ASIA-PACIFIC AIRPORTS THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF ACI ASIA-PACIFIC
CONTINUING THE JOURNEY TO RECOVERY Issue 4, 2021
Airport report: Taipei Taoyuan Special report: Corporate Social Responsibility Plus: Red Sea Airport & Transforming KIX www.aci-asiapac.aero
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CONTENTS 6. 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.
8. INDUSTRY NEWS
A snapshot of the biggest news stories from across the region.
12. REGIONAL UPDATE
Head of communications and events, Jeannie Wong, rounds-up the latest news and developments from ACI Asia-Pacific.
16. BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE
President and CEO, Jerry Dann, tells Joe Bates more about the ambitions and future development plans of Taoyuan International Airport.
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ASIA-PACIFIC AIRPORTS THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF ACI ASIA-PACIFIC
Asia-Pacific Airports www.aci-apa.com Editor Joe Bates joe@aci-apa.com +44 (0)1276 476582 Design, Layout & Production Mark Draper mark@aci-apa.com
ACI Asia-Pacific Jeannie Wong Head of Communications and Events jeannie@aci-asiapac.aero +852 2989 8003 Published by Aviation Media Ltd PO BOX 448, Feltham, TW13 9EA, UK
Managing Director Jonathan Lee jonathan@aci-apa.com +44 (0)208 707 2743 Advertising Manager Jonathan Lee jonathan@aci-apa.com +44 (0)208 707 2743 Subscriptions subscriptions@aci-apa.com
Asia-Pacific Airports is published four times a year for the members of ACI Asia-Pacific. The opinions and views expressed in the magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect an ACI policy or position. This publication is copyright of Aviation Media Ltd and should not be copied or stored without the express permission of the publisher.
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22. LUXURY AND SUSTAINABILITY
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.
27. TRANSFORMING KIX
Kansai Airports is renovating Kansai International Airport’s existing facilities and introducing new technology to enhance the passenger experience.
28. HOME AND AWAY
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.
32. WBP NEWS
The latest news and views from ACI Asia-Pacific’s World Business Partners.
APA Issue 4, 2021
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APA Issue 4, 2021
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.
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hile 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. And now the world is grappling with the Omicron variant. These are undeniably tough times for our airports, especially the ones that are heavily dependent on or even owe their very existence to international traffic. We remain optimistic that better times await in 2022. In the meantime, I’d like to reassure members that, pandemic notwithstanding, the work of ACI Asia-Pacific does not stop. In early November, I enjoyed a series of engagement meetings with several airports from the Middle East region. First stop was Bahrain, where I finally got to experience the new terminal building, which opened in early 2021. My visit was filled with meetings with top executives and subject matter experts from Bahrain Airport Corporation, government and global organisations. I also had the privilege of meeting officials and ministers from the World Health Organization (WHO) and Bahrain’s Ministry of Health, Civil Aviation Affairs, and Ministry of Transportation & Telecommunications, to name just a few.
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I am happy to report that fruitful deliberations took place on ways ACI Asia-Pacific can further advance the interests and operational excellence of the airport. My second stop was in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where similar meetings were held with Abu Dhabi Airports Company, operator of Abu Dhabi International Airport, Al Ain International Airport and the smaller gateways of Al Bateen, Dalma and Sir Bani Yas. The deliberations and exchanges certainly pave the way for further advancing the interests and operational excellence of all its airports. My visit to the UAE also provided me with the opportunity to catch up with and have invaluable meetings with our members at Dubai Airports and Sharjah International Airport. I would like to go on record in showing my appreciation at the exceptional hospitality I received from all our members throughout my visit. I firmly believe that the meetings affirmed the value of being able to discuss important issues in-person, instead of across the computer screen. As this issue of the magazine goes to print, I will be in Saudi Arabia on the final leg of my tour where I will meet
up with members and colleagues from the General Authority of Civil Aviation and Matarat Holding Company. On the agenda are visits to Riyadh, Dammam, Al-’Ula, Jeddah and Abha airports. So, do stay tuned for updates in forthcoming communications. ENGAGEMENT WITH ICAO AND PACIFIC ISLANDS Earlier in November, we had the privilege of joining forces with ICAO Asia and Pacific to hold an information sharing session with the director generals, CEOs and respective civil aviation authorities of the Pacific Small Islands and Developing States (PSIDS). These included the Cook Islands, the Federated State of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu, many of which are already part of the ACI Asia-Pacific community.
