision, will monitor aircraft turnarounds and will also […]

ACI World and Amadeus have today opened submissions for the third edition of the Technology Innovation Awards, putting a spotlight on industry-leading technology initiatives and leadership by airports around the world. Airport members of ACI are invited to submit their candidacy to the ACI World-Amadeus Technology Innovation Awards in one of three categories: Best innovation(s) […]

Finland’s Ivalo and Oulu airports will celebrate their 80th and 70th anniversaries, respectively, this year. Jonna Pietilä, Finavia’s vice president for northern Finland airports, has no doubt that both gateways play a key role in the country’s airport system. “The airports of Oulu and Ivalo have served passengers and airlines for decades and have developed […]

Around 3.7 million passengers passed through Frankfurt Airport (FRA) in January – 65.5% more than in the corresponding month a year ago. Airport operator, Fraport, says that it benefited from return travel from vacation destinations after the Christmas holidays, with warm weather destinations such as the Canary Islands, intercontinental destinations in the Caribbean, North America […]

Recent changes to federal funding programmes in the United States are dramatically widening the scope of airport expansion plans throughout the country, writes Mary Scott Nabers. In the fall of 2022, the FAA announced the availability of $1 billion during 2023 for airport expansion projects, and over the next several weeks, it will release its […]

Christchurch Airport’s renewable energy precinct, Kōwhai Park has taken a giant step closer to reality. After a year-long process, that attracted interest from organisations across the globe, the airport has chosen one of New Zealand’s largest energy companies, Contact Energy, and international solar developer, Lightsource bp, as its partners to deliver phase one of the […]

Almost 16 million passengers used Abu Dhabi’s five airports in 2022 – tripling the 5.26 million handled in 2021. The bulk of the total passed through Abu Dhabi International Airport with the remainder using either Al Ain International, Al Bateen Executive, Delma Island or Sir Bani Yas Island airports. His Excellency, Jamal Salem Al Dhaheri, […]

Passengers will soon be able to travel through Frankfurt Airport from check-in to boarding simply by scanning their faces at biometric touch-points across the gateway. This solution will utilise SITA and NEC technology and is available to all interested airlines at the airport. The implementation will see additional biometric touch-points installed by spring 2023. From […]

UK company AeroCloud Systems (AeroCloud) has won a contract to provide a full suite of airport operations management systems to Lincoln Airport (LNK) in the US state of Nebraska Its cloud-based airport operations platform will support ongoing terminal expansion work at LNK, which is due to be completed by February 2023. The Nebraska gateway handles around […]

Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) celebrated its third busiest year in 2022 when more than 3.88 million passengers passed through its facilities. SDF is also celebrating the greatest number of non-stop destinations ever at 37 on eight airlines. “Last year, 2022, was a banner year for us and something we’re very proud of following […]

The Full Year 2022 traffic report released today by ACI EUROPE shows that the airport industry finally turned the corner on the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the industry body. Passenger traffic across the European airport network nearly doubled (+98%) in 2022 compared to the previous year, reaching 1.94 billion passengers. However, that was still -21% […]

Miami International Airport (MIA) handled a record 50.6 million passengers in 2022, nearly 10% more than its previous best in 2019. The total included 21.3 million international passengers, 8.3 million more than 2021 but one million less than pre-COVID levels. Compared to the airport’s total of 37.3 million passengers in 2021, when the aviation industry […]

New ‘smart windows’ have been installed in the recently opened 350,000-square-foot expansion of Chicago O’Hare’s Terminal 5, a major milestone in the $1.3 billion, four-year investment programme to expand and modernise the gateway. The windows, provided by View Inc, use artificial intelligence to optimise the amount of natural light in the terminal while minimising heat […]

Hong Kong is to give away 500,000 airline tickets in a hugely ambitious promotional campaign to boost tourism numbers and attract visitors back to the region. As part of the government driven initiative it is also offering a host of ‘Hong Kong Goodies’ in the form of discount vouchers on food, drink, transport, hotels, shopping […]

Holland & Barrett, a leading UK wellness retailer, has partnered with WHSmith to offer a curated range of health, wellness and beauty products to customers travelling across the UK or jetting off on holiday. The trial will see Holland & Barrett concessions added to three WHSmith Travel stores in Heathrow Terminal 2 airside, Gatwick North […]

Birmingham Airport (BHX) in the UK has celebrated handing the 10 millionth customer in its current financial year. According to the airport, the milestone represents a story of the steady recovery for BHX, which emerged from the COVID-19 deep-freeze back in March 2022, when travel restrictions were lifted. Compared to the previous financial year (2021/22), 2022/23 has so far seen […]

Heathrow Airport CEO, John Holland-Kaye, has informed the Board of his intention to stand down during 2023 after nine years in the hot-seat. Praising his “exceptional leadership”, the Board notes that he built a strong management team, helped develop a consumer-focused culture, improved cost efficiency and put “Heathrow at the forefront of global aviation’s decarbonisation”. […]

