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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 […]

Traveller numbers are on the rise at Hong Kong International Airport, with 3.1 million passengers passing through the gateway in April. The total represents 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 […]

ACI Asia-Pacific today announced the results of its Green Airports Recognition (GAR) Programme 2023, recognising 12 airports in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East for demonstrating outstanding accomplishments in their sustainability projects. During the past decades, our industry has grown exponentially and is expected to continue to do so in the years to come. As air […]

Noida International Airport (NIA) has signed an agreement with Amadeus for the provision of a “world-class” passenger processing system (PPS) including common use check-in, boarding, baggage reconciliation, and DigiYatra-enabled biometric capabilities. Under the agreement, Amadeus will design, supply, commission, operate, and maintain the cloud-hosted end-to-end PPS for Noida International Airport. In line with the terms […]

A host of new carbon reducing initiatives, renewable energy plans and more show that sustainable development continues to be a top priority for the region’s airports, writes Joe Bates. Shanghai airports rewarded for green, energy saving efforts Shanghai’s Pudong and Hongqiao airports have received the top rating in China’s first carbon evaluation of airports. Eight […]

The latest news and views from ACI Asia-Pacific’s World Business partners. Navi Mumbai to utilise ADB Safegate’s cutting edge airfield lighting technology ADB SAFEGATE is to install its Airfield 4.0 lighting technology at Mumbai’s Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). The cutting-edge airfield lighting solution readies the greenfield airfield for Level 4 Advanced Surface Guidance and […]

Virtual queuing is coming to an airport near you soon and could represent the future of waiting at airports, writes Steve Covate. With the notable exception of the COVID caused disruptions, it could be argued that airports – and the airlines and businesses that operate within them – have made giant strides in reducing wait […]

Sunny Yoon, executive director of Incheon International Airport Corporation’s Terminal Operation Group, talks to ACI Asia-Pacific’s Sunil Subbaiah about the South Korean hub’s commitment to delivering a world-class passenger experience. An increasingly competitive market has pushed airports to provide a superior customer experience. As passenger needs rapidly evolve, airports must know their customers’ expectations to […]

Manager for communications and brand marketing, Yuman Lau, rounds-up the latest news and developments from ACI Asia-Pacific. ACI ASIA-PACIFIC REITERATES CALL FOR ADOPTION OF ONE-STOP SECURITY ACI Asia-Pacific participated at the 9th Annual Technical and Operational Meeting (ATOM) of the Cooperative Aviation Security Programme – Asia Pacific (CASP-AP) in Singapore in early February 2023. The […]

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 […]

Perth Airport is looking to partner with a world-class operator for its first hotel development. “A hotel located in the Airport Central precinct has been part of our Master Planning for many years”, reveals Dan Sweet, the Australian gateway’s chief property officer. “We are working towards consolidating all commercial air services to the Airport Central […]

Director general, Stefano Baronci, reflects on the latest traffic trends, the association’s ongoing advocacy efforts and looks forward to the upcoming ACI Asia-Pacific Regional Assembly, Conference and Exhibition in Kobe. It might sound dramatic, but I strongly believe that this year heralds a new dawn for the aviation and tourism industry. After having remained shut […]

The A$110 million expansion of Newcastle Airport’s terminal 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 will be the people […]

Asia-Pacific Airports takes a closer look at a few of the customer experience news stories to have made headlines this year. Established customer service champion, Singapore Changi, has added another innovative attraction to its bow with the opening of a new rock-climbing wall in Terminal 3. Located in the Terminal 3 Basement and managed by […]

We provide a snapshot of some of the latest news stories from across Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. Hyderabad and Queen Alia celebrate birthday milestones Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport and Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport recently celebrated milestone events, the Indian gateway turning 15 years old and the Jordanian gateway toasting the 10th anniversary […]

Nicolas Notebaert, CEO of VINCI Concessions and president of VINCI Airports, tells Joe Bates more about Kobe Airport and plans to develop and grow traffic to the Kansai region. Can you tell our readers a little more about your Japanese airport network? In Osaka, we operate Kansai International Airport (KIX) and Osaka Itami Airport (ITM), […]

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 […]

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 […]

Plaza Premium Group (PPG) has announced the opening of a new lounge in international departures at Adelaide Airport (ADL). The airport’s first and only international lounge, it spans 532sqm and can accommodate up to 137 guests. According to PPG, its bespoke design “incorporates beautiful features of natural stone, marble, granite and travertine, timber, a raked render […]

A total of 29 airports across Asia-Pacific and the Middle East have been recognised for their customer service excellence in ACI’s annual Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards for 2022. 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 […]

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 […]

Airport profile: Kobe Special Report: Sustainability Plus: Surface access, China’s re-opening & Virtual queuing DOWNLOAD THE ISSUE VIEW FROM THE TOP Director general, Stefano Baronci, reflects on the latest traffic trends, the association’s ongoing advocacy efforts and looks forward to the upcoming ACI Asia-Pacific Regional Assembly, Conference and Exhibition in Kobe. INDUSTRY NEWS We provide […]

In a major milestone for Sydney Airport, the Australian hub welcomed its 50th airline with the arrival of Vietjet’s inaugural service from Ho Chi Minh City. 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 morning […]

Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) held on to its lofty position as the busiest cargo airport on the planet in 2022, handling a total of 4.2 million tonnes of cargo during the year, according to ACI World’s annual traffic figures. Operator, Airport Authority Hong Kong, notes that it retained the top position in 2022 despite […]

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 […]

Dubai Airports CEO, Paul Griffiths, says that Dubai International Airport (DXB) will continue to strive for excellence after the gateway’s status as the world’s busiest international airport in 2022 was confirmed by new ACI World data. He notes: “We are obviously quite thrilled to top the list of the world’s busiest international airports for the […]

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 […]

Preliminary February 2023 traffic figures released today by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) showed that international passenger markets continued to expand at a robust pace, buoyed by the strong appetite for travel, in tandem with the Lunar New Year holiday season. Overall, 16.9 million international passengers were carried by Asia Pacific airlines in […]

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 […]

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 […]

Between them, 64 airports from Asia-Pacific and the Middle East have reduced their carbon emissions by 162,623 tonnes (Scope 1 & 2), according to ACI’s Airport Carbon Accreditation Annual Report for 2021-2022. This is equivalent to the CO2 emitted during the production of close to 24 million cotton t-shirts. ACI Asia-Pacific’s director general, Stefano Baronci, […]

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 […]

ACI World, in partnership with travel technology company Amadeus, today announced the winners of this year’s Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards, recognising the best airports for customer experience worldwide, as selected by passengers. A total of 28 Airports from Asia-Pacific and the Middle East were recognised for 2022. Nine Indonesian Airports were recognised for ASQ […]

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 […]

HKIA Consultancy Limited (HKIA Consultancy) and U-Tapao International Aviation Company Limited (UTA) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding collaboration on the U-Tapao International Airport and Eastern Airport City Development Project near Bangkok. Under the MoU’s framework, HKIA Consultancy will advise UTA on matters related to airport planning, operations, smart technology and commercial development. […]

Hamad International Airport (DOH) has demonstrated its green credentials by successfully renewing its Level 3 ‘Optimisation’ status in ACI Airport Carbon Accreditation programme. 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 […]

Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) today signed a Cooperation Framework Agreement (CFA) with Dongguan Municipal People’s Government to deepen collaboration in facilitating intermodal cargo transhipments for the Greater Bay Area (GBA). The CFA was signed by Lyu Chengxi, Mayor of Dongguan, and Fred Lam, CEO of AAHK, with witnesses that included AAHK chairman, Jack So. […]

Newcastle Airport in Australia will welcome more direct flights to Cairns this year after Jetstar announced its decision to up its frequency on the route. Airport CEO, Dr Peter Cock, welcomed the announcement, saying it’s more good news for the region. “We are thrilled to once again partner with Jetstar and Cairns Airport for a […]

A total of 15.9 million passengers used Abu Dhabi’s five airports in 2022 – more than 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, […]

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 […]

Sime Darby Motors Australia is moving into the newest 9,450sqm warehouse and distribution facility at Brisbane Airport’s thriving Export Park. Martin Ryan, Brisbane Airport Corporation’s executive general manager for commercial, noted: “Our attraction of this global business demonstrates our unrivalled offering for industrial companies, with unparalleled transport connections and access to 24/7 operations. “With Brisbane […]

Airport International Group (AIG), operator of Jordan’s Queen Alia International Airport, reports that the Amman gateway “recorded noteworthy achievements in terms of traffic growth, global connectivity, decarbonisation and customer experience” during 2022. While its traffic figures have yet to reach pre-COVID levels, Queen Alia noted improvements last year – welcoming 7.8 million passengers – 72% […]

In an expansion of capacity between Europe and Brisbane, Emirates has announced that it will move to double-daily flights between Dubai (DXB) and BNE, increasing the number of tourists flying into Queensland. It currently operates a daily A380 service to Brisbane. From June, this will be joined by an additional daily B777-300ER with 354 seats. […]

The latest news and views from ACI Asia-Pacific’s World Business partners. RECORD BREAKING CONTRACT FOR ADB SAFEGATE AUSTRALIA ADB SAFEGATE Australia has won the largest airfield lighting contract in its history and as a result is set to deliver its latest Airfield 4.0 technology to Western Sydney International Airport (WSI). The greenfield airport, which is […]

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 […]

David Whitely from FTI Consulting explains why environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues should be a top priority for the region’s airports and aviation leaders. As we see a greater focus on the role of business in confronting broader societal issues, there is now a stronger imperative for airports to develop and adopt a more […]

John Brash, founder of global branding agency, Brash, explains why he believes that the rebranding of Abu Dhabi Airports is an ode to the future of aviation. It’s no secret that the aviation sector has been beset by challenges since the outbreak of the global pandemic. However, as with any challenge, comes great opportunity. This […]

We shine the spotlight on a handful of exciting ongoing or recently announced development projects across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. NEW RIYADH MEGA HUB AND AEROTROPOLIS Saudi Arabia has unveiled plans for a new mega hub for Riyadh which will be called King Salman International Airport. According to the master plan, King Salman International […]

Welcoming China’s decision to re-open border with quarantine-free travel, ACI Asia-Pacific reiterated its calls for consistent and harmonised approach from governments in response measures towards managing inbound travel. Commenting on the development, ACI Asia-Pacific’s director general, Stefano Baronci, said: “China has played a dominating role in the region’s economy and is anticipated to be one […]

From sharing industry insights at regional events to making significant decisions at its Board Meeting, ACI Asia-Pacific has had a successful quarter. ACI ASIA-PACIFIC APPOINTS THREE NEW MEMBERS TO REGIONAL BOARD ACI Asia-Pacific is pleased to announce that it appointed three new Board members during the recent 34th Board Meeting in Muscat, hosted by Oman […]

Tan Lye Teck, Changi Airport Group’s executive vice president for airport management, brings Joe Bates up to speed on how his gateway has fared in 2022 and explains why Singapore Changi is looking to the future with optimism. AS WE NEAR THE END OF 2022, WHERE WOULD YOU SAY SINGAPORE CHANGI IS IN TERMS OF […]

BRISBANE AIRPORT CONSIDERS BUILDING A NEW TERMINAL 3 Brisbane Airport is consulting with its airline partners about the possibility of a future Terminal 3 as it looks at the best way of handling a projected 50 million passengers annually through its terminals by 2040. “We are running out of terminal capacity and we’re looking at […]

ACI Asia-Pacific director regional, Stefano Baronci, reflects on a busy and successful end to 2022. A decade of negotiations has finally concluded with ICAO member states committing to support net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 as the long-term aspirational goal (LTAG). This is a landmark decision to make our industry more sustainable, and the commitment from […]

Airport profile: Singapore Changi Big plans: Airport projects in Saudi Arabia Plus: Abu Dhabi Airports’ new brand, ESG & WBP news DOWNLOAD THE ISSUE VIEW FROM THE TOP ACI Asia-Pacific director regional, Stefano Baronci, reflects on a busy and successful end to 2022. INDUSTRY NEWS We provide a snapshot of some of the latest news […]

Christchurch Airport  has announced that Justin Watson will succeed the departing Malcolm Johns as its chief executive on January 1, 2023. Watson, currently the airport’s chief aeronautical and commercial officer, was considered the best fit for the role after what the gateway called “months of extensive search” for a new leader. Indeed, director and chair […]

Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) has entered into an historic six-year agreement to secure power that is linked to renewable energy from Queensland’s Clarke Creek Wind Farm & Blue Grass Solar projects as part of its commitment to be net zero for scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2025. BAC is the first customer to sign […]

Sydney Airport’s new luxury precinct is now home to Louis Vuitton’s first retail travel store in the southern hemisphere, as well as Gentle Monster’s first store in the region. The brand’s largest stand-alone travel retail store in the world offers a broad selection of premium women’s and men’s ready-to-wear, shoes, leather goods, accessories, watches, jewellery […]

Port Hedland International Airport, based in a remote area of Western Australia and in the midst of a terminal redevelopment programme, has become one of the first regional airports in the Antipodes to embrace the cloud for common-use check-in and boarding systems. The airport expects that turning to the cloud will give it an edge […]

Fortnum & Mason, an upmarket department store from the UK, has partnered with Lagardère Travel Retail to open its first travel retail location in Asia in the East Hall luxury zone at Hong Kong International Airport. The 46 square metre store offers a wide assortment of the brand’s most in-demand teas, biscuit, chocolates, tea accessories, […]

Hamad International Airport (HIA) continues to host a number of exciting activations and events for passengers travelling through the airport and beyond during the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The events at Doha’s gateway to the world include match day themed performances, a mosaic photo wall, a number of kids’ zones, fan zones and viewing […]

Saudi Arabia today unveiled plans for a new mega hub for Riyadh which will be called King Salman International Airport. According to the master plan, King Salman International Airport will boost Riyadh’s position as a global logistics hub and stimulate transport, trade and tourism. It is expected to accommodate up to 185 million passengers and […]

