WORLD BUSINESS PARTNERS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cast your mind back to February and a typical busy airport scene – the packed check-ins; passengers sitting shoulder-to-shoulder at gate lounges; jostling crowds at baggage carousels; hugs and handshakes at arrival halls. So much has changed in such a short time. With the rapid spread of COVID-19, airport terminals have gone from bustling hubs […]

Avalon Airport is set to become the first gateway in Australia to introduce touchless, self-service technology for passengers. The airport – located between the cities of Melbourne and Geelong – states that the pioneering initiative, courtesy of its partnership with Elenium Automation will ensure both world-class safety and a top passenger experience when the airport […]

Leidos has completed the $1 billion acquisition of L3Harris Technologies’ Security Detection and Automation businesses. The acquired businesses provide airport and critical infrastructure screening products, automated tray return systems and other industrial automation products. They will operate within the Leidos Civil Group, led by president, Jim Moos. Combined with Leidos’ existing cargo and baggage screening […]

The contract is in the bag – Vanderlande has been formally selected as Heathrow Airport’s strategic baggage partner for the next ten years. The recently signed ‘pan-airport’ agreement, will encompass the design, build, operate and maintain programmes across the Terminals, as well as the baggage control room operations. The partnership will see both organisations further […]

NACO’s Vivek Sindhamani and Peter Vorage discuss the growing threat of flooding to airports and how some major hubs are planning ahead to increase their resilience to rising water levels. During the past five years, over twenty major, and many more small-island airports, have flooded due to extreme rainfall events or storm surges in combination […]

Beijing Capital International Airport has appointed a UK based airport design consultancy to help it redevelop the commercial planning and design of the international departure lounge in Terminal 3. The world’s biggest terminal building when it opened in 2008, Terminal 3 – known locally as the Dragon terminal –  has arguably been an iconic symbol of […]

Heinemann extends Sydney concession Heinemann Australia has celebrated five years at Sydney Airport by extending its duty free concession at the gateway until 2029. The news is a major coup for the company, which has operated a Heinemann Tax & Duty Free store at the airport since 2015. “I’m delighted that we have attained this […]

Laurent Dubois has been appointed CEO of Intelligent integration solutions provider, ADB SAFEGATE. The company admits that he joins it “at a time of unprecedented challenges for all organisations connected with air travel”. But it adds that the likely impact of the COVID-19 pandemic makes it more important than ever for ADB SAFEGATE to move […]

The latest global news from ACI’s World Business Partners. MAI and ADB SAFEGATE The international business arm of Munich Airport – Munich Airport International (MAI) – has signed a co-operation agreement with ADB SAFEGATE. The collaboration combines MAI’s worldwide expertise in airport development, management and operations with ADB SAFEGATE’s global presence and insight into airfield, […]

The latest global news from ACI’s World Business Partners. New F&B outlets open at Singapore Changi Asian high street favourite, Tai Cheong Bakery, and Archipelago Craft Brew are the latest new additions to Singapore Changi’s F&B offering. Introduced in partnership with the SSP Group and located landside in Terminal 3, Tai Cheong Bakery is one […]

The latest global news from ACI’s World Business Partners. Pizza, anyone? Lightening fast pizza operator, Blaze Pizza, has opened an outlet at John Wayne Airport’s Terminal B/C courtesy of a new partnership between global restaurateur, HMSHost, and partner S&C Robinson Enterprise. The Californian gateway notes that the addition of Blaze Pizza expands the dining options […]

The latest global news from ACI’s World Business Partners. Amadeus completes acquisition of ICM Amadeus has completed the acquisition of ICM Airport Technics (ICM), a global leader in passenger automation and self-service bag drop solutions for airports and airlines, for an undisclosed sum. Thanks to this deal, Amadeus is now able to design, configure, implement, […]

The latest news from ACI’s World Business Partners Dublin Airport’s asset tracker courtesy of Esri Ireland Dublin Airport has created an airport geographic information systems app to track its assets in real time. The app was designed using geographic information systems (GIS) technology from software partner, Esri Ireland, which was customised to track and monitor the […]

The latest news from ACI’s World Business Partners The punctuality league OAG senior analyst, John Grant, explains why the on-time performance of airlines matters to airports. Being punctual means different things in different cultures. In some, being 15 minutes late is perfectly acceptable and isn’t something to be punished for. Whilst in others, being late for […]

VIEW THE ISSUE HERE In the spotlight: Investing in airports Airport report: Hong Kong Special report: The digital marketplace Plus: Route development & Autonomous vehicles Editor, Joe Bates, reflects on the investor appeal of the world’s gateways in this ‘Investing in airports’ themed first issue of 2019. Time to invest One of the first articles I was asked to […]

The latest news from ACI’s World Business Partners Big and clever Hamad International Airport (HIA) has announced the successful completion of the first major phase of its Smart Airport programme, which will enable Qatar Airways to process more than 25% of its passengers using self-service check-in and bag-drop facilities. In partnership with SITA and CCM, the […]