Faced with increased disruptions, baggage mountains, and staff shortages, airports and airlines are ramping up their investment in technology to digitalise their operations and speed up the passenger journey by offering more self-service options, according to SITA. SITA’s 2022 Air Transport IT Insights report, published today, reveals that with the post-pandemic recovery CIOs want to […]

Finavia has built an underground wetland at Helsinki Airport to improve water management. The project is the first of its kind in the Nordic countries and is designed to improve the condition of streams and other waterways near the airport. “Water management is an important part of our environmental work, and we do our best […]

London’s Heathrow Airport today published its new Giving Back Programme, reasserting its commitment to the local community to make the area a great place to live and work. It is the first comprehensive community investment plan published by the airport, clarifying the various ways it already supports the local community as well as setting out […]

Washington Reagan National Airport has opened ‘Curiosity Runway’, a new play area that it hopes will pique the pre-flight imagination of families with children. The gateway has created the new space in partnership with the National Children’s Museum – a learn-through-play institution in downtown Washington DC that sparks curiosity through science, technology, engineering, arts, and […]

ACI EUROPE president, Javier Marín, last night addressed the specific challenge of the funding required to achieve the airport industry’s net zero carbon targets and compliance with ‘Fit for 55’. Speaking at ACI EUROPE’s annual reception held in the European Parliament in Brussels, Marín, who is managing director of  Spanish airport operator AENA, warned of […]

Munich Airport and Lufthansa have “reaffirmed and strengthened” their successful strategic partnership by signing a letter of intent (LOI) to intensify and continue the sustainable development of Munich Airport. In the LOI, both parties commit to a shared sustainability strategy, to the expansion of Munich Airport as an intermodal transport hub, to the needs-based expansion […]

Swedavia, in collaboration with its partners at Stockholm Arlanda Airport – is to host a big Recruitment Day at the gateway on January 30 in a bid to fill some of the thousands of new jobs being created by the airport’s expansion and rising traffic figures. Sweden’s airport operator notes that with air travel taking […]

Shannon Airport’s strong recovery in 2022 exceeded expectations, according to Shanon Airport Group CEO, Mary Considine. The Irish airport welcomed over 1.51 million passengers to the airport in 2022, a 300% increase on 2021 figures, and an 88% recovery of 2019 passenger levels. “The accelerated pace of the rebound in air travel from Shannon has […]

The Canadian government is to invest of up to C$23.5 million under the National Trade Corridors Fund for an expansion and sustainability project at John C Munro Hamilton International Airport. This project, which will cost close to C$47 million, will allow the gateway to handle increased cargo operations by improving and expanding airfield capacity, increase […]

Creating a sense of common purpose Dr Richard Plenty and Terri Morrissey reflect on some of the challenges airports working with private investors may face by embracing a more entrepreneurial culture. We recently saw the much acclaimed film ‘Living’ where the main character, played brilliantly by Bill Nighy, spends his days in a bureaucratic office […]

Tulsa International Airport has celebrated the opening of a new ‘A History through Dance’ art exhibit by Megan Torres. The exhibit features photography from Torres Fine Art, wardrobe pieces, and history information that highlights Tulsa’s Ballet Folklórico group, Tierra Mestiza. Tierra Mestiza has been a part of the community of Tulsa since the late 1990s, […]

Emirates has taken yet another significant step in the resumption of its Australia capacity by increasing its service to two major cities – Sydney and Melbourne. The airline also announced today that it will also restart services to Christchurch, New Zealand via Sydney, offering a new path for Australians across the trans-Tasman route. From March […]

ACI EUROPE and industry partners A4E, ERA and IATA today welcomed the decision to postpone the implementation of the EU’s new smart border system for non-EU nationals (i.e. Entry Exit System, EES). The EES system will be a game changer for how the EU’s borders are managed. There are, however, a number of issues which […]

Fraport has assumed responsibility for the organisation, management, and performance of the security checkpoints at Frankfurt Airport (FRA). The German Federal Police, who were previously tasked with these responsibilities, will continue to hold statutory oversight and supervision roles, as well as overall responsibility for aviation security. They will also continue to provide armed protection at […]

Airport World talks to HOK’s Hiroyuki Kawakami and Azusa Sekkei’s Makoto Ishii about plans to transform and expand the international terminal at Fukuoka Airport in Japan. Construction is underway on a “state-of-the-art international terminal expansion and renovation project”, which together with a new runway, will effectively equip Fukuoka Airport to handle up to 16 million […]

Birmingham Airport (BHX) in the UK has announced that it is aiming to bolster its workforce ahead of what promises to be a bumper summer for overseas holidays. Data shows strong booking volumes for the summer as people continue to prioritise their summer breaks, giving the airport confidence that traffic levels are getting ever closer […]