Abu Dhabi Airports today released its passenger traffic results for the third quarter of 2022, which show that 4.7 million passengers passed through its gateways during the period from July 1 to September 30. The total, handled across Abu Dhabi International Airport and the smaller gateways of Al Ain International, Al Bateen Executive, Delma Island […]

In spite of the global macroeconomic headwinds and geopolitical instability, the aviation industry has maintained its consistent recovery providing a positive outlook for the year ahead, according to the ACI Asia-Pacific’s Airport Industry Outlook, a quarterly assessment of the airports’ performances. The Airport Industry Outlook for Quarter 3 2022 (July to September), developed in partnership […]

In collaboration with the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA), Emirates airline is now offering international travellers the opportunity to speed up their airport experience by consenting to the use of biometric data. The first agreement of its kind globally, the strategic partnership between GDRFA and Emirates is a co-operative effort […]

Despite being less than a decade old, Hamad International Airport today officially unveiled its airport expansion project to the world. The Qatari gateway believes the expansion, which includes what it calls a “masterpiece garden at the centre of the airport”, will enrich the passenger experience and transform the airport into an “extraordinary destination where any […]

The 2022 Bahrain International Airshow (BIAS) is underway at the Sakhir Air Base after being officially opened by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and Prime Minister. Celebrating a decade of distinction, Bahrain’s sixth air show is said to be offering an exciting programme of new features, industry-leading […]

Red Sea Global (RSG), the developer behind Saudi Arabia’s new Red Sea International Airport and AMAALA resort, has appointed Reem Emirates Saudi to construct the façade and roof shell of the new gateway and its landside facilities. The airport will be operated by daa International, the international subsidiary of Irish airport operator, daa, which recently […]

Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (BLR) today announced that it is back at pre-COVID passenger levels owing to the high traffic numbers recorded in its current financial year. Displaying the ongoing momentum of passenger recovery, passenger traffic volumes at BLR registered over 102% growth in domestic travel and about 85% growth in international travel in […]

The latest news from ACI’s Asia-Pacific and global World Business Partners. HIGH FASHION AT SYDNEY AIRPORT Sydney Airport is reinvigorating the luxury retail precinct in its T1 International terminal with the arrival of some of the most sought-after brands showcased in a new-look 2,700sqm streetscape. Joining Sydney Airport for the first time are Balenciaga, Bottega […]

Etihad Cargo in partnership with Abu Dhabi Airports is preparing to launch a new state-of-the-art pharmaceutical cool chain facility at Abu Dhabi International Airport. Etihad Cargo’s customers will benefit from the carrier’s expanded International Air Transport Association (IATA) Center of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) Pharma certification for pharmaceutical and life science logistics and provision […]

Hong Kong International Airport’s impressive Sky Bridge opened today, allowing passengers to conveniently travel between Terminal 1 and its Satellite Concourse (T1S). The latest addition to the airport’s infrastructure is 200-metres long and 28-metres high and equipped with escalators and automated walkways. Spanning a taxiway at the airport, Sky Bridge is the world’s longest airside […]

Asia-Pacific Airports takes a closer look at a handful of key infrastructure development projects making headlines across the region. Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport’s new Terminal 3B Construction of Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport’s $3.5 billion Terminal 3B and fourth runway are said to be going well, with the new terminal seemingly on target to be completed […]

Kansai International Airport, operated since 2016 by VINCI Airports with its partner ORIX, has inaugurated a new domestic area in Terminal 1. According to the airport, the first completed stage of planned remodelling work is designed to improve the passenger experience due to the “introduction of more functional commercial spaces redesigned around new shops and […]

Abu Dhabi Airports today unveiled its refreshed brand architecture and visual identity, which the operator of Abu Dhabi’s five airports believes reaffirms its commitment to developing the aviation sector in the UAE’s capital. According to Abu Dhabi Airports, the “refreshed brand architecture, unifying the visual identity of Abu Dhabi Airports and its subsidiaries, draws inspiration […]

Christchurch Airport has become the latest gateway to embrace the Sunflower Lanyard scheme, a programme for people who would like a little more assistance without having to ask for it. The lanyards are used by people with a non-visible disability to indicate the wearer would like additional support, assistance or a little more time. Those […]

MXD Development Strategists’ Chris LeTourneur outlines what we can expect from Jeddah Airport City and explains why he believes it represents the potential future of airport centric development. Jeddah Airport City at King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) is arguably taking airport-centric development to a new level, enhancing the western gateway to the Kingdom of Saudi […]

Airport International Group’s Rula Dawood charts Queen Alia International Airport’s pioneering decarbonisation journey in ACI’s Airport CarbonAccreditation programme. A few years after being awarded the 25-year concession to manage the rehabilitation, expansion and operation of Queen Alia International Airport in Jordan, Airport International Group (AIG) commenced the airport’s decarbonisation journey. From the outset it was […]

From making recommendations at the ICAO DGCA Conference and meeting regulators in India to engaging with the Japanese government, ACI Asia-Pacific has been busy engaging with stakeholders and policymakers across the region. MAKING AN IMPRESSION AT ICAO DGCA CONFERENCE Participating at the ICAO DGCA Conference in Incheon, Republic of Korea, ACI Asia-Pacific made a strong […]

Christchurch Airport in New Zealand and Hamburg Airport in Germany, two airports on the opposite sides of the earth, have announced that that they will pursue their ambitious climate goals together in the future. The airports have liaised with each other for some time as each has taken a pioneering role in aviation’s decarbonisation journey […]

Director general, Stefano Baronci, reflects on some of the operational, financial and manpower challenges facing the region’s airports and provides an overview on ACI Asia-Pacific’s latest advocacy efforts. A sense of normalcy seems to have been restored to the aviation sector in the last few months following the withdrawal of health measures and inbound travel […]

Brisbane Airport’s Lost Property Auction is back with a record number of valuable items, allowing the public to grab a bargain as well as own some unique pieces of aviation history. 500 lots are up for sale, with online bidding closing on Sunday, November 6. Around 60,000 people per day pass through the Domestic and […]

VINCI AIRPORTS AWARDED CONCESSION FOR FAA’A AIRPORT VINCI Airports will operate Faa’a International Airport in Tahiti for the next 40 years after being awarded the concession to develop it by the French government. The main airport and gateway to French Polynesia, Faa’a International Airport – also known as Tahiti International Airport – welcomed 1.5 million […]

The Middle East, sustainability and traffic recovery are among the main focuses of ACI Asia-Pacific’s new president, Emmanuel Menanteau, writes Sunil Subbaiah. Newly appointed ACI Asia-Pacific president, Emmanuel Menanteau, is a well known face in the region, having gained substantial experience working across Asia over the last two decades. Indeed, his assignments to date have […]

The relaxation of travel restrictions and successful COVID vaccination programmes in many parts of Asia-Pacific and the Middle East has led to a cautious sense of optimism for the aviation sector. It feels like the post pandemic recovery of airports in Asia-Pacific and Middle East is finally beginning to gather some pace, with passenger traffic, […]

ACI World has published its tenth quarterly assessment analysing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, its effects on airports, and the path to recovery. More than two years since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic, a certain “normality” has started to emerge thanks to a historic vaccination effort which […]

ACI Asia-Pacific has welcomed the commitment by ICAO States to adopt a Long Term Aspirational Goal for civil aviation to reach net zero emission by 2050. Director general, Stefano Baronci, said: “As a voice of 127 airport members, operating 618 airports across 46 countries, ACI Asia-Pacific welcomes governments’ support to adopt the 2050 Net-Zero Carbon goal […]

Interviewed: ACI Asia-Pacific president, Emmanuel Menanteau Special report: Queen Alia’s sustainability journey Plus: ACI Asia-Pacific, Regional and WBP news DOWNLOAD THE ISSUE VIEW FROM THE TOP Director general, Stefano Baronci, reflects on some of the operational, financial and manpower challenges facing the region’s airports and provides an overview on ACI Asia-Pacific’s latest advocacy efforts. INDUSTRY […]

Preliminary August 2022 traffic figures released today by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) showed robust recovery in international air passenger markets as pent-up travel demand continued to drive growth, despite increasingly challenging global economic conditions. In August, the region’s airlines carried a combined 13.1 million international passengers, compared to just 1.4 million recorded […]

On the eve of ICAO’s 41st Triennial Assembly, Airports Council International (ACI) is calling on States to adopt an ambitious environmental agreement. ACI World director general, Luis Felipe de Oliveira, said: “The adoption of an ambitious environmental agreement at the ICAO 41st Triennial Assembly fully aligned with the Paris Agreement and the aviation industry’s own […]

China’s tougher border measures and Japan’s cautious approach towards relaxation of inbound travel restrictions could displace Asia-Pacific as the world’s largest air passenger market for the year 2022. Asia-Pacific which has dominated the civil aviation market for several years prior to the pandemic, is estimated to finish second, behind Europe in terms of passenger share, […]

Australian national flag carrier, Qantas, today launched a new route to Bengaluru (BLR) from Sydney (SYD), providing the first direct air connection between Southern India and Australia. QF68 will cut nearly three hours off of the current fastest travel time between the two cities and significantly boost connectivity between India and New South Wales. Since […]

More than one million people will pass through Brisbane Airport in the two weeks of the upcoming school holidays, as travellers make the most of the spring break. The peak times in the Domestic Terminal (6am-9am and 5pm-7pm) will be at 100% of pre-COVID levels during the holiday period, with around 57,000 people passing through […]

New Zealand’s Christchurch Airport has announced that its chief executive, Malcolm Johns, is to leave in 2023 after after nine years at the helm. Board chair, Catherine Drayton, said: “The Board and executive have worked closely to build a strong team and company over the past decade, as the airport has navigated a number of […]

Doha’s Hamad International Airport has opened a second airport hotel inside its terminal. The airport says that the Oryx Garden Hotel, which is located in the North Plaza, is “one of many new experiences” that are part of an airport expansion project due for completion ahead of Qatar hosting the FIFA World Cup later this […]

TGI Fridays has launched its first airport branch in the Middle East at Bahrain International Airport (BIA). Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) CEO, Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah, attended the opening ceremony alongside other officials. Offering an open kitchen concept and contemporary décor, the restaurant can accommodate 118 guests at any one time. Alongside a wide selection […]

H.E. Jamal Salem Al Dhaheri is the new managing director and CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports, his brief being to “continue the journey of success” achieved by predecessor, Shareef Hashim Al Hashmi. According to Abu Dhabi Airports, the appointment is in line with the next phase of its development as it continues to transform and […]

Australia’s Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King, has launched Australia’s first all-electric refuelling vehicle during her first official visit to Brisbane Airport (BNE). Operated by Air bp, the vehicle was developed in Australia, and is the first all-electric hazardous goods vehicle and refueller approved for use in this country. “Its […]

Abu Dhabi Airports has reported “healthy figures for passenger traffic”, revealing that it handled 6.2 million passengers across Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Al Bateen Executive, Delma and Sir Bani Yas Island airports in the first half of 2022. CEO, Shareef Hashim Al Hashmi, said: “Our passenger traffic results for this year’s first half represent another stride […]

Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) has welcomed today’s release of the Trax International report commissioned by Airservices Australia. “Brisbane Airport wants to minimise the impact on our neighbouring communities. We welcome this independent report and look forward to working with all partners including airlines to reduce noise for residents,” said BAC CEO, Gert-Jan de Graaff. BAC […]

A steady surge of growth throughout the second quarter has propelled Dubai International’s (DXB) half yearly traffic to 27.9 million passengers, just 1.2 million shy of the airport’s total annual traffic last year. DXB achieved the milestone despite a significant reduction in capacity resulting from the 45-day closure of its northern runway in May-June for […]

Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) welcomed 401,000 passengers in July, 2022, a colossal 259.3% increase over the same period last year, although passenger volumes remain significantly down on pre-pandemic levels. Cargo throughput and air traffic movements recorded 17% and 3.1% year-on-year drops to 348,000 tonnes and 11,485 movements, respectively. The relaxation of inbound travel and […]

Bengaluru Kempegowda operator, BIAL, today announced an open call inviting artists and art groups to submit proposals for a 20-metre high “monumental sculpture” at the forest belt area in Terminal 2. The Art Programme in Terminal 2 will apparently mirror two themes – Karnataka’s rich heritage and culture and Naurasa – the nine emotions highlighted […]

There has been cautious sense of optimism for the aviation sector following the relaxation of travel restrictions and successful vaccination programmes in many parts of Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, according to the latest figures released today by ACI Asia-Pacific. The second edition of its Industry Outlook for the second quarter of 2022 (April to […]

The latest news from ACI’s Asia-Pacific and global World Business Partners. AIRBIZ WORKS ON PROJECT TO EXPAND GOLD COAST TERMINAL Airbiz says that it is proud to have had the opportunity to work with Queensland Airports Limited (QAL) on a project to increase the size of the Gold Coast Airport terminal to three levels, with […]

Carlos Kaduoka, SITA’s head of business strategy for airports, considers how new technology will play a key role in helping airports respond to the demands for a greener industry. The travel recovery is well underway. As the summer travel season approaches, airlines and airports have been caught off guard by the speed of recovery. Airports […]

Fluent Commerce’s senior vice president of global sales, Rob Shaw, suggests some potential solutions to create a seamless airport shopping experience. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the globe in ways that could not have been predicted – hitting the travel industry especially hard.  And it goes without saying that the lack of travellers has had a […]

Senior manager for media and communications, Sunil Subbaiah, rounds-up the latest news and developments from ACI Asia-Pacific. GREEN AIRPORTS RECOGNITION WINNERS ACI Asia-Pacific continued to be vocal and active in promoting airport sustainability at different levels. This year, ACI Asia-Pacific recognised twelve airports in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East for their outstanding achievements in carbon […]

ACI is calling for the upcoming ICAO meeting in Montréal to reach an agreement on a long-term aspirational goal for CO2 emissions reductions, aligned with the Paris Agreement 1.5°C goal and the industry objective of net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The meeting, due to take place at ICAO’s headquarters next week, will examine the […]

As borders begin to re-open, is it time for APAC airports to reconsider how they will look and digitally interact with passengers in the future? Amadeus’ senior vice president of airport and airline operations for the region, Sarah Samuel, investigates. When the pandemic emerged in 2019, Asia-Pacific was the first to feel its impact. And […]

Director general, Stefano Baronci, reflects on the appointment of a new Regional Board president, the need to focus on decarbonisation, plans for a Middle East office and ACI Asia-Pacific’s advocacy efforts during the first half of 2022. In many ways, the summer of 2022 sparked a fresh lease of life for the aviation industry. COVID-19 […]

ACI Asia-Pacific has called for flexible regulatory policies, innovative procedures, greater efficiency and a better passenger experience as part of its long-term approach to help airports make a sustainable recovery. At the ICAO’s 57th Conference of Directors General of Civil Aviation for Asia and Pacific Regions in Incheon, South Korea, ACI Asia-Pacific made a number […]

Operation familiarisation for flights on Hong Kong International Airport’s new North Runway started today. At 08.24, a Government Flying Service plane landed as the first flight taking part in the familiarisation on the Third Runway, followed by the first commercial flight, a cargo flight from Shanghai Pudong, touching down at 08.27. Final preparation for operation […]

Kyung Wook Kim, president and CEO of long-time ASQ champion, Incheon International Airport, tells Joe Bates more about his gateway’s customer service focus and ambitions. WHY DO YOU TAKE GOOD CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE SO SERIOUSLY? Because customer feedback touches on many different areas and sheds light on what we have to do to do even better.  […]

Hosted by Changi Airport Group, the 17th ACI Asia-Pacific Board Meeting & Regional Assembly held in Singapore from May 16-18, 2022, proved to be a productive and highly successful event, writes senior manager for media and communications, Sunil Subbaiah. Though scaled down significantly and different from our usual annual gatherings, the event saw an overwhelming […]

Dato’ Iskandar Mizal Mahmood, managing director of Malaysia Airports, talks to Joe Bates about his company’s customer service strategy, ASQ successes and recovering from the global pandemic. Anyone who has ever visited Malaysia, particularly those lucky enough to have been on holiday there, will know that they can expect a warm welcome and, more often […]

Singapore’s gateway to the world has stepped up the promotion of its Changi Precinct, which it hopes will prove a big hit with passengers wishing to explore and have fun as traffic numbers begin to rise again after the global pandemic. The new ‘Hello, Changi Precinct’ gallery in Terminal 3 is essentially designed to drive […]

New ACI data reveals ‘green shoots of recovery’ for airports in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. The aviation industry in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East is experiencing green shoots of recovery, according to the first edition of Airport Industry Outlook, a new quarterly report by ACI Asia-Pacific. The report, developed in partnership with Mott MacDonald, […]

Christchurch Airport has never lost sight of its sustainability goals and is now arguably the greenest gateway on the planet, writes Joe Bates. Christchurch Airport has set a new sustainability milestone by going beyond being carbon neutral and becoming climate positive. Its general manager for planning and sustainability, Nick Flack, believes the move is an […]

Airport profile: Christchurch Special report: ACI Asia-Pacific Board Meeting & Regional Assembly Plus: Investing in Sustainability & Green Shoots of Recovery DOWNLOAD THE ISSUE VIEW FROM THE TOP Director general, Stefano Baronci, reflects on the appointment of a new Regional Board president, the need to focus on decarbonisation, plans for a Middle East office and […]

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has resumed passenger flights between Abu Dhabi and Beijing. Etihad Airways inaugural flight EY888 landed in Beijing this morning at 05:25 (local time), becoming the first regular direct international passenger service to return to Beijing under the latest mandate of the Joint Prevention and […]

Preliminary May 2022 traffic figures released today by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) showed international air passenger demand strengthened markedly amidst the lifting of travel restrictions that unleashed a robust return of travellers since the pandemic. For the month, the number of international passengers carried by Asia Pacific airlines increased more than five-fold […]

Air Transport Action Group’s executive director, Haldane Dodd, today urged Asia-Pacific’s governments to work together with colleagues from around the world to adopt a long-term climate goal at the upcoming International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Assembly. Dodd, outlining the importance of coming to an agreement at the United Nations level on a long-term climate goal […]

Bechtel Engineering and Construction India Private Limited has signed a contract to support Tata Projects in its delivery of Delhi’s new Noida International Airport. Tata Projects’ work includes constructing the terminal, runways and airside infrastructure roads, utilities, landside facilities and other ancillary buildings for an opening capacity of 12 million passengers annually by 2024. Tata […]

Jordan’s Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) today welcomed its first flight from Saudi Arabian low-cost carrier, flyadeal, which will operate daily direct services between Amman and Jeddah and Riyadh. The Amman gateway says the new service underscores ongoing efforts to expand its airline and destination networks, while offering passengers diverse, affordable travel options. The inaugural […]

Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) has welcomed today’s announcement by Minister for Health Y’vette D’Ath that Queensland will end requirements for face masks to be worn within airports at all times. The decision comes after moves by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee to end the mandatory requirement. “The Queensland government’s decision to end the mask […]

Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport has introduced a new first for India, AI-driven, assistance robots designed enhance passenger experience. Currently at the trial stage, 10 robots have been deployed to help guide passengers through the airport and answer basic queries. It notes that the robot count will be increased in a “calibrated manner” and will be […]

Global air cargo logistics provider, Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), has been awarded a 15-year license to operate its first cargo handing operation in India at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (BLR). As a result of the agreement with Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), from May 2023, WFS will be responsibible for the development, operation, management and […]

Preliminary April 2022 traffic figures released today by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) showed a healthy increase in international passenger demand, as the progressive relaxation of border restrictions across the region stimulated business and leisure travel. Overall, Asia-Pacific airlines recorded a 272.9% jump in the number of international passengers carried (a total of […]

Neste and ITOCHU are celebrating the first delivery its sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to Etihad Airways at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport. The delivery to Etihad marks the first time in Japan that SAF will be supplied to an overseas airline at an airport in Japan. This milestone is a result of the recently expanded partnership […]

Asia-Pacific and the Middle East aviation industry is experiencing green shoots of recovery, according to the first edition of the Airport Industry Outlook, a quarterly report by Airports Council International Asia-Pacific (ACI APAC). The report, developed in partnership with Mott MacDonald — a global engineering, management and development consultancy— provides a snapshot of how airports […]

Queen Alia International Airport welcomed 1.83 million passengers during the first four months of 2022, 204.8% more than during the corresponding period a year ago. The Jordanian gateway also enjoyed an 126.6% increase in aircraft movements and 31.4% rise in cargo volumes compared to 2021. Queen Alia operator, Airport International Group (AIG), however, notes that […]

Changi Airport Group today announced that operations in Terminal 2 will resume on 29 May 2022, the first phase of the terminal’s re-opening as the gateway prepares to meet the expected increase in passenger traffic in the months ahead. Closed for an upgrade since May 2020, T2’s phased re-opening will augment Changi’s capacity. When completed […]

Emmanuel Menanteau will become the new president of ACI Asia-Pacific on June 1, succeeding Changi Airport Group CEO, Seow Hiang Lee, whose time in the hot-seat has come to an end. Menanteau – Cambodia Airports’ CEO and VINCI Airports’ area director for the USA, Europe and South East Asia – is a familiar face at […]

Construction of Changi’s planned Terminal 5 is set to resume in two or three years’ time, ensuring that it is operational by the mid-2030s, according to Singapore’s Transport Minister, S. Iswaran. Work on the project was halted in May 2020 when the global COVID-19 pandemic began to bite in Singapore, and passenger numbers at the […]

Perth Airport says that returning passengers will notice ‘some changes’ in its International terminal that it believes will further enhance the passenger experience. “To streamline passenger check-in, an exciting new addition is the conversion of 16 check-in counters at T1 International into automated bag drops and 36 new self-check-in kiosks in what was the queuing […]

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has announced a Harmonising Air Travel policy, which it says will make international travel to the Kingdom “simpler, easier and more enjoyable by removing the confusion over travel requirements currently discouraging millions of people from booking flights”. Designed in co-operation with the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organisation […]

Qantas has announced that it will relaunch services between Perth and London, in the UK, from May 23. For the two years following its launch in March 2018, the Qantas non-stop service between Perth and London was one of the airline’s most popular and profitable routes. Perth Airport CEO Kevin Brown said it was exciting […]

The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) today released its preliminary traffic figures for March 2022 traffic which show  improved growth in international passenger demand as more Asian economies eased travel restrictions after two years of lockdowns and strict border control measures. The number of international passengers carried by the region’s airlines almost tripled to […]

Despite challenging circumstances due to multiple waves of COVID, Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) recorded its highest-ever cargo volumes in its last financial year (FY2022). The gateway reports that it handled an all-time high tonnage of 411,513 tonnes of cargo, recording a growth of 26% as against 326,643M processed in FY2021. International cargo recorded a […]

Christchurch Airport has achieved a new milestone for the aviation industry by becoming the world’s first climate positive gateway. Its general manager for planning and sustainability, Nick Flack, believes that the move makes his gateway a global leader in the transition of airports and aviation to a lower carbon future. “Achieving this next level in […]

Brisbane Airport (BNE) is planning to deliver a A$72 million Queensland Regional Aeromedical Base that will connect more Queenslanders to major hospitals and life-saving medical care. The 14,470sqm multi-tenanted facility will be located between Brisbane Airport’s two runways at the Airport North Precinct and will accommodate the Royal Flying Doctors Service (RFDS), LifeFlight, and Queensland Health facilities. […]

Queenstown Airport in New Zealand is gearing up for the school holiday period with two busy long weekends expected. Over Easter weekend, between Thursday April, 17 and Monday 21 April, there will be 175 flights (arrivals and departures) with 21,000 passengers anticipated to pass through the terminal. The following Friday, April 22, to Monday, April […]

Plaza Premium Group (PPG) has entered into a joint venture agreement with fellow airport hospitality brand, marhaba, to expand their international offering. The partnership brings together two major hospitality brands to combine knowledge and resources, which according to the partners, “will take airport hospitality to the next level through excellent and innovative airport concierge and […]

Airport Authority Hong Kong is determined to take the lead in integrating carbon management, sustainable best practices and green design across the airport campus, writes general manager for sustainability, Peter Lee. Climate change has become one of the most pressing global issues in recent years and there has been increasing public concern over the aviation […]

Getting smart about rate-making and the management of existing infrastructure and resources can help airports recover from the global pandemic, writes Veovo’s marketing manager, Siobhan Boyle. As the aviation market moves into recovery, many airport operators are re-evaluating the value of long-term exclusive gate and terminal lease models. Common use terminals, where airports manage gates […]

The latest news from ACI’s Asia-Pacific and global World Business Partners. NEW PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY FOR NEPALESE GATEWAYS The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal has selected Collins Aerospace to provide passenger processing and baggage systems at Nepal’s Tribhuvan (KTM), Gautam Buddha (BWA) and Pokhara (PKR) international airports. According to Collins, its solutions will help the airports […]

Asia-Pacific Airports magazine takes a closer look at a handful of the sustainability stories making headlines across the region in early 2022. QUEEN ALIA DEMONSTRATES GREEN CREDENTIALS Despite another challenging year for the global air travel industry, Jordan’s Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) says that it marked a number of significant milestones in 2021, one […]

Sho Kataoka, manager of NAA’s Airport Sustainability Office, explains why Tokyo Narita has introduced an even more focused and ambitious sustainability plan. The global COVID-19 pandemic has led to extremely tough times for Narita International Airport, with significant suspension and reduction of passenger flights due to travel restrictions for the last two years.  In addition, the […]

Head of communications and events, Jeannie Wong, rounds-up the latest news and developments from ACI Asia-Pacific. SINGAPORE TO HOST 17TH ACI ASIA-PACIFIC REGIONAL ASSEMBLY After a two year hiatus, ACI Asia-Pacific will hold its first in-person gathering since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic on May 18, 2022, when Changi Airport Group hosts the 17th […]

Being one of the world’s most environment friendly and sustainable gateways is a top priority for Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, writes CEO, Videh Kumar Jaipuriar. Airports have always been in the spotlight when it comes to their impact on the environment and the steps taken by them to operate in a sustainable manner, and […]

CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CHAMPIONS  Thirty two airports from Asia-Pacific and the Middle East have won 2021 Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards, which celebrate and showcase the world’s best airports as voiced by travellers. Twenty six awards were shared across eight ‘Best by Size and Region’ categories, and included Indonesia’s Pattimura (AMQ) and Sultan Thaha Syaifuddin (DJB) […]

Hamad International Airport’s chief operating officer, Badr Mohammed Al Meer, tells Joe Bates more about the latest traffic trends, IT innovation and expansion plans of Qatar’s gateway to the world. DOHA’S ANNUAL THROUGHPUT SOARED FROM 12.3 MILLION PASSENGERS IN 2008 TO 38.7 MILLION IN 2019 MAKING IT ONE OF THE WORLD’S FASTEST GROWING AIRPORTS. WHAT […]

ACI Asia-Pacific director general, Stefano Baronci, reflects on a new joint initiative with the Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association, a successful trip to the Middle East and changes to the Regional Board. It is fair to say that the first quarter of 2022 didn’t quite turn out the way we had hoped or expected, with […]

Airport profile: Doha’s Hamad International Airport Special report: Resource management Plus: ACI Asia-Pacific, Regional & WBP news DOWNLOAD THE ISSUE   VIEW FROM THE TOP ACI Asia-Pacific director general, Stefano Baronci, reflects on a new joint initiative with the Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association, a successful trip to the Middle East and changes to the […]

Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport today revealed that it is working with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to establish a Joint Innovation Centre (JIC) that it hopes will drive the development and adoption of digital solutions in aviation. According to Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), the JIC will also enable start-ups to accelerate innovation in aviation, smart […]

Global airport operator, Fraport AG, has announced its intention to sell its 24.5% stake in China’s Xi’an Xianyang International Airport. Fraport, which earlier this month announced plans to divest itself of its shares in St Petersburg’s Polkovo Airport following Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine, has agreed to sell its shares in Xi’an Xianyang to Chang’an […]

ACI Asia-Pacific and the Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association (APTRA) are urging governments and policymakers to enact a simpler, harmonised approach for travel health checks and regulations to encourage passenger confidence to fly again as borders progressively reopen. The warning comes as both organisations fear that Asia-Pacific’s air travel industry is losing its competitiveness and […]

Bahrain International Airport (BIA) showed its commitment to environmental sustainability yesterday as it celebrated this year’s Earth Hour by dimming or switching off all non-essential lights across the gateway. Earth Hour is an annual worldwide movement organised by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah, CEO of Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), […]

Global airport operators Groupe ADP and GMR Airports today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus, Axens and Safranto to conduct a joint study on Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) and their potential in India. The objective of the study, conducted under the lead and co-ordination of Groupe ADP and GMR Airports, is to understand […]

Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) has warmly welcomed Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s A$60 million boost to attract international visitors back to Australia, noting that every international aircraft arriving in Brisbane brings up to A$1 million worth of economic activity for the country. This funding boost, it states, will encourage travellers to ‘bring back the bucket list’ […]

Emirates SkyCargo is to “reactivate” its cargo hub at Dubai World Central (DWC) for dedicated freighter aircraft operations from March 26, 2022. The move to reinstate operation at Emirates SkyCentral DWC will mark a return to dual hub cargo operations in Dubai for the air cargo carrier after a period of nearly two years. In […]

Malaysia Airports (MAHB) has revealed that its international airports are “getting ready to receive the influx of international passengers into the country” once its borders reopen on April 1, 2022. It notes that it has been continuously working with the Malaysian authorities, including the Ministry of Health (MOH), to improve the process flow at its […]

Brisbane Airport (BNE) has welcomed Emirates’ A380 back to Queensland’s skies for the first time in nearly three years, with the iconic superjumbo returning to the gateway last night. Emirates’ A380 will resume daily services between BNE and Dubai (DXB), replacing the airline’s other wide-body aircraft that serviced the route throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the […]

Lagardère Travel Retail opened two new stores at Melbourne Airport this week – a LEGO store and Tech2Go outlet. Located in Terminal 4, the new LEGO store is expected to prove popular with both kids and their parents, while the Tech2Go  is said to be the “go-to place for customers seeking out new and exciting […]

Melbourne Airport (MEL) today welcomed back international tourists from around the globe to Victoria for the first time in almost two years. This morning two of Melbourne’s top chefs were among those at MEL’s international terminal to provide a warm welcome to arriving passengers. Frank Camorra of MoVida and Shane Delia of Maha surprised some […]

Shell announced today that it has become the first supplier of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to customers at Singapore Changi. It notes that it has also completed the upgrading of its facility in Singapore which will enable blending of SAF in Singapore. The company believes that its announcement represents a significant milestone for the aviation […]

For the second year in a row, Jordan’s Queen Alia International Airport has been recognised in ACI Worlds ‘Voice of the Customer’ initiative. The initiative acknowledges airports that continued to prioritise passengers and remained committed to ensuring their voice was heard throughout the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. To qualify for this recognition, which is separate […]

Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) facilitated the movement of more than 183,000 kilos of roses to 25 international and domestic destinations in the build up to Valentine’s Day – nearly twice as many as last year. It notes that domestic shipments have witnessed a 200% plus increase, rising to around 6.5 million rose stems, while […]

The CEO of Dubai Airports underlined the transport hub’s commitment to helping eradicate the illegal trade in wildlife after signing a declaration at a special event with Prince William, The Duke of Cambridge and founder of The Royal Foundation’s United for Wildlife. Paul Griffiths spoke after becoming the latest signatory of The Buckingham Palace Declaration, […]

Plaza Premium Group (PPG) is anticipating a major travel surge during the Lunar New Year festive period, as families travel to reunite for the Spring Festival. To bring luck to travellers in the Year of the Tiger, the Group is presenting Lunar New Year offers across Plaza Premium Lounges, Aerotels and the Smart Traveller loyalty […]

The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) says that its preliminary traffic results for 2021 show the “continued decimation in international air passenger demand for the region’s airlines”. In summary, it noted that “tight border restrictions implemented in response to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic dashed hopes of recovery in air travel markets”. Overall, the 16.7 […]

While 2021 was a year to forget for Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) in terms of passenger traffic, the picture couldn’t have been more different for cargo, with the gateway handling five million tonnes (+12.5%) of freight. The upturn in cargo volumes ensured that the airport handled more freight last year than the 4.8 million […]

Lagardère Travel Retail has joined forces with Four Pillars to bring a pop-up gin shop to Terminal 1 at Melbourne Airport. Open now, the one-stop gin shop offers a selection of Four Pillars gins, including core and limited releases. A select range of ‘Made from Gin’ products is also available to purchase, including Breakfast Negroni, […]

Perth Airport has announced that it has “embarked on a significant upgrade” of its passenger screening infrastructure across all terminals. The new advanced security screening equipment is being introduced as part of the Federal Government mandate to further strengthen Australia’s domestic and international aviation security. Airport CEO, Kevin Brown, said the airport’s top priority is […]

Almaty Airport, which was closed to flights for security reasons on the evening of January 5 during the events in Kazakhstan, reopened for flights today. The gateway is part of TAV Airports’ global airport network. TAV Airports president and CEO, Sani Şener, said: “Kazakhstan has a special importance for us due to our historical and […]

The latest news from ACI’s Asia-Pacific and global World Business Partners. NEW ALMATY BAGGAGE SYSTEM AWARDED TO ALSTEF GROUP Alstef Group has been awarded the contract to install the baggage handling system for the new international terminal at Almaty International Airport in Kazakhstan. Situated on the ancient trade route known as the ‘Silk Road’, the […]

We take a closer look at a handful of headline grabbing corporate social responsibility initiatives taking place in the Asia-Pacific region and across the globe. NEW CAMPUS TO PROVIDE SHELTER AND EDUCATION FOR 300 GIRLS Bengaluru Kempegowda operator, Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), and main shareholder Fairfax have joined forces with the Sparsha Trust on […]

Kansai Airports is renovating Kansai International Airport’s existing facilities and introducing new technology to enhance the passenger experience. Kansai Airports  – a consortium created by VINCI Airports and ORIX in 2015 – has launched the largest airport renovation project in the region for 50 years to boost the airport’s appeal and support Japan’s post-pandemic recovery.  […]

Sustainability and the environment are a top priority at Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea airport project where daa International has been awarded the contract to operate the new airport on completion, writes Curtis Grad. An entirely different class of airport is being built on the remote Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia, one that will be […]

Director general, Stefano Baronci, reflects on the work of ACI Asia-Pacific over the final quarter of 2021 and looks forward to next year. While the summer months saw the progressive resumption of travel in many parts of the world, international travel, particularly in Asia, struggled with the resurgence of the delta variants of the coronavirus. […]

Dubai International Airport (DXB) is 100% operational again with all terminals, concourses, lounges, restaurants and retail outlets open for business following the reopening of the final phase of Terminal 3’s Concourse A. Terminal 3 is expected to serve more than 1.6 million passengers in the second half of December during the month’s peak seasonal travel […]

GROUND-BREAKING CEREMONY HELD FOR DELHI-NOIDA The clock is running down to the opening of Delhi’s new Noida International Airport (NIA) after the foundation stone for the new gateway was put in place in the presence of Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. In the picture above, NIA CEO, Christoph Schnellmann, and Daniel Bircher, chairman and managing […]

Siem Reap International Airport handled its first international flight since March 2020 today when Singapore Airlines relaunched services to Cambodia’s second largest city. As of today, Singapore Airlines will operate daily flights between Siem Reap and Singapore on the Boeing 737-8, which features the airline’s all-new narrow-body cabin products. The carrier notes that will also […]

Head of communications and events, Jeannie Wong, rounds-up the latest news and developments from ACI Asia-Pacific. NET-ZERO CARBON INITIATIVES  Climate change and sustainability continue to be at the forefront of our minds with various activities and initiatives revolving around these topics.  Earlier this year, ACI airport members across the globe pledged to achieve Net-Zero Carbon […]

Honeywell and Riyadh Airports Company (RAC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore the use of Honeywell technologies that enable integration and automation at King Khalid International Airport (KKIA) to increase efficiency, predictability and safety in its airport operations while also minimising environmental impact. The MoU between RAC and Honeywell outlines the implementation, […]

President and CEO, Jerry Dann, tells Joe Bates more about the ambitions and future development plans of Taoyuan International Airport. Can you tell me more about your planned new Terminal 3 and how big a milestone it is for the airport?  It is a huge milestone for Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) as it will boost […]

Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) today unveiled the target and strategy to achieve Net Zero Carbon by 2050 at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG), with a midpoint target of 55% reduction of absolute emissions by 2035 from a 2018 baseline. Fred Lam, CEO of AAHK, said: “Sustainability is at the centre of our long-term development […]

Airport report: Taipei Taoyuan Special report: Corporate Social Responsibility Plus: Red Sea Airport & Transforming KIX   READ THE ISSUE ONLINE DOWNLOAD THE ISSUE   VIEW FROM THE TOP Director general, Stefano Baronci, reflects on the work of ACI Asia-Pacific over the final quarter of 2021 and looks forward to next year. INDUSTRY NEWS A […]

Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport has renewed its Level 2 Airport Customer Experience Accreditation (ACEA) issued by ACI World until November 2022. The Jordanian gateway, operated by the Airport International Group (AIG), initially obtained this accreditation in 2020 in acknowledgement of its efforts to promote service excellence and customer satisfaction, becoming one of only five […]

Brisbane Airport is calling for Expressions of Interest (EOI) for its largest non-aviation project undertaken to date, BNE Auto Mall. The EOI is calling for reputable businesses and groups with experience and capability in managing exemplar entertainment, hospitality, events, and track facilities to become the Track and Event Operator. BNE Auto Mall will be located […]

Christchurch Airport is committing 400 hectares of its Harewood campus to Kōwhai Park – a new platform for generating renewable energy at scale to enable businesses to transition away from fossil fuels. The pioneering project was launched with New Zealand’s Energy Minister, Megan Woods; Climate Change Minister, James Shaw; and Christchurch mayor, Lianne Dalziel, planting […]

More than 1,000 job openings at over 30 companies associated with Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) will be up for grabs at a Virtual Job Fair tomorrow and on Friday. The event has been organised by Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) and the Labour Department with the job opportunities said to be across the entire […]

Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) has become the first gateway in South Asia to commission a Rosenbauer Tactical Simulator, an addition it says further strengthens its firefighting capabilities. With this simulator, firefighters can train in a realistic environment, master the tactical use of Rosenbauer Panther crash fire tenders (CFTs) as well as operate High Reach […]

Dubai Airports today revealed that passenger traffic through Dubai International Airport (DXB) has grown by almost 20% in the last four weeks to reach 20.7 million in the year to date to October. It notes that the upturn in traffic is down to the changes in travel restrictions in key global markets in recent months […]

Volocopter has completed the first test flight of its 2X aircraft in South Korea at Seoul’s Gimpo International Airport. It was the first ever crewed public test flight of a fully electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) air taxi in South Korea and was witnessed by the country’s Minister for Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, Noh […]

Sydney Airport is set to be sold for a colossal A$23.6 billion ($17.5 billion) after the board unanimously voted to accept an offer from an infrastructure investment group. The offer from Sydney Aviation Alliance (SAA) has been on the table for over a month and the deal, should it go through, will make it one […]

The state government and Perth Airport has congratulated Virgin Australia as it turns its attention to introducing new routes between Western Australia and Tasmania with the launch of a non-stop service between Perth and Launceston which commenced today. Western Australian government tourism minister, David Templeman, said he was excited to welcome the new Virgin Australia […]

ACI Asia-Pacific today urged more governments to reopen borders and relax quarantine requirements especially in countries which have reached satisfactory vaccination rates, to prevent repeat of a dismal year for Asia-Pacific and Middle East airports. This follows the release of latest figures forecasting sustained losses in 2021 for airports in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. […]

The latest news from ACI’s Asia-Pacific and global World Business Partners. PLAZA PREMIUM GROUP AWARDED BENGALURU KEMPEGOWDA CONCESSION Bangalore International Airport Limited has awarded the Plaza Premium Group (PPG) a 10-year concession to carry out a host of passenger service activities at Bengaluru Kempegowda. As a result, PPG will provide meet and assist, porter, PRM […]

Preliminary September 2021 traffic figures released by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) reveal yet another month of severe weakness in international air passenger demand, whereas international air cargo markets continued to strengthen on the back of growth in demand. For the month, the region’s airlines carried a combined total of 1.2 million international […]

A new era of connectivity, innovation and opportunity has begun for Cambodia Airports, writes Laurence Erbs, general manager for Siem Reap International Airport. Recently, I joined Cambodia Airports and found that, like many others, we were beginning the process of further modernising by moving to the cloud. The decision to continue this forward-looking project even […]

ACI Asia-Pacific’s Samantha Solomon explores the role of simulations in airplane parking projects before, during and post pandemic. Like all in the aviation sector, the impact of the pandemic has not left global consulting firm Beca untouched. Over the course of the pandemic, the New Zealand-company has seen airport design projects terminated, postponed, or reduced […]

It might not seem like a priority right now, but ACI World has revealed that more than $2.4 trillion will have to be spent on enhancing the infrastructure of the world’s airports by 2040 in order to meet future demand. The size of the task ahead – which will include modernising existing facilities as well […]

Anaerobic digestion can help airports become more environmentally friendly and reduce their carbon footprint, writes Jocelyne Bia. Before the coronavirus outbreak stole the headlines, the main concern for people and governments around the world was the climate emergency and the need for urgent action. Like many other industries, the aviation sector was under pressure to […]

