Voice of the World's Airports

ACI has its world headquarters in Geneva, and is made up of six geographical regions - Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America/Caribbean, North America and the Pacific. It represents 550 airport and airports authorities operating almost 1500 airports across some 170 countries and territories.

Airports are a key link in the world's transportation network. Just like the airlines, they are vital partners in the air transport industry, integral to its success and growth. From mere providers of airline infrastructure, airports have become poles of economic development and genuine gateways to growth for their airline customers and the regions they serve.

Of course, the entire aviation industry collectively is facing the worst crisis in its history. The rapid collapse in passenger traffic that followed 11 September, and the instant effect this had on airlines - which were already seeing the beginning of an economic slowdown - is well known. Airports were hit equally hard.

Nearly all suffered, but those particularly badly affected were in North America, with many experiencing a sustained period of double-digit traffic falls, and those exposed to high North Atlantic or Trans-Pacific passenger flows.

Airports reacted quickly with cost-cutting measures and cutbacks in capital spending, and some responded with reductions in aeronautical charges for airlines. However, unlike airlines, airports have much less flexibility to change their business model too radically. It is difficult to downsize an airport, or generate new business opportunities, where the infrastructure has been built up over a long period and often carries a significant debt load.

Despite this, airports are better positioned than they ever have been to ride out the storm. Over the past decade they have diversified their revenue streams - ACI's latest economic survey shows that over 50% of global airport revenues come from non-aeronautical sources - and are managed in a more commercial manner than ever before. That is welcome news for airlines and travellers as airports seek to navigate their way towards a hoped for economic recovery.

One of the main challenges the industry faces on this path is implementing and paying for a more stringent security environment that does not sacrifice customer service. ACI has been working with ICAO, IATA and security and immigration services to ensure that the enhancements required are coming on line as quickly as possible.

New technologies, including better and faster explosives detection equipment and biometric identification systems, give cause for optimism that airports can achieve the delicate balance between security and facilitation. It is a huge task to undertake, and there is no doubt that for many it is a struggle, but the end result will be a step change in the global security baseline.

An unresolved question is who pays for this extra security? It is the view of airports and airlines that governments have a clear obligation to assume the costs associated with the variety of measures being implemented. Although progress is slow, ACI is making its voice heard at global and regional levels on an issue that will have a major cost impact for years to come.

While a huge amount of time and effort over the past months has been spent coping with the implications of 11 September, ACI continues its mission to represent its members on many other issues critical to the industry.

One is the awareness that the investment in building more runways and terminals needs to be sustained to avoid a capacity crunch at a later date. The industry has a breathing space as traffic levels slowly recover, but in a sector where long-term planning is critical, airports are always looking ahead to traffic demands in five, 10 and 20 years time.

It is for this reason that ACI is lobbying hard for more stringent aircraft noise control regulations at airports. Noise is the single most crucial environmental issue that has to be addressed in airport expansion. Airports are constantly trying to balance the conflicting demands of developing an efficient transport hub, which brings enormous economic benefits to a region, and at the same time having as little detrimental impact on the local community as possible.

Over the next decade airports face a new series of challenges alongside the more traditional ones that have driven the business up to now. The drive to allow airports to behave in a more businesslike and independent manner will continue, as will the trend towards airports operating under some form of private sector influence and ownership.

Airports are also welcoming new customer groups and are preparing for new aircraft types. Many are already adapting both their business approach and terminals to the growing presence of the low-fare and no-frills airlines. Others are working hard to modify their landside and airside infrastructure to cope with the arrival of the 550-seater Airbus A380 super jumbo in 2006.

On issues ranging from the new security measures being introduced today to the airport compatibility of the A380, ACI ensures that the views of airports worldwide are heard and taken into account.

Airports are a vital component of a vibrant air transport industry, underpinning tourism, trade and investment in an increasingly interdependent world marketplace.

Robert Aaronson
Director General
Airports Council International