Glasgow Airport is trialling a special assistance support app to ensure all passengers who require additional help at the gateway get the assistance they need. The UK airport reveals that around 25% of requests for special assistance are made on the day of travel and hopes that the PRM Assist app will supplement the current […]

After nearly three years off view to the public while it underwent professional conservation, the famed bronze portrait bust of former Los Angeles Mayor, Tom Bradley, is finally back at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and ready to be installed in its new permanent home. The bust, a 10-foot-tall bronze and granite sculpture created by […]

We report on some of the operational and maintenance news stories making headlines in Europe and across the wider airport ecosystem. Frankfurt’s Sky Line people mover system taking shape Frankfurt Airport has unveiled the the first vehicle for its new Sky Line people mover, which will carry travellers from the long-distance and regional train stations […]

The contrasting 2022 traffic recoveries of Hong Kong and Frankfurt and Dublin airports show just how far the European gateways are ahead of the Southeast Asian airport in terms of bouncing back from the global pandemic. For while Frankfurt and Dublin today announced that they handled 48.9 million and 28.1 million passengers respectively last year, […]

Matt Bentley from Service Works Global offers advice to facilities managers about asset management, including the key benefits and how technology can deliver efficiencies and cut costs. Many airports are now operating at close to pre-pandemic levels. Gatwick Airport, for example, is now offering flights to almost 90% of the destinations it served in October […]

JCDecaux has renewed its advertising concession with Singapore Changi Airport for another seven years, with an option for a further five year extension taking its contract to 2034. As air travel rebounds, JCDecaux believes that the extended partnership will harness growing industry trends to curate brand building media offerings that are data-driven and offer more  […]

Airports across Europe continue to announce their annual traffic figures for 2022, the bulk of which are reporting a significant upturn in passenger numbers and routes as aviation’s recovery from the pandemic gathered momentum. Munch Airport, for example, reveals that it handled 31.6 million passengers in 2022 – 19 million more the previous year as […]

Daan Van Vroonhoven, Smiths Detection’s global director for aviation and regulatory compliance, considers how developments in screening solutions can help the air cargo industry meet the pressures it is facing on several fronts. The air cargo sector faces a range of ever evolving, and new, security threats coupled with tightening global regulation. In this climate, […]

ACI World today called on regulators to support the economic sustainability of airports as social and economic engines of communities worldwide, arguing that doing so ultimately benefits  the travelling public. The call to action supports the recent ACI World Resolution Restoring Economic Equilibrium that urges governments to acknowledge the changed risk profile of airports in […]

Cork Airport believes that it is on track for a “strong recovery” in 2023 after revealing that it handled 2.24 million passengers last year. Its confidence is based on what it calls the swift recovery of international traffic after the removal of the last remaining COVID related travel restrictions. Last year’s passenger total meant that […]

Ever Rich Duty Free has partnered with William Grant and Tasa Meng on a Glenfiddich Perpetual Collection promotion at Taipei’s Taoyuan International Airport. To support the launch, the brand’s ground-breaking immersive Perpetual Collection pop-up concept has been installed in Terminal 2 and will be onsite until February 28. “This collection is Glenfiddich’s biggest launch in […]

The standout objective of Finavia’s newly published responsibility programme is to reduce the carbon emissions of Finland’s airports to net zero by the end of 2025. Talking about its new ‘Towards sustainable air travel’ initiative, Finavia’s vice president for sustainability and the environment, Mikko Viinikainen, enthused: “Operations at all our airports have been carbon neutral […]

Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) is to implement a cutting-edge, on-site laboratory to perform wastewater surveillance testing at Pearson International Airport. The pilot project, supported in part by funding from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program, is using partner LuminUltra’s technology to test for the presence of sub-variants of the SARS-CoV-2 […]

UK regional gateway, Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA), has announced that for the first time in its history, its airlines will 80 destinations year-round this year. It notes that new routes include Bergen (Norway), Porto (Portugal) and Perpignan (France) and that recent additions such as Katowice (Poland), Bucharest (Romania) and Cluj (Romania) will also continue into […]

Airport World discovers more about SFO’s new Airport Carbon Accreditation status, a climate goals agreement between Hamburg and Christchurch airports, and a handful of other green initatives across the globe. San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is celebrating a major sustainability milestone after being awarded Level 4 ‘Transformation’ status in ACI’s Airport Carbon Accreditation programme. The […]

New AMBAAR Club lounge opens in Salvador Bahia Airport Dimensions has opened a new airside AMBAAR Club lounge at Salvador Bahia International Airport as part of its collaboration with AMBAAR Lounge, which opened a landside facility at the Brazilian gateway in October. Designed to give passengers a last experience of Bahia (the Bay of All […]

London Stansted’s single runway is to be fully resurfaced in a five-month programme that begins this weekend. The work on the three kilometre long runway, which will be managed by engineering firm Lagan, will take place at night to minimise the impact on the local community and airport operations. Over the course of the project, […]