Communications manager, Samantha Solomon, rounds-up the latest news and developments from ACI Asia-Pacific. BE PART OF THE CLIMATE CHANGE SOLUTION From the Pacific Islands stretching across Asia and into the Middle East, airports of all sizes are having to adapt to and manage the effects of climate change. Whether this means coping with the effects […]

Joffrey Maï explains how VINCI Airports is rolling out the group’s pioneering global environmental strategy in the Asia-Pacific region. VINCI Airports is leveraging its position as one of the world’s biggest airport operators to enhance the environmental performance of its Asia-Pacific gateways and help set the sustainability bar for airports across the globe. Asia, of […]

Perth Airport has achieved an overall score of 98% in annual analysis by the Global ESG Benchmark for Real Assets (GRESB). GRESB is an international process that rates the environmental, social and governance performance of major infrastructure assets. Perth Airport CEO, Kevin Brown, said that the 98% score was an outstanding improvement over the 76% […]

NEW AIRPORTS OPEN IN MALAYSIA AND CHINA Despite today’s tough operating environment, the number of airports in the Asia-Pacific region continues to grow with the recent opening of the new Mukah Airport (MKM) in Sarawak, Malaysia, and Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU) in China. Mukah’s new $70 million gateway replaces the town’s former short take-off […]

Director General, Stefano Baronci, reflects on the importance of air travel and some key priorities and initiatives planned by ACI Asia-Pacific for the remainder of 2021. After 20 months of virtual calls, I finally got to meet the director generals of ACI’s other regions in person again this summer after flying to Rome for a […]

Brisbane Airport operator, Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC), today issued the following statement in response to the announcement of a roadmap to easing travel restrictions in Queensland. The statement, in full, reads: “We’re pleased to see a roadmap to the reopening of Queensland. However, there are elements of it that are of great concern in relation […]

Bangalore International Airport Limited’s managing director and CEO, Hari Marar, tells Joe Bates more about the ambitions and development plans for India’s third busiest gateway. Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport has been making milestones since it opened, and the desire to be the best airport in India means that this trend is unlikely to stop over […]

Vancouver International Airport (YVR) has unveiled its roadmap to net zero carbon emissions, which it claims balances innovative approaches with practical actions that will see the gateway’s operations become net zero by 2030. Earlier this year, YVR was the first airport in Canada to commit to net zero emissions by 2030, accelerating its original climate commitment by […]

Routes Asia will take place in Vietnam for the first time when Da Nang hosts the region’s 16th annual route development forum in 2022. The air transport industry and the economic benefits it brings will, of course, be critical to enabling the world’s economic recovery from COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past three years, more than […]

The 48,130 tonnes of perishable shipments handled at Bengaluru Kempegowda International Airport in its last financial year made it India’s leading gateway for handling time sensitive goods such as fruit, vegetables, flowers and poultry. Using figures from India’s Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Bengaluru Kempegowda (BLR) says that it handled 31% […]

Dubai International Airport (DXB) today launched the region’s first mobile F&B and retail ordering service without the need to download an app. From today, all hungry passengers have to do is reach for their mobile to order food and drinks from DXB’s F&B outlets and have it delivered directly to them. And the ability to […]

Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) has welcomed the announcement of the framework to safely re-open Australia to the world in the coming months. “This is the best news we’ve had in more than a year,” enthused BAC CEO, Gert-Jan de Graaff. “We stand ready to work with Commonwealth agencies and the Queensland Government to facilitate the […]

Dufry has extended its duty-free concession at Cambodia’s three international airports in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville or five and a half years. The airports handled a total of 11.6 million international travellers in 2019, although these kind of figures are not expected to return for a while as COVID continues to restrict global […]

Queenstown Airport today questioned the need for a new Central Otago Airport in New Zealand. The new airport is being proposed by Christchurch Airport on the basis of a preliminary aeronautical assessment of its proposed location in Tarras. The assessment suggests that the site is able to support an airfield with a single runway of […]

Royal Dutch Shell plc has announced its ambition to produce around two million tonnes of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) a year by 2025. It also aims to have at least 10% of its global aviation fuel sales as SAF by 2030. “Currently, sustainable aviation fuel accounts for less than 0.1% of the world’s use of […]

Airport report: Bengaluru Kempegowda Special report: Cambodia’s cloud initiative Plus: Parking puzzle, Industry & WBP news   READ THE ISSUE ONLINE DOWNLOAD THE ISSUE   VIEW FROM THE TOP Director general, Stefano Baronci, reflects on the continued challenges of COVID-19 and ACI Asia- Pacific’s efforts to hasten the industry’s recovery and ensure its future sustainability. […]

Perth Airport today reassured the travelling public that it continues to roll out new COVID-safe initiatives and practices through its car parks and terminals to keep passengers and workers safe. According to the airport’s chief commercial officer, Kate Holsgrove, the Australian gateway has “reimagined the traveller journey from carpark to forecourt, to terminal, to security, to […]

Cargo volumes at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) continue to go in the right direction, rising by 15.5% in August as 429,000 tonnes of freight passed through the gateway. All three cargo categories – namely imports, exports and transhipments – recorded double-digit growth at HKG in August. Cargo to and from North America and Southeast […]

New Zealand’s Christchurch Airport has reported net profit after tax of NZ$38.7 million for its 2021 financial year (FY21), off a total income of NZ$189.5 million. The profit included underlying operating profit and revaluations of investment property on its Christchurch Campus and is slightly down on the NZ$46.7 million net profit after tax it recorded […]

Dubai Airports has for the first time collaborated with the UAE’s Federal Youth Authority (FYA) to create the Dubai Airports Youth Council. Aligned with other top UAE government entities, the DA Youth Council was developed with the vision of the UAE’s leaders in mind and is the latest example of the airport’s commitment to developing […]

Queenstown Airport Corporation (QAC) has admitted that implementing a plan to “stabilise the business in the complex and uncertain operating environment created by COVID-19″ was top of the agenda during its last financial year, ending June 30. Reflecting on the impact of COVID-19 on the business and the region, QAC Board chair, Adrienne Young-Cooper, noted […]

The largest independent cargo handler at Hong Kong International Airport has turned to robotic technology to help it locate and retrieve spare parts in its newly opened Automated Parts Store (APS). According to Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl),  the new robotically-operated parts dispensing system enables urgently-needed spares to be quickly accessed around the […]

A new A$10 billion rail link looks set to make travelling to Melbourne Airport quicker, easier and more environmentally friendly, writes Joe Bates. While few Asia-Pacific airports can boast high speed rail links like the ones at Frankfurt and Zurich airports in Europe, the region is no stranger to impressive train connections with Kuala Lumpur, […]

Preliminary June 2021 traffic figures released today by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) show that international passenger demand remained suppressed by ongoing tight border restrictions. Across the Asia Pacific region, many countries recorded a surge in COVID-19 transmissions caused by new variants, with limited vaccine supplies hampering vaccination progress. Indeed, the region’s airlines […]

The latest news from ACI’s Asia-Pacific and global World Business Partners. NEW MILESTONE FOR DELHI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT’S TAXIBOT Indira Gandhi International Airport’s semi-robotic aircraft towing vehicle, TaxiBot, has successfully completed 1,000 operations, reducing the Indian gateway’s CO2 emissions by 532 tonnes and helping save 214,000 litres of aircraft fuel in the process. Introduced two years […]

Clark International Airport (CRK) in the Philippines has selected a suite of Collins Aerospace ARINC airport solutions to help provide a seamless passenger experience for the increased number of travellers expected to pass through the airport following its 2021 expansion. The gateway has selected ARINC’s passenger processing and airport operation solutions to move passenger flow […]

We turn the spotlight on Hamad International Airport’s efforts to enhance its waste management, green operations at Phnom Penh International Airport and carbon accreditation for Hawke’s Bay Airport. Doha’s Hamad International Airport (DOH) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Qatar’s Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) to improve its waste management. As a […]

A pioneering new e-commerce initiative aims to make airport shopping at Malaysia’s airports and at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport in Turkey easier and more convenient. Malaysia Airports is one of the world’s largest airport operators in terms of passenger numbers, handling more than 141.2 million across its network of 39 Malaysian airports and Istanbul […]

Accredify, a Singapore-based firm that creates and issues verifiable documents, today announced that it has signed an agreement with the IATA to issue COVID-19 Test Credentials that will be accepted for IATA Travel Pass. This collaboration will make Accredify one of the first lab and clinic aggregators in the Asia-Pacific region to participate in the […]

Al Ain International Airport (AAN), owned and operated by Abu Dhabi Airports, has welcomed two new weekly flights from Cairo. The inaugural Nile Air service from the Egyptian capital landed at Al Ain International Airport on Monday, July 12, at 21:15 local time. Francois Bourienne, chief commercial officer at Abu Dhabi Airports, said: “We are […]

Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) director general, Subhas Menon, praises the resiliency of the region’s airlines as the aviation industry awaits the smart, sustainable and safe restart of international travel. To the casual observer, the Asian aviation industry should be close to collapse after the unrelenting onslaught of bad news and misfortune in the […]

Communications manager, Samantha Solomon, rounds-up the latest news and developments from ACI Asia-Pacific. ASIA-PACIFIC AIRPORTS IMPROVE LOCAL AIR QUALITY Six airport members from Australia, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong SAR and India received top honours in this year’s Green Airports Recognition programme for outstanding achievements in improving local air quality. The submissions showcased innovative practices ranging […]

The New Zealand Airports Association (NZ Airports) has welcomed the confirmation of a wide-ranging review which will encompass the funding needs of smaller airports. The announcement, made by Transport Minister, Michael Wood, includes a review of the country’s air navigation system, which will involve looking at the form and functions of Airways NZ, the national […]

With international travel still very much on hold because of COVID-19, it is going to take the effort of all industry stakeholders to restore global connectivity, writes James Brass from aviation consultancy, York Aviation. The last 18 months has been profoundly strange for the air transport industry. After years of growth and expanding route networks, […]

Travel bubbles, health passports and new touchless technology are all set to play a role in facilitating aviation’s recovery from COVID-19, writes Joe Bates. With traffic numbers still significantly down on pre-pandemic levels and airlines understandably reluctant to launch new routes in such a tough operating climate, the aviation industry remains very much in survival […]

A new study by ACI World shows that Asia-Pacific and Middle East airports will have to develop new greenfield airports and invest in modernising and expanding their existing airport infrastructure to meed demand over the next 20 years. According to The Global Outlook of Airport Capital Expenditure,at least $1.3 trillion needs to be invested on […]

Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) has distributed more than A$18,000 in grants to 19 charitable organisations and community groups as part of its philanthropic Community Giving Fund. BAC acknowledges in the current environment, it is now more important than ever to support organisations doing exceptional work in our community. Twice a year BAC calls for applications […]

Director general, Stefano Baronci, reflects on the continued challenges of COVID-19 and ACI Asia-Pacific’s efforts to hasten the industry’s recovery and ensure its future sustainability. The road to travel recovery is proving to be bumpy and winding in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, with uncertainties playing out on many levels and a resurgence of COVID-19 […]

GUANGZHOU BAIYUN WAS THE WORLD’S BUSIEST AIRPORT IN 2020 The global impact of COVID-19 meant that 2020’s world traffic rankings had a very different look to normal, with Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN) in China replacing Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta (ATL) as the busiest gateway on the planet. Guangzhou Baiyun took top spot by handling 43.7 million passengers in […]

With new owners and a capacity doubling new terminal on the way, the future looks bright for Kazakhstan’s Almaty Airport, writes Joe Bates. Almaty Airport is under new ownership after a consortium led by global airport operator, TAV Airports, acquired the Kazakhstan gateway earlier this year. The deal is expected to take Kazakhstan’s gateway to […]

Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl) is making a bid to increase Hong Kong’s involvement in the movement of aero engines through the establishment of a new Aero Engine Handling Centre at Homng Kong International Airport. Hong Kong is one of only two locations in Asia which have certified repair, modification and overhaul facilities […]

Focus on: Route development Special report: Travel bubbles & health passports Plus: Sustainability, e-commerce & WBP news   READ THE ISSUE ONLINE DOWNLOAD THE ISSUE   VIEW FROM THE TOP Director general, Stefano Baronci, reflects on the continued challenges of COVID-19 and ACI Asia-Pacific’s efforts to hasten the industry’s recovery and ensure its future sustainability. […]

ACI Asia-Pacific welcomes the announcement that ACI World and the five ACI regions – in collaboration with members – have created a long-term carbon goal for their member airports. The announcement simply says: “ACI member airports at a global level commit to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and urge governments to provide the […]

Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, the newest national airline of the United Arab Emirates, today announced that it will serve 24 destinations from the UAE hub from the summer of 2022. Among the destinations are routes to Kazakhstan, Greece, Egypt, Oman, Ukraine, Israel, Serbia, Armenia, Georgia, Cyprus, Italy, Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria and Romania. According to the […]

The latest news from ACI’s Asia-Pacific and global World Business Partners. VANDERLANDE WINS NEW SYDNEY AIRPORT CONTRACT Vanderlande has been chosen to supply the baggage handling system (BHS) for Australia’s planned new Western Sydney International Airport (WSIA). The greenfield project is being completed in several phases and is expected to enter operational readiness and acceptance […]

Its chief officer for cargo, Guillaume Halleux, tells us more about the airport facilities, fleet and route network that make Qatar Airways one of the world’s biggest cargo airlines. How important is cargo to Qatar Airways? The cargo division is a significant contributor to the airline’s revenue and overall business, and this has been growing […]

Emirates and flydubai expect to serve 168 destinations from Dubai by the end of May, a route network that they believe delivers on their customer promise to reintroduce more convenience, choice and seamless connectivity for travellers. Since the revival of their strategic codeshare partnership in early September 2020, close to 500,000 passengers have flown on […]