We also used the opportunity to share information about ACI’s Airport Health Accreditation (AHA) Programme. REGIONAL BOARD MEETING Speaking of ICAO, we look forward to welcoming ICAO Asia and Pacific’s regional director, Ma Tao, to our final Regional Board meeting of the year in early December. Unfortunately, for the fourth time since the outbreak of the pandemic, the Regional Board will be a virtual event, but hopefully things will improve sufficiently over the coming months for us to meet in-person again next year. Going forward, as more borders re-open and quarantine restrictions lessen, we invite members to share the experiences of their recovery efforts and new travel facilitation procedures with us, as this knowledge and information could be used to help other airports that are not as advanced in terms of their recovery processes. ECONOMIC IMPACT We followed ACI World’s Advisory Bulletin in November forecasting sustained 2021 losses for the region’s airports by issuing a press statement urging more governments to re-open borders and relax quarantine requirements – especially in countries which have reached satisfactory vaccination rates – to prevent another dismal year for Asia-Pacific and Middle East airports in 2022. Asia-Pacific, which has been badly impacted by lockdowns, travel restrictions and quarantine measures, is expected to
And consistent with forecasts previously reported in 2020, the Middle East will be one of the hardest-hit regions globally with passenger losses of almost 70%. Compared with ACI’s pre-pandemic projections for the same period, the two regions are forecasted to lose over 2.3 billion passengers by the end of 2021. Similarly, airport revenues, a direct reflection of passenger traffic, are forecasted to decline by approximately $34 billion in Asia-Pacific and $11 billion in the Middle East by the end of 2021. However, a repeat of a dismal 2021 can be avoided in 2022 if more governments adopt the risk-based, pragmatic approaches recommended by ICAO and the WHO. With continued careful monitoring of public health situations through indicators such as hospitalisation and mortality rates, more governments are urged to expedite the calculated risk of relaxing quarantine policies, and follow the global trend of adopting digital health certificates with a view to supporting the resumption of international air travel. GREEN AIRPORTS RECOGNITION Now in its sixth year, Green Airport Recognition is one of ACI Asia-Pacific’s signature programmes and serves to highlight the very best environmental initiatives of the region’s airports.
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It was a necessary conversation on how ICAO and ACI can support and assist PSIDS with the implementation of Council Aviation Recovery Taskforce (CART) Report recommendations and COVID-19 Response and Recovery Implementation Centre portal updates, and help them meet the Beijing Declaration Commitment on Certification of Aerodromes.
close the year with passenger numbers down 56% on the pre-COVID forecast for 2021, despite the resumption of international travel in some markets.
In alignment with ACI’s long-term carbon goals and airport pledges to achieve Net-Zero carbon emissions by 2050, we have selected Carbon Management as the theme for 2022’s Green Airport Recognition programme. We hope that this will accentuate the importance of airports as the industry continues on its decarbonisation journey. We look forward to receiving submissions from member airports that would like to showcase their innovative efforts, initiatives and projects on carbon management. THANK YOU We are, of course, deeply appreciative of the continued support and commitment we receive from our members, most of whom remained actively engaged with us throughout what has been a difficult and challenging year. In fact, we are particularly humbled that 10 airport operators, two associations and 14 new World Business Partners joined ACI Asia-Pacific during the year. We are grateful for the confidence and trust they have placed in our association. Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all our airport members, World Business Partners and your loved ones a wonderful holiday season ahead. More importantly, stay healthy, and we certainly hope to see more of you, in-person, in 2022. Ciao!
Stefano
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INDUSTRY NEWS
GROUND-BREAKING CEREMONY HELD FOR DELHI-NOIDA
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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 director of operator, Yamuna International Airport Pvt Ltd (YIAPL), tell Modi and the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh more about the innovative generation project for the National Capital Region. Schnellmann is confident that India’s next greenfield airport will provide passengers, airlines, and partners with quick, efficient processes and exceptional value. He said: “The strong recovery in the aviation sector along with the government initatives to develop and expand airports will not only help meet the growing demand for travel, but also encourage higher connectivity between tier 2 and 3 cities in the country. “Noida International Airport will connect western Uttar Pradesh to other cities in India and the world. This world class airport will set a benchmark in aviation infrastructure and development and the development of multi-airport systems in India.”
Bircher, who is also managing director of Zurich Airport International which 100% owns YIAPL, noted: “The ground-breaking ceremony is a key milestone, and the airport will act as a growth catalyst for not just the state, but the country. “As the Ministry of Civil Aviation turns its focus towards making India a global aviation maintenance hub, NIA will aid the development of cargo and Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul (MRO) in the region, making flying more affordable. “We are a committed partner for India’s growth, and we see tremendous opportunity to invest and support India’s national agenda through infrastructural development and job creation.” Located around 72 kilometres from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport and 40km from Noida, the airport is expected to become India’s first net zero emissions airport when it opens in 2024. Delhi Noida is initially expected to handle around 12 million passengers per annum before being expanded to accommodate 30mppa and 70mppa by the end of the concession in 2061.
PAKISTAN’S NEW GWADAR AIRPORT
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New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA), a $246 million greenfield gateway being built on a 4,300 acre site in Gwadar, Pakistan, could open in late 2023, if the latest press reports are accurate.
The airport is being developed as a joint venture between Pakistan, China and Oman and will be managed and operated by Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority.
A widely reported official source is being quoted as stