ASIA-PACIFIC REGIONAL NEWS
Share
A snapshot of some of the biggest stories from across the region.
Building a dynamic workforce
Dubai Airports has launched a pioneering new career development programme aimed at attracting more Emirati women to join its workforce in management roles.
It claims that the move reaffirms its commitment to the nation’s female workforce as it wants women to play an important role in the future development of the UAE’s aviation industry.
Called the ‘Aspiring Women’s Programme’, the initiative is aimed at female Emirati managers and designed to develop high-performing Emirati women into the company’s future leaders.
Dubai Airports reveals that the nine-month programme will provide Emirati women with leadership coaching, workplace challenges, workshops and support in helping them build up their network of contacts across the organisation and wider airport community.
It will, it says, ultimately lead to a professional certification recognised by the Institute of Leadership and Management.
Ann-Marie Campbell, executive vice president of human resources and development at Dubai Airports, said: “We are delighted to launch our ‘Aspiring Women’ course, and believe this programme will harness the potential of the many dynamic Emirati women in our organisation.
“The passion and commitment of Emirati women who strive to exceed in their professional lives is truly inspirational and is sure to enhance their professional careers and the future of this great country.”
Auckland’s digital transformation
Auckland Airport is to transform itself into a multi-channel marketplace where visitors can buy goods and services online.
The transformation is courtesy of the adoption of AOE’s OM³ or Omnichannel Multi-Merchant Marketplace platform, which multi-retailer venues such as airports can use to digitalise their non-aviation revenues.
It says the move will provide the airport’s customers with a comprehensive and seamless online and offline experience.
AOE will roll out a complex integrated platform for Auckland Airport that integrates their on-airport retailers and provides a fully integrated logistics solution to enable passengers who currently purchase off-airport duty free goods to pick them up at conveniently located collection points at the airport.
It says that the integration of parking, loyalty, lounge access and fast track features will convert Auckland Airport’s vision of the truly connected passenger experience into reality, proving that gateways with less than 20 million passengers can create substantial revenue potentials through digitalisation.
“The new technology will ensure that we deliver one of the most advanced online airport retail experiences in the world and that we can significantly expand the range and type of products and services we offer to our customers,” says airport CEO, Adrian Littlewood.
BNE’s new artist-in-residence is LEGO crazy
Brisbane Airport’s new artist-in-residence, Ben Craig, is an expert in a very popular field… the art of building things with LEGO!
Ironically Craig, aka ‘Ben the Brick Builder’, once failed an art assignment at school because he was told building with LEGO was not an acceptable form of art.
For the next 12 months, as part of the BricksBNE project, Craig will be creating two ‘walls’ of artwork – depicting favourite travel experiences from passengers – entirely from LEGO bricks at Brisbane Airport (BNE).
Anchoring the displays in each wall will be two large scale works by Craig – one showing a day in the life of Brisbane Airport’s International Terminal (with some quirky characters included) and another of a “new aviation wonder”, which is more than a metre in length.
Craig has also promised to host a series of public workshops in and around the airport to share his LEGO-building skills and tips.
He says: “Airports are full of stories, and beyond spending the year bringing together two major passions, aviation and building with LEGO, I am excited to have the opportunity to engage travellers, illustrating their stories and travel experiences with LEGO bricks.”
Craig is BNE’s third artist-in-residence following the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and realist painter, Robert Brownhall.
Shanghai Pudong awards BHS contract to BEUMER
BEUMER Group is to provide the baggage handling system (BHS) for the giant new Satellite Terminal at Shanghai Pudong International Airport.
Set to open in 2019, the complex will be China’s first airport satellite building and one of largest detached terminals in the world, with 83 departure gates and a floor area of 620,000 square metres.
BEUMER was appointed to detail design, supply and install the BHS, which will integrate four Crisplant LS-4000 tilt tray sorters, 21 CrisClaim carousels and approximately eight kilometres of CrisBelt conveyors.
The BHS will provide the Satellite Terminal with the capacity to handle 38 million passengers per year.
“The Satellite Terminal will make Shanghai Pudong one of the three largest airports in the world,” predicted Dai Xiaojian, vice president of Shanghai Airport Authority and executive deputy commander-in-chief of Shanghai Airport Construction Headquarters.
“Total passenger numbers are expected to increase to 60 million passengers in 2017 and 80 million passengers by 2020.”
Speaking at a special contract signing ceremony in Shanghai, BEUMER’s COO, Dr Hermann Brunsen, said: “The new contract demonstrates China’s commitment to meeting the growing demand for air travel.”