SATS has continued to invest in equipment, manpower and new cargo handling solutions to serve its customers throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, writes senior vice president for cargo services, Nazri Othman. The air cargo industry has experienced sharp declines in cargo volumes with COVID-19 disrupting supply chains around the world since its onset last year. As […]

Cargo volumes at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) are rising, although passenger numbers continue to struggle, based on the gateway’s April traffic statistics, released today by Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK). The latest totals show that the airport handled 389,000 tonnes of cargo (+15.5%) in April, and while both its passenger numbers and air traffic […]

Lim Ching Kiat, managing director, air hub development at Changi Airport Group, explains how Changi Airport is helping maintain Singapore’s air cargo supply chain and spearheading its recovery from COVID-19. COVID-19 has gravely impacted the global aviation industry and cargo volumes at Singapore Changi initially proved no exception, with throughput down due to the significant […]

Vivian Lau, executive director of Hong Kong cargo handling giant, Hactl, looks back on a tough year for aviation and hopes for better things for the industry in 2021. To say that 2020 was an extraordinary year for air cargo and the aviation industry would be an understatement. After a promising start with solid cargo […]

Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, visited Newcastle Airport today to announce the much-anticipated funding for a significant upgrade to the airfield that Newcastle Airport accesses from RAAF Base Williamtown. The upgrade works, which will commence this year in conjunction with the RAAF’s scheduled runway maintenance programme, will see the runway upgraded to Code E status, […]

Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport enjoyed a record breaking year for cargo and has some ambitious plans to enhance its freight facilities, writes marketing and communications manager, Eland Conway. The coronavirus pandemic has caused global disruption and a downturn in passenger traffic the likes of which we’ve never seen before, and Ted Stevens Anchorage International […]

LEADING BY EXAMPLE – ASIA-PACIFIC’S 2020 ASQ WINNERS It might have been easy for the region’s airports to let their usual high customer service standards drop in 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic significantly reduced their passenger numbers, but ACI’s Airport Service Quality (ASQ) awards prove otherwise, with 30 winning Best Airport by Size accolades and […]

Qatar’s Hamad International Airport continues to be recognised for its sustainability efforts, this week having its Asset Management System (AMS) ISO 55001:2014 certification from the British Standards Institution (BSI) renewed for another three years. The Doha gateway believes that the recertification endorses its approach to delivering efficient and effective asset management across the airport’s infrastructure. […]

Communications manager, Samantha Solomon, rounds-up the latest news and developments from ACI Asia-Pacific. HUMAN RESOURCES CASE STUDIES The Regional Human Resources (HR) Committee has published a guide that is designed to help airports prepare their respective workplaces and workforce for the return to the new normal. Via this publication, the committee sought to highlight key […]

We take a closer look at plans for the world’s first vertiport for electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in Singapore and how its opening might revolutionise taxi services at Changi Airport. It feels like momentum is gathering pace in Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America for a new type of airport taxi – one […]

Editor, Joe Bates, reports on the 2020 performance of the region’s leading cargo hubs and the key role they are playing in helping distribute the COVID-19 vaccine. In terms of volumes and payloads, air cargo fared much better than the passenger side of the business in 2020, and that seems likely to be repeated for […]

Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) has given the green light to Hong Kong Business Aviation Centre (HKBAC) to expand its business aircraft facilities at Hong Kong International Airport. The airport operator is confident that the HK$400 million project will “further enhance the competitiveness of Hong Kong as an international aviation hub” and supports “Hong Kong’s […]

Bahrain Airport Company CEO, Mohamed Yousif Al-Binfalah, tells Joe Bates more about what passengers can expect from the airport’s new state-of-the-art terminal. Bahrain International Airport (BIA) celebrated a major milestone on January 28 when its eagerly awaited new terminal opened for business. The new state-of-the-art facility is the crowning jewel of a massive and comprehensive […]

Director general, Stefano Baronci, reflects on how ACI Asia-Pacific has stepped up its efforts to support its airport members and World Business Partners during the COVID-19 pandemic. Whisper it softly, but with the global roll out of COVID-19 vaccines gathering pace, there are finally reasons to believe that the end of the pandemic could be […]

Airports in Australia and New Zealand have been celebrating the reopening of quarantine free trans-Tasman travel for the first time in 12 months. In Brisbane, Brisbane Airport opened 16 ‘Green Lane’ services yesterday to accommodate Air New Zealand and Qantas flights between BNE and Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. The airport reports that all eight arrivals […]

China Duty Free Group (CDFG) and The Design Solution today provided a sneak preview of their design scheme for the 4,000sqm airside commercial area at Chengdu’s new Tianfu International Airport (TFU). The airport is due to open in mid 2021, ready for the International University Sports Federation (FISU) Chengdu 2021 Summer World University Games in […]

Issue theme: Cargo Airport report: Bahrain & Anchorage Plus: ACI Asia-Pacific, Industry & WBP news   READ THE ISSUE ONLINE DOWNLOAD THE ISSUE   VIEW FROM THE TOP Director general, Stefano Baronci, reflects on how ACI Asia-Pacific has stepped up its efforts to support its airport members and World Business Partners during the COVID-19 pandemic. […]

Dubai-based marhaba, dnata’s airport hospitality brand, has unveiled a brand-new design and experience at one of its flagship Dubai International Airport (DXB) lounges after an extensive renovation. As a result, it boasts that travellers can expect an entirely new lounge experience at Dubai International Airport’s Terminal 3. A highly-anticipated, bespoke feature for the Dubai market […]

SITA has announced a five-year contract with Sydney Airport for the provision of common-use services at both Terminal 1 (international) and Terminal 2 (domestic). The project went live on March 1, 2021, featuring SITA Flex, an advanced common-use platform, and SITA Bag Message, which eliminates the need for multiple baggage system interfaces between airlines and […]

The first Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association (APTRA) APAC Dialogue webinar on March 17, 2021, was a hotspot gathering for the industry with over 600 delegates joining from across the globe. APTRA executive director, Christina Oliver, comments. “APTRA’s ambition in this new series of webinars is to maintain inclusive dialogue, to share and learn from […]

Abu Dhabi International Airport has opened a rapid testing lab for COVID-19 in a bid to facilitate the resumption of air travel and assist with quarantine tracking procedures. The new facility, opened by Abu Dhabi Airports in partnership with Pure Health and Tamouh Healthcare, is believed to be the region’s first PCR testing laboratory within […]

Infrastructure Australia (IA), the nation’s independent infrastructure advisor, has today announced that Newcastle Airport’s proposed upgrade has been added to its 2021 Priority List. The associated Williamtown Special Activation Precinct, which surrounds the airport and was recently announced by the NSW Government, has also been included. In response, Newcastle Airport CEO, Dr Peter Cock, said […]

GMR Kannur Duty Free Services Ltd today launched its first duty free outlet amid much fanfare and enthusiasm at the Kannur International Airport. Located at International Arrivals, the new outlet offers an assortment of some of the world’s most popular brands across liquor, perfume, confectionery, tobacco, travel essentials and authentic handpicked souvenirs. Rajesh Arora, CEO […]

Jewellery, laptops, headphones, surf boards, artwork and a circular saw were among the items left behind by passengers at Brisbane Airport last year, and are now up for grabs in its annual Lost Property Auction. Hundreds of valuables go up for auction today, with bidding remaining open until Sunday 21 February and, for the third […]

Hong Kong International Airport is to launch COVID-19 testing schemes for airport staff who are subject to the requirements stipulated in the government’s compulsory testing notice issued today. The Hong Kong Government’s notice requires that everyone employed at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) or providing a hired service in the airport area between now and […]

Asia-Pacific based airlines suffered a huge downturn in traffic in 2020, the extent of the decline being revealed today by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA), which says that its members handled only 18% of the passengers they boarded in 2019. The worst 12 month decline in the history of commercial aviation in the […]

News, views and reviews from ACI’s Asia-Pacific and global World Business partners. NEW GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP FOR PLAZA PREMIUM GROUP Plaza Premium Group has taken its Allways meet and assist service offering to another level by forming a strategic partnership with YQ Now, which has a presence at 600 airports in 140 countries across the globe. […]

Asia-Pacific Airports takes a closer look at the development of a solar energy farm at Melbourne Airport. A new 10 MW solar energy farm is taking shape at Melbourne Airport, which is set to produce enough clean energy to provide power to all four passenger terminals. The renewable solar farm will generate 16.8 GWh of […]

Joe Bates turns the spotlight on Asia-Pacific’s global airport operators and finds out more about the regional development plans of VINCI Airports and the Zurich Airport Group. While expansion hasn’t exactly been a top priority in 2020, all of the region’s global airport operators – those with equity stakes in airports in more than one […]

The world’s biggest airport group comprising gateways operated by France’s Groupe ADP and Turkey’s TAV Airports have signed the ‘Airports for Trust’ charter, announcing their shared ambition to build an even more sustainable and responsible airport industry. The airports span the world and range from hubs like Paris CDG in Europe to Queen Alia in […]

The Plaza Premium Group has opened its newly refurbished lounge in the Domestic departures area at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. The new and improved facility is spread over an area of 773 square metres, can accommodate over 200 passengers and boasts facilities ranging from work stations, a dining area and private seating zone for […]

In this exclusive Q&A, Hamad International Airport’s senior vice president for technology and innovation, Suhail Kadri, discusses his gateway’s IT strategy. What is the philosophy/strategy of Hamad International Airport (HIA) when it comes to new technology? Our goal is to be the best airport in the world and this ambition ensures that we have harnessed […]

Bahrain International Airport today announced that its long awaited new $1.1 billion terminal will open for business on January 28. According to Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), moving operations to the new state-of-the-art facility is a major step towards achieving the Kingdom’s ambitious Economic Vision 2030. The vision is based on diversification and sustainability goals and […]

Communications manager, Samantha Solomon, rounds-up the latest news and developments from ACI Asia-Pacific. VIRTUAL WBP ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSES ROAD TO RECOVERY ACI Asia-Pacific recently hosted its first virtual roundtable event for the region’s World Business Partners, which provided companies from multiple disciplines with the opportunity to hear first-hand from airport leaders about their perspectives on aviation’s […]

A snapshot of the biggest news stories from across the region. NEW INDIAN AIRPORT OPERATOR The Adani Group has officially taken over responsibility for operating Ahmedabad, Lucknow and Mangaluru airports in India. It will also be responsible for managing and developing each airport and their respective infrastructure for the next 50 years while former operator, […]

Asia-Pacific Airports celebrates the 60th anniversary of Dubai International (DXB) and reflects on its response to COVID-19 and planned future development. Celebrating success is not something we did much of in 2020, so it seemed only right that we change that in our final issue of the year by turning the spotlight on Dubai International […]

Saudi Arabia’s planned new Red Sea airport is to be managed by daa international, the international business subsidiary of the operator of Ireland’s Dublin and Cork airports. The Red Sea Project is a major development being built over 28,000 square kilometres on Saudi Arabia’s west coast to create a new luxury tourism destination. The first […]

Director general, Stefano Baronci, reflects on ACI Asia-Pacific’s Regional Board meeting and the success of ACI’s Airport Health Accreditation and Airport Carbon Accreditation programmes. The continued devastating impact of the global pandemic means that the world is in a very different place at the beginning of the new decade than it was at the beginning […]

Dubai Airports is gearing up for an upsurge in the number of passengers expected to pass through Dubai International (DXB) over the next few days. It is estimated that 545,000 passengers will use DXB between January 1-7, with throughput peaking on January the 2nd and 3rd when more than 78,000 travellers are expected to depart […]

Plaza Premium Group and marbaba have formed a strategic partnership to enhance their offering of airport lounges and meet and greet services around the world. The partnership will see both companies expand market presence by consolidating service distribution and customer engagement through integrated cross-selling capabilities. It will initially cover major airports in strategic markets across […]

Delhi Noida International Airport will boast a passenger terminal designed by architects Grimshaw, Nordic – Office of Architecture, Haptic and Indian practice STUP. The team was selected from a shortlist of three by Zurich Airport International for “demonstrating a proficiency in balancing passenger comfort with sustainability, and timeless design with flexibility for future needs”. The […]

Brisbane Airport (BNE) is set to welcome more than 30,000 daily passengers tomorrow for the first time since March 16, declaring the milestone a clear sign that domestic travel is recovering. Specifically, on Friday, the airport’s Domestic Terminal will see more than 16,000 arrivals and 14,000 departing passengers from a total of 309 flights. Off the back of interstate borders re-opening, […]

AIG has announced that Jordan’s Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) has received ACI’s Airport Health Accreditation in recognition of its efforts to deliver a safe airport experience to passengers in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. As both QAIA and the aviation industry at large remain considerably impacted by the unprecedented global health crisis, the […]

Qatar’s Hamad International Airport (HIA) has become the first airport in the Middle East to install Smiths Detection’s HI-SCAN 6040 CTiX machines, which utilises Computed Tomography (CT) technology to X-ray screen carry-on baggage at security checkpoints. The new additions are expected to help expedite the security screening process by allowing passengers to keep electronic devices […]

Hyderabad-Rajiv Gandhi International Airport’s duty free operator, Hyderabad Duty Free (HDF), has launched a WhatsApp Virtual Assistant Chat-bot service that allows it communicate with passengers on international flights and answer any queries. Leveraging the massive global WhatsApp user base of over 2.7 billion users, the airport believes that the new Chat-bot service is a “convenient […]

In the spotlight: Dubai International’s 60th anniversaryInnovation pioneer: Doha’s IT philosophySpecial report: Asia-Pacific’s global airport operatorsPlus: ACI Asia-Pacific, Regional and WBP news Read the issue online Download the issue View from the top Director general, Stefano Baronci, reflects on ACI Asia-Pacific’s Regional Board meeting and the success of ACI’s Airport Health Accreditation and Airport Carbon Accreditation […]

Christchurch Airport has become the first airport in the the world to reach Level 4 Transformation status in ACI’s Airport Carbon Accreditation programme. The New Zealand gateway believes that the high achievement is evidence of its continued efforts to align its carbon management strategy with the global climate goals. It also follows ACI’s recent announcement […]

