View from the top

ACI World director general and CEO, Luis Felipe de Oliveira, addresses the global challenge of passenger facilitation and ACI World’s commitment to building a more accessible and inclusive air transport system.

This is my last View from the Top as my tenure as ACI World director general and CEO comes to the end after an exceptional four and a half years leading the organisation. For the next edition, my successor, Justin Erbacci, will have the pleasure to contribute to Airport World and the airport community.

I am pleased to end with a very important topic, the theme of this edition: ‘passenger facilitation’, a critical aspect that encompasses the entire travel journey, from booking to the final destination.

Ensuring the smooth flow of travellers, baggage, and cargo in a safe, secure, and efficient manner requires a co-ordinated effort among airports, airlines, organisations, and authorities worldwide. For instance, the process of crossing borders involves various measures and controls, which must be as seamless and efficient as possible.

With the ICAO Council designating 2024 as the “Year of Facilitation” (FAL 2024), I want to emphasise the importance of accessibility, an area of growing significance. FAL 2024 features a series of activities aligned with the ten chapters of Annex 9, organised in collaboration with ICAO Member States and partners like ACI World.

These activities include webinars, events, and training sessions aimed at creating awareness and promoting the importance of air transport facilitation, strengthening global collaboration and capacity building initiatives by the multiple partners involved.

ACI World is fully committed to building a more accessible and inclusive air transport system. Our members understand that people with disabilities and those with reduced mobility require accessible infrastructure and an inclusive passenger journey.

Advocating for an accessible air transport system

The challenges of accessible air travel are multifaceted and vary by region. Physical barriers, such as insufficient ramps or inadequate seating, are common, but there are also technological, informational, and systemic challenges. For example, inconsistent communication standards between airports and airlines can cause confusion and stress for travellers with disabilities.

Addressing these barriers requires a global perspective. ACI World collaborates with airports and advocacy groups worldwide to develop best practices that can be adapted locally while maintaining a global standard of accessibility. As we are a global industry this approach ensures that improvements benefit travellers everywhere.

The ACI World Facilitation and Services Standing Committee consists of ACI members who share best practices and recommendations to improve terminal flows while considering passenger growth and its impact on airport facilities.

The Committee focuses on ensuring sustainable processes and infrastructure, preparing airports for increased operational complexity, and delivering excellent customer experiences. Amongst the main results made available are use cases for airports looking to implement similar initiatives to enhance accessibility and assistance to persons with disabilities in various airport environments.

ACI World experts and members actively advocate for policies and standards, and shape global airport and passenger facilitation through participation in industry events and collaboration with international partners, including ICAO, IATA, and the World Health Organization.

Enhancing airport accessibility

ACI World also works closely with accessibility advocacy groups and international partners to develop resources and best practices to help airports eliminate barriers to air travel. One of our key initiatives is the Accessibility Enhancement Accreditation Program, which has already seen participation from over 50 airports globally. This programme is a continuous improvement tool that helps airports measure, evaluate, and enhance their accessibility services, management and culture.

In 2024, ACI World will release a new guidance on airports and accessible travel to incorporate the latest best practices for establishing barrier-free infrastructures, accessible design considerations, and supporting the needs of persons with mobility/visible and non visible disabilities.

Moreover, the ACI World Global Training programme offers comprehensive training solutions to enhance the skills of airport professionals. Members can access instructor-led classroom sessions and self-paced online courses covering various aviation topics, including accessibility and customer experience standards.

A global vision for the future

As the demand for accessible air travel grows, ACI World’s global perspective is essential in addressing the diverse challenges faced by passengers with disabilities. Our initiatives are crucial steps toward creating a truly inclusive air travel ecosystem.

ACI World’s efforts go beyond compliance; they advocate for a travel experience that is welcoming, empowered and equitable for all. By continuing to collaborate with global partners, ACI World is paving the way for a future where accessibility is the standard, not the exception, in air travel.