ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East’s manager for communications and brand marketing, Yuman Lau, provides a comprehensive round-up of the latest developments and insights from the airport industry.
FIRST-EVER ACI APEX REVIEW IN MALAYSIA FOR SECURITY ENHANCEMENT
Kota Kinabalu International Airport (BKI) has successfully undergone an ACI Airport Excellence (APEX) in Security review.
With the support of Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB), it was the first ever APEX review conducted in the south east Asian country. Gary Leung, ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East’s senior manager for security and facilitation was part of the review team, which shared insights and offered recommendations to help Malaysia’s second busiest airport enhance security compliance and efficiency.
NEW SAFETY GUIDELINES
One of our publications is the newly published ‘Guidelines on the Cooperation Between Aerodrome Operators and ANSP to Enhance Safety’.
The document is the first jointly published by ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East and CANSO as a result of the agreement that the two associations reached at their first in-person meeting held in May 2023 in Kobe, Japan.
It features a number of projects to have taken place at airports across our region that include Hong Kong, Kansai, Mactan-Cebu and Queenstown. The publication is available for members only. Access full publication https://www.aci-asiapac.aero/media-centre/library
REGIONAL OPERATIONAL SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETS IN DUBAI
The ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East Regional Operational Safety Committee met in Dubai in October, reinforcing its commitment to advancing aviation safety across the region.
The committee reaffirmed that the use of alphanumeric call signs is a proven way of reducing the risk of miscommunication amongst pilots, ATC and airports.
The committee strongly encouraged airports across the region to collaborate with key stakeholders to ensure its smooth implementation and adoption.
As part of our commitment mission to build a more resilient safety framework at airports, ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East will undertake a safety culture survey to gather insights from airports and identify opportunities for improvement.
MEDIA ENGAGEMENT
ACI APAC & MID director general, Stefano Baronci, emphasised the importance of airports as vital economic engines for not only the regions and countries they serve but the entire world, driving both economic growth and job creation, during meetings with local and global media outlets during a recent visit to Singapore.
He also took the opportunity to underscore the growing infrastructure demands in the Asia-Pacific region, which is on track to dominate global air passenger traffic, with projections reaching 8.7 billion passengers by 2042.
Nine of the ten fastest-growing markets are in the Asia-Pacific region, and this presents substantial opportunities for APAC. Importantly, it was an opportunity to clear the misconception that an increase in airport charges inevitably resulted in rising airfares, as there is no direct correlation between the two.
REGISTER NOW FOR THE TRINITY FORUM
Co-organised by The Moodie Davitt Report, ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East and ACI World, and jointly hosted by Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) and Imex Pan Pacific Group (IPPG), The Trinity Forum 2024 will be held on November 5-6, in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
The Trinity Forum is the world’s leading airport commercial revenue conference. The event brings together the world’s airports, brands, and concessionaires, alongside their business partners in the travel retail sector for provocative and stimulating conversations.
Register now. Special offer entitled to ACI members. More details: The Trinity Forum 2024 | EventX Website: https://eventxapp.com/events/9f439b7e-0067-48c2-9a28-d1c1ea8e4fb4?regForm=4cff6c1b-e673-4c5b-a5e1-9421c4effd1d
ICAO APAC MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
At the International Civil Aviation Organisation 2nd Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference in New Delhi, ACI APAC & MID delivered a strong statement about the critical importance of aerodrome safety and what ACI is doing to help airports achieve their safety goals.
These include APEX reviews, the implementation of One-Stop Security and A-CDM for operational efficiency. We also highlighted the urgent need for innovation and the development of new airport infrastructure to ensure that airports are more resilient going forward and equipped to meet future demand.
We believe that all are key as we work towards a safer, more secure, and future-ready aviation sector.
COLLABORATION WITH AIRLINES ON SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES
Key outcomes of the 19th Meeting of the ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East Regional Environment Committee (REC), which took place in Bangkok in September, include the commitment to continued collaboration with airlines in areas such as cabin waste management, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), and renewable energy for aircraft.
The committee also approved the work plan and progress of the climate adaptation study for the APAC & MID regions and emphasised the importance of sharing best practices in firefighting foam usage and avoiding greenwashing claims.
ONLINE SURVEY ON MPOX
ACI APAC & MID conducted a survey with airports on the measures implemented to contain MPOX.
In preparation for the potential spread of MPOX, many airports have enhanced their safety measures, including increased cleaning protocols, passenger communications, temperature checks, and mandatory health declarations for arrivals.
However, several challenges persist, including the need for better co-ordination with stakeholders, timely information sharing, and budget constraints. The establishment of onsite testing facilities for MPOX is also crucial, as currently, only a limited number of airports are equipped with such facilities.
ADVOCATING FOR DEVELOPMENT OF ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY
ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East shared its position on AAM at the 12th International Smart Airport Development Forum 2024 in Shanghai, China, this summer. Representing ACI APAC & MID, our senior manager for economics, Philip Kwok, spoke about the enormous opportunities for airports to integrate AAM into their master plans and business models.
In addition, he told delegates more about China’s active and progressive steps taken to develop its low altitude economy and how it is a fine example for many markets to reference. ACI APAC & MID continues to lead the way in advocating for AAM and supporting the growth of the low-altitude economy across Asia-Pacific and Middle East by engaging in dialogue with airports, regulators, industry associations and institutions.
SECURITY CHALLENGES AND PRIORITIES FOR AIRPORTS
ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East highlighted the need to address common security challenges and priorities at the ICN Global Aviation Security Seminar in Incheon, Republic of Korea.
Representing ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East, Gary Leung, senior manager for security, addressed the pressing issues such as manpower shortages, emerging security threats, and the implementation of smart security technologies at airports.
The seminar, hosted by Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC), saw participation from over 150 aviation security experts and officials, including key representatives from local government agencies, academic institutions, and airlines.
ACI APEX REVIEW FOR SECURITY ENHANCEMENT IN MANADO, INDONESIA
An Airport Excellence Programme (APEX) in Security review was successfully conducted at Sam Ratulangi International Airport (MDC) in Manado, Indonesia, in September.
Hosted by Indonesian airport operator, PT Angkasa Pura I, the review aimed to enhance airport security at the airport by assessing current practices and compliance with global standards.
The review team comprised security experts from Incheon Airport in South Korea, Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan, Edinburgh Airport in the UK, Changi Airport in Singapore, Velana International Airport in the Maldives, and Hong Kong International Airport.
We are pleased to report that their expertise contributed to a comprehensive evaluation of security measures at Sam Ratulangi International Airport.
EMPHASIS ON SECURITY-BY-DESIGN FOR AIRPORTS
ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East delivered a presentation at the 12th ICAO Asia & Pacific Regional Aviation Security Coordination Forum (RASCF-APAC/12) that stressed the importance of the concept of security-by-design, which refers to the integration of security considerations into the design and development phase of new airport infrastructure.
It is important to note that new infrastructure applies to the modernisation and refurbishment of existing facilities and not just new terminals, concourses and other buildings. Over 80 aviation security experts from state regulators and industry associations across Asia-Pacific attended the ICAO annual regional security forum, which was held in Manila, in the Philippines.
SAVE THE DATE FOR OUR 2025 REGIONAL CONFERENCE
We are thrilled to announce that our next ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East Regional Assembly, Conference and Exhibition will take place in New Delhi, India, on April 15-17, 2025.
Hosted by Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, the event would be a great opportunity for you to meet the global aviation leaders, experts, and stakeholders.
Save the date for our flagship event in 2025, and stay tuned for more details.
AVIATION ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East (ACI APAC & MID) once again reaffirmed its commitment to promoting aviation environmental sustainability during a Sustainable Aviation webinar, jointly organised by ACI, Singapore Aviation Academy (SAA) and Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS).
Ken Lau, our head of sustainability, highlighted the Regional Environment Committee’s dedication to advancing sustainability priorities through data-driven analysis and member airport surveys.
He also discussed key programmes such as Green Airports Recognition and Airport Carbon Accreditation, and touched on a number of potential future initiatives that could help airports develop net-zero roadmaps and climate resilience planning.
DRIVING THE ADOPTION OF ECO-FRIENDLY FIREFIGHTING FOAMS
A recent webinar hosted by ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East addressed the issue of water contamination caused by the foams traditionally used by fire tenders at airports across the globe.
The event built upon discussions held at the joint ACI Operational Safety and Environment committees in Kobe, Japan, where it was agreed that there was a need for exploring and sharing best practices for eco-friendly firefighting foams.
Despite the challenges associated with adopting new firefighting foams, such as modifications to fire tenders and training personnel, the webinar demonstrated that airports can successfully transition to more environmentally friendly practices while maintaining safety standards.