The Design Solution is to work with the China Duty Free Group (CDFG) as the retail giant accelerates its growth in China and the extended region. It joins a select group of retail design agency partners that will work with CDFG on a range of projects to support it in bids for new space and […]

Abu Dhabi International Airport is trialling a new enhanced ‘Smart Travel’ system, which it is confident will “shorten queues and streamline processes throughout the airport to deliver a smoother and more seamless passenger experience”. Developed by airport operator, Abu Dhabi Airports, in partnership with ConvergentAI and powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI), the new system is […]

Dubai Airports, operator of Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central (DWC), received a delegation of representatives of Israeli airlines El Al, Israir and Arkia at its corporate offices at DXB on Tuesday morning. The delegation’s visit follows the signing of a number of bilateral agreements between the two countries, and the recently announced launch […]

The Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association’s call for governments to implement standardised COVID-19 testing on passengers is beginning gain some traction, with 10 states across the region responding “positively” to the campaign. Across the aviation, travel and tourism industries, a wide range of stakeholders are increasingly aligned in calling for increased testing as a key […]

The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) today revealed that its preliminary traffic figures for September show that “both international passenger and cargo demand is at markedly depressed levels, with no sign of recovery in sight”. The 1.1 million international passengers that flew on Asia-Pacific airlines in September, was just 3.6% of the 30 million […]

Muscat International Airport in Oman has become the first airport in the Middle East to be accredited under ACIs Airport Health Accreditation programme. “We spared no initiative to ensure our passengers feel secure going through our airports,” said Oman Airports CEO, Sheikh Aimen bin Ahmed Al Hosni. “Planning and implementing the highest international standards of […]

Hamad International Airport has become the first gateway in the world to achieve independent verification from BSI (British Standards Institution) for its implementation of ICAO’s COVID-19 Aviation Health Safety Protocols. The verification for Hamad International Airport (HIA) was conducted following its successful audit for compliance of measures outlined by the ICAO Council Aviation Recovery Taskforce […]

Emirates has introduced self check-in and bag drop kiosks for what it hopes will ensure a “more seamless airport experience” in Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport. The service is now available to customers travelling to all destinations except to the US, Canada, China, India and Hong Kong due to additional requirements from these destinations. […]

In the spotlight: Canberra Airport Special report: Resuscitating commercial revenues Design & Build: Delhi Noida International Airport Plus: Investor appeal of airports & Industry news Read the online issue Download the issue View from the top Director general, Stefano Baronci, reflects on ACI Asia-Pacific’s efforts to support the region’s airports through COVID-19 and help reboot […]

The Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association (APTRA) has launched a campaign to over 45 individual governments across the region with a proposal for regional alignment on quarantine rules and testing on arrival and departure at airports, in a move that would safeguard public health and promote industry recovery. Reflecting the views of many of its […]

Operator, GHIAL, has announced that Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport has achieved Airport Health Accreditation (AHA). The accreditation recognises the airport’s efforts to make it a safe environment for passengers and staff in line with ACI’s Aviation Business Restart and Recovery guidelines and ICAO Council Aviation Recovery Task Force (CART) Recommendations along with industry best […]

Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) has successfully renewed and extended its Level 3+ ‘Neutrality’ status in ACI’s Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) programme. As the sole airport to have attained the ACA Level 3+ ‘Neutrality’ in the region, QAIA insists that it continuously deploys best environmental practices and periodically updates its energy conservation procedures. Actions, it […]

ACI Asia-Pacific today announced that Incheon International Airport in Seoul, South Korea, has become the first airport in the region to be accredited under the ACI Airport Health Accreditation programme. ACI’s Airport Health Accreditation programme assists airports by assessing new health measures and procedures introduced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in accordance with ICAO Council […]

ACI Asia-Pacific is urging governments to replace quarantine requirements with testing and contact tracing protocols to ensure the sector’s survival amid a worsening situation for airports in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. The latest preliminary forecast figures show that Asia-Pacific and Middle East airports will lose 55% and 60% passenger volume by the end of […]

Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) today announced that its relief package for the airport community will extend for another two months to end of October 2020 in view of the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The coronavirus pandemic and continuing political unrest in Hong Kong has had a huge impact on traffic at Hong […]

News, views and reviews from ACI’s Asia-Pacific and global World Business Partners. Revamping the retail offerings in Beijing Capital’s Terminal 3 Beijing Capital International Airport has appointed a UK based airport design consultancy to help it redevelop and expand the commercial planning and design of the international departure lounge in Terminal 3. The airport wants […]

Mainland China has fully embraced the aerotropolis concept with over 100 hugely ambitious  projects now underway across the country, writes Dr John Kasarda. Asia leads the way in airport city and aerotropolis development and China is the region’s most enthusiastic adopter of the aerotropolis model, with more than 100 of its airports and their surrounding […]

The NZ Airports Association (NZ Airports) has welcomed the government’s announcement that the Chatham Islands will receive NZ$40m in COVID-19 recovery funding, the great majority of which will go to upgrading the runway at Tuuta Airport, allowing larger aircraft to land. The association’s chief executive, Kevin Ward, said the investment will be a real and […]

Cameron Mann considers the impact COVID-19 is likely to have on passenger facilitation at airports as the industry strives to provide a safe and secure aviation ecosystem. Aviation continues to advocate for a risk-based approach to security, which effectively involves concentrating on and understanding individuals, and spending the most time dealing with those you know […]

Sustainable design must be high on the agenda of the world’s airports post COVID-19 to enable the industry to build back better, writes Roger Swinbourne, Arup’s sustainability leader for the Australasia region. Sustainability is a concept that aims to optimise outcomes for human and natural environments, both now and with a view to the long-term […]

The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) is urging governments to ease what it claims are “unduly onerous restrictions on international air travel” to re-establish global connectivity with evidence-based measures to safeguard public health. More than six months into the COVID-19 pandemic, the Asia Pacific air transport industry notes that it is taking initial steps […]

Airports are leaders in the use of new technology, which will make touchless travel possible and hasten aviation’s recovery from COVID-19, writes Collins Aerospace’s Tony Chapman. There was a time not long ago when commercial airline passengers arrived early at airports to shop at high-end boutiques, eat at nice restaurants and enjoy a cocktail before […]

Sunil Tuli, president of the Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association (APTRA) and group chief executive of King Power Group (Hong Kong) shares an industry perspective on the COVID-19 pandemic. As air travel virtually ground to a halt across Asia-Pacific in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, so too did an essential lifeline of over $36 […]

Queen Alia operator, Airport International Group (AIG), is to modernise its IT systems in partnership with Amadeus. The gateway says that the move will deliver a foundation for innovation and the flexibility to react to new market dynamics. The first phase of the implementation has just been completed with QAIA using Amadeus technology to integrate its […]

Collaboration and co-operation will prove key to overcoming COVID-19, although aviation potentially faces a long road to recovery, writes Inderjit Singh. Aviation is one of the most important pillars of the global economy as the sector provides millions of jobs across the world and contributes heavily to its GDP.  It is also a survivor, as […]

Communications manager, Samantha Solomon, reports on 2020’s Green Airports Recognition and Young Executive of the Year award winners; a LinkedIn milestone and the formation of a Regional COVID-19 Taskforce. VIRTUAL CELEBRATION FOR GREEN AIRPORT RECOGNITION WINNERS Take a bow Kaohsiung International Airport (Kaohsiung City, Chinese Taipei), Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (Hyderabad, India) and Taoyuan International […]

Joe Bates provides a snapshot of how the region’s airports have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic and are planning for a brighter future. The region’s airports have turned to technology and new processes and procedures to ensure that they are equipped, ready and able to handle passengers when government’s finally lift travel restrictions and commercial […]

Today marked another milestone day in Dubai International Airport’s recovery from the COVID-19 as the UAE gateway welcomed the resumption of scheduled operations by foreign carriers. A total of 13 international airlines resumed scheduled flights this week as Dubai, and Dubai International Airport (DXB), effectively opened for business to overseas tourists from July 7. Airlines […]

Director general, Stefano Baronci, reflects on the impact of COVID-19, ACI Asia-Pacific’s recent virtual Regional Board meeting and Assembly, new Strategic Plan and a host of other issues. From a period of sustained passenger traffic growth in 2019 to the halfway point of 2020, the industry is now in survival mode, crippled by the loss […]

Saudi Arabia has unveiled plans for a new airport to serve what has been described as a new “ultra-luxury destination” on its Red Sea coast. The new destination is called AMAALA and the airport, which is slated for completion in 2023, will boast a design that that is said to have been inspired by the […]

Issue theme: Passenger facilitation In the spotlight: Sustainable design Special report: China’s aerotropolis projects Plus: Airport retail & Industry news Read the online issue Download the issue View from the top Director general, Stefano Baronci, reflects on the impact of COVID-19, ACI Asia-Pacific’s recent virtual Regional Board meeting and Assembly, new Strategic Plan and a […]

Singapore Changi claims that it has begun “transforming the passenger experience with new contactless and cleaning innovations for a safer, but yet seamless, airport journey”. It notes that the measures, which include touchless technology and autonomous cleaning robots, will be rolled out airport-wide in preparation for when air travel into and out of Singapore gradually […]

Smiths Detection, a leading threat-detection and security-technology company, will supply hold-baggage screening equipment for Kuwait’s new International Airport Terminal 2, which is currently under construction. The contract includes the installation of HI-SCAN 10080 XCT units for screening hold baggage. Terminal 2, which is intended to become an international transit hub, will have the ability to […]

New Chitose Airport operator, Hokkaido Airports Co Ltd (HAP) has launched a social media marketing campaign in a bid to re-boot tourism to the Japanese island. Launched in conjunction with the Hokkaido government and the Hokkaido Tourism Organization, its HOKKAIDO LOVE! initiative is designed to encourage tourists to return to Japan’s northern most island, which […]

Airports across Asia-Pacific and the Middle East are ready for the restart of the sector following the crippling effects of the COVID-19 pandemic with the ongoing implementation of a set of common public health measures, according to ACI Asia-Pacific. The association notes that they are ready they implemented measures in full support and alignment with […]

Canberra Airport has announced that passengers are now able to fly without restrictions to Sydney and Melbourne. Head of aviation, Michael Thomson, said that his gateway is open for business, and passengers are safe and secure to fly to and from Melbourne and Sydney for business and leisure. “We are very excited people can now […]

Cambodia’s Sihanouk International Airport has unveiled a new master plan to accommodate its projected traffic growth for the next 20 years. Construction of a second passenger terminal between now and 2030, extending the airport’s runway by 800 metres to 3,300 metres, a new taxiway and additional aircraft stands are the key projects of Phase 1 […]

Hong Kong International Airport has announced that it will commence “the gradual resumption of transfer/transit services” from Monday. Operator, Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK), says that a host of enhanced health measures at the airport have made the June 1 date possible. In tandem with the gradual resumption of transfer/transit services, all passengers, including departing, arriving […]

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 […]

Emirates believes that it has set industry-leading safety standards for its passengers with the introduction of complimentary hygiene kits that include masks, gloves, antibacterial wipes and hand sanitiser. It states that the new hygiene kits, launched for today’s resumption of services to nine destinations from Dubai International Airport (DXB), show the care being taken at […]

Qatar Airways will resume services to Brisbane Airport this week, the first of three weekly scheduled services from Doha touching down at the Queensland gateway on Thursday. The services will operate under existing bilateral rights until 30 Jun 2020 with the airline carrying both commercial passengers and freight, providing a critical cargo channel for Australian […]

Airports across the world are actively working to reduce their noise footprint and engaging with their communities to create environmental capacity, writes Envirosuite’s senior aviation specialist, Matt Mills-Brooks. There are two types of constraints on airport growth, physical capacity, which relates to the limits imposed by the runway, terminal, security or in the case of […]

ADB SAFEGATE’S Niclas Svedberg argues that adopting a digital apron will help airports reduce delays and cope with rising traffic demand. We all know how frustrating airport delays can be. Every month some 50,000 flights are cancelled, and more than half a million flights are delayed worldwide, costing airports billions in lost revenue. It’s why […]

Vivek Sindhamani and Peter Vorage discuss the growing threat of flooding to airports and how some of the region’s 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 […]

Hamad International Airport (HIA) has become the latest gateway to report an upturn in cargo volumes, Qatar’s hub handling 530,000 tonnes of freight (+4.7%) during the first quarter of 2020. The increase in cargo is partly attributed to Qatar Airways’ and HIA’s continued efforts to provide freighter services in response to the increased demand for […]

Leonie Dobbie, aviation consultancy company WSP’s strategic aviation advisor, considers the benefits of embedding sustainability action into airport decision-making. From the 1991 Earth Summit in Rio to the 2015 Paris Agreement, policymakers have attempted 
to come to grips with the science and political-economic implications of climate change. Achieving the Paris Agreement goals requires that we […]

Brisbane Airport (BNE) and construction partner Skyway are today celebrating the practical completion of the gateway’s new runway. Airport CEO, Gert-Jan de Graaff, recognised the milestone event, but noted that while today marked the end of the project, its was just the beginning for BNE and operator, Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC). “In many respects this […]

Get to know ACI Asia-Pacific’s new director general, Stefano Baronci, a little better in this Q&A with APA editor, Joe Bates. HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INTO AVIATION?I think, like many, I first got into aviation when I was kid as I fondly remember the excitement of going to Rome-Fiumicino Airport with my parents to […]

Issue theme: Sustainable development Airport Report: GMR Airports Limited Special report: Meet the new director general Plus: Digital apron & Industry news Read the online issue: click here View from the top New ACI Asia-Pacific director general, Stefano Baronci, reflects on an eventful start to 2020, planning ahead, leadership changes at ACI and the impact of the coronavirus. Regional news […]

News, views and reviews from ACI’s regional and global World Business Partners. HEINEMANN AUSTRALIA EXTENDS SYDNEY AIRPORT 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 […]

Across Asia-Pacific, airports are responding to increased passenger numbers and environmental pressures with innovative, efficient and sustainable terminal designs, writes Benoy Singapore director, Terence Seah. Asia-Pacific (APAC) is one of the fastest-growing aviation markets in the world, with passenger numbers more than quadrupling over the last 15 years and both ACI and IATA forecasting that the […]

ACI Asia-Pacific believes that passenger numbers across the region have hit “rock bottom” based on new traffic figures that show a 95% decrease in throughput at 18 of the region’s busiest airports. The year-on-year traffic figures are for airports in the major aviation markets of Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. According to ACI Asia-Pacific, initial […]

A snapshot of some of the biggest stories from across the region. DXB retains statusas world’s busiest international airport Dubai International Airport (DXB) handled 86.4 million passengers in 2019 to retain its status as the world’s busiest international airport. The total secured its sixth successive year as the world’s busiest international gateway, ahead of long-time […]

Asia-Pacific Airports turns the spotlight on the GMR Group and its airport assets in India and across the planet. These are exciting times for India’s GMR group, which continues to develop and expand its airport network both at home and abroad and will shortly welcome a key new investment partner. On home turf in India, GMR […]

Central Japan International Airport’s Masahito Nakashima has joined a select club by being named ACI Asia-Pacific’s Young Executive of the Year. Nakashima, an assistant manager at Central Japan International Airport, is the 2020 winner of the annual award that is designed to encourage the develop of talented airport individuals across the Asia-Pacific region. He narrowly beat […]

The latest news from communications manager, Samantha Solomon, includes an update on ACI Asia-Pacific’s advocacy efforts, new dates for postponed events and a growing list of World Business Partners. ACI EVENTS RESCHEDULED FOLLOWING CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK  The organisers are pleased to announce that the ACI 12th Annual Airport Economics & Finance Conference and Exhibition and pre-conference […]

Dubai International Airport (DXB) has moved quickly to facilitate an increase in the number of cargo operations to increase the volume of perishables and pharmaceuticals. During March 2020, the volume of fruit and vegetables handled at DXB increased by 88.5% (18,164 tonnes) year-on-year, while the volume of pharmaceuticals also increased by 49.4% (12,500 tonnes), driven […]

New ACI Asia-Pacific director general, Stefano Baronci, reflects on an eventful start to 2020, planning ahead, leadership changes at ACI and the impact of the coronavirus.  A number of very different events, some known to me in advance and others coming completely out of the blue, have helped make my first 100 days as the new director […]

The Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association (APTRA) is urging governments across the region to prioritise support packages for the travel retail industry to help many operators survive the coronavirus crisis. APTRA is writing to government policymakers responsible for determining Covid-19 fiscal relief and funding across ministerial offices including aviation, maritime, retail, F&B and tourism industries. […]

ACI Asia-Pacific is urging governments across the Asia-Pacific and Middle East region to swiftly implement relief measures to safeguard airport employment and connectivity. Revised ACI revenue forecasts show the 2020 impact of the pandemic now stands at $23.9 billion for Asia-Pacific and $5.7 billion for the Middle East, impacting airports of all sizes. A prolonged […]

As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to unfold, ACI World has called for the alleviation of airport slot usage requirements. Recognising the ripple effects of pursuing disparate approaches across different countries and airports, ACI World urges a harmonised approach through a global temporary suspension of airport slot usage requirements until June 30, 2020. ACI favours an […]

Siemens Logistics has received an order to supply baggage handling and sorting technology for the Terminal 1 extension at Kunming Changshui International Airport in China. The order includes delivery of a highly developed early bag store (EBS) and the latest generation of the VarioTray technology. The latter consists of a tray-based conveyor line, a LineStacker […]

Government support announced today for upgrading and expanding New Zealand’s Taupō Airport has been welcomed as a timely boost that will give regions and businesses confidence in their communities’ abilities to ride out any tough times that may lie ahead. NZ Airports chief executive, Kevin Ward, said the NZ$5.87 million funding ($5m from the Provincial […]

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 Heinemann Tax & Duty Free store at the airport since 2015. “I’m delighted that we have attained this agreement extension, as it not only […]

Dubai World Central (DWC) registered its best year to date in 2019, handling a record 1.6 million passengers, although the figures are slightly misleading as the huge 81.5% upturn in traffic owes a lot to the transfer of flights to the airport from Dubai International (DXB) while its southern runway was being revamped. Indeed, DXB’s southern […]

Key industry partners announced today the launch of the MRO Blockchain Alliance, the air transport’s first industry-wide investigation into the use of blockchain to track, trace and record aircraft parts.  The new alliance comprises leading organisations covering every aspect of the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) chain, from part manufacture and repairs to logistics and […]

Work will commence on the expansion and renovation of Singapore Changi’s Terminal 2 next month as operator, Changi Airport Group (CAG) strives to make the airport bigger and better to cope with growing demand. The work marks the beginning of a multi-year expansion project which will increase T2’s handling capacity, as well as to replace […]

Cambodia’s airports enjoyed a good 2019, with passenger numbers up by 10.2% at the country’s three main gateways – Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville. A total of 11.6 million passengers passed through the airports last year as Phnom Penh handled a record six million passengers (+11.2%) and Sihanoukville 1.6 million (+158%), although traffic at […]

Myanmar’s Yangon International Airport has turned to technology in a bid to boost its operational efficiency and passenger handling capability. The airport has introduced SITA’s Airport Management solution, which enables the gateweay and its stakeholders, including airlines and ground handlers, to collaborate around the same real-time information and make fully-informed decisions on resources. According to […]

What next for Hamad International Airport? Joe Bates reviews the gateway’s newly unveiled development plans. Qatar’s Hamad International Airport, one of the world’s newest hubs having only opened in 2014, is to expand its concourses to raise its capacity to 60 million passengers per annum. The expansion project will feature a spectacular 10,000sqm indoor tropical […]

Singapore Changi retained its title as the world’s most sleep friendly gateway in Sleeping in Airports’ annual passenger poll, writes Joe Bates. Airports located in ACI’s Asia-Pacific region have once again dominated Sleeping in Airports’ annual survey for the best gateways to use, and take a nap in, in 2019, with Singapore Changi and Incheon […]

Karl Lyndon, global aviation sector leader at integrated engineering consultancy, BuroHappold, explores the growing focus on greening airport terminal buildings. The aviation sector has been attracting a lot of attention recently – and not all of it for the right reasons. The new trend of ‘flight shaming’ in a bid to discourage air travel and […]

News, views and reviews from ACI’s regional and global World Business Partners. MELBOURNE’S NEW CT SECURITY SCREENING TECHNOLOGY Melbourne (MEL) has become the first major Australian airport to permanently adopt Computed Tomography (CT) X-ray screening technology following the installation of new state-of-the-art Smiths Detection equipment at the security checkpoints in Terminal 4. The technology allows […]

Joe Bates reports on Wellington Airport’s new master plan, which is designed to ensure that it has the infrastructure to handle the doubling of passenger traffic over the next 20 years. Wellington Airport has unveiled the master plan that it believes will ensure that it is equipped for growth for the next 20 years. With […]

Northern Territory Airports (NT Airports) today announced that long-standing CEO, Ian Kew, is to retire in March 2020 and be replaced by Tony Edmondstone. Kew has led the airport operator since it was privatised 19 years ago, helping transform it from a federal government run business into the commercial success it is today. Today over […]

It will be all systems go for Indonesia’s new Yogyakarta International Airport in 2020 when it fully opens its facilities, writes Joe Bates. Built to replace the old and outdated Adisutjipto International Airport (JOG), Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA) is Indonesia’s newest gateway, although it won’t really come into its own until its infrastructure fully opens in 2020. […]

New images give travellers a sneak preview of what they can expect from Sydney’s new A$5.3 billion airport when it opens for business in 2026. Zaha Hadid Architects and Cox Architecture have won the international competition to design the new Western Sydney Airport (WSA). The ZHA/COX team, which will now act as master architect for the […]

Auckland Airport is enhancing the experience for international travellers with the launch of new automated pre-security gates. From today, travellers will pass through 12 new e-Gates that will scan boarding passes and grant them access to security areas. Developed in partnership with Vision-Box, the e-Gates mark the first phase of a new technology application that […]

Van Don International Airport in northeast Vietnam has been named ‘World’s Leading New Airport 2019′ at the 26th annual World Travel Awards (WTA).This is only the second year WTA has presented an award for this category, which assesses a new airport’s performance based on the overall design, service quality and passengers’ satisfaction, and how the complete passenger […]

Assistant manager for external affairs, Samantha Solomon, reports on the announcement of a new regional director, a successful Trinity Forum and the latest news from ACI Asia-Pacific. ACI Asia-Pacific Board appoints new director general Stefano Baronci, the current director of economics at ACI World, has been appointed the new director general of ACI Asia-Pacific and […]

Asia-Pacific Airports takes a closer look at the design and development of China’s new mega hub, Beijing Daxing International Airport. The world’s newest major airport, Beijing Daxing, opened for business in late September as China marked another major milestone in the modernisation and expansion of its aviation infrastructure. The new $12.9 billion gateway is one of […]

In the spotlight: Design & Build Airport Report: Erbil Special report: Sleep friendly airports Plus: ACI Asis-Pacific & Industry news Read the online issue: click here View from the top In her final article for Asia-Pacific Airports (APA) magazine, outgoing regional director, Patti Chau, reflects on her legacy at ACI and reports on the organisation’s ongoing regional and global advocacy […]

How is one of the world’s newest gateways, Erbil International Airport in Iraq, faring nine years after opening? Andrew Jones reports. Erbil International Airport in Iraq is one of the world’s newer gateways and an aviation success story in a country where success, development and progress are rarely found. This year despite a challenging operating […]

Gold Coast Airport in Australia has extended its partnership for passenger and baggage technology with global IT provider, SITA, until 2024. The new agreement continues the airport’s close relationship with SITA, which has been in place for more than 10 years. Gold Coast Airport uses SITA’s common-use platform, together with self-service bag drop and check-in kiosks.  […]

News, views and reviews from ACI’s regional and global World Business Partners. Tech savvy travellers driving airport strategies The demands of the growing number of tech-savvy travellers will have the biggest impact on the digital plans of airports and airlines over the next six years to 2025, according to industry executives quizzed for SITA’s new […]

Asia-Pacific Airports takes a closer look at plans to enhance the retail offering at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia. Passenger numbers are rising across the Middle East, and with forecasts predicting that this upward trajectory is set to continue in the long-term, many of the region’s airports are looking to expand their […]

The new Bottega Prosecco Bar has opened in Concourse at Dubai International Airport (DXB), marking the 25th opening of the successful format, five years after its debut. The venue, the brand’s second site in UAE, results from the partnership with global travel restaurateur HMSHost International. Eugene Barry, executive vice president, commercial, at Dubai Airports said: “We […]

What are the prerequisites to delivering exceptional customer experience along all touchpoints of the passenger journey? Redwater Consulting Group’s Kateryna Hess investigates. Customer experience (CX) has become a buzz word in today’s service industries from telecommunications, financial institutions and travel organisations to infrastructure providers. Consumers have become more connected and well informed about prices and […]

Smart-tinting glass can have a hugely positive impact on the airport experience for passengers and potentially boost commercial revenues, writes David Yim. Airports are some of the most visited places in the world, and they are expected to become even busier in the years ahead as they evolve into more than just transit hubs. The recently-opened Jewel at […]

Abu Dhabi Airports CEO, Bryan Thompson, tells us a little more about the type of F&B innovation we can expect to find in Abu Dhabi International Airport’s new Midfield Terminal. The new Midfield Terminal at Abu Dhabi International Airport is the culmination of decades of innovation in aviation. Abu Dhabi Airports has invested heavily in ensuring that the […]

Joe Bates takes a closer look at the opening of some innovative new retail/F&B outlets across the region. SSP to be key F&B operator at Beijing Daxing SSP Group has secured three contracts to open six food and beverage units at the new Beijing Daxing International Airport. As the key food and beverage operator at […]

ACI Asia-Pacific reports on the latest events, news and developments from across the busy region. ACI has strong presence at 56th DGCA Conference An ACI delegation spearheaded by ACI World director general, Angela Gittens, and ACI Asia-Pacific’s regional director, Patti Chau, and deputy director, Ada Tse, attended ICAO’s recent Conference of Directors General of Civil […]

Pragma Consulting’s Alex Avery discusses how food and beverage is transforming airport retail. Whilst the challenges of delivering growth in retail are well documented, F&B continues to be the star performer for many airports. Pragma has seen annual growth in spend per passenger of up to 15% in some locations. In our opinion, there are […]

Stefano Baronci is to succeed the outgoing Patti Chau as the head of ACI’s Asia-Pacific region. Baronci, the current director of economics at ACI World, will assume the role of director general of ACI Asia-Pacific in December. Chau, who has served as the regional director of ACI Asia-Pacific for the last eight years, is stepping […]

Concentrating on the basics and keeping things simple can prove the catalyst for improved duty free revenues at airports, writes Paccaya Resource’s Andrew Ford. Like so many of us, I often read articles promoting the virtues of improved retail ideas and increased non-aeronautical revenues, but where are the articles highlighting the real grass roots benefits […]

Brisbane Airport Corporation CEO, Gert-Jan de Graaff, talks to Joe Bates about the hugely ambitious development plans that tempted him back to the Queensland gateway. It says something about the appeal of Brisbane Airport and its ambitious development plans that CEO, Gert-Jan de Graaff, admits that he knew he would be leaving New York and […]

In the spotlight: Retail/F&B Airport Report: Brisbane Special report: Customer service Plus: Regional & Industry news Read the online issue: click here View from the top Regional director, Patti Chau, reflects on ACI Asia-Pacific’s advocacy efforts at ICAO conferences and meetings, the developing Central Asia region, latest traffic trends and upcoming events. Regional News A snapshot of some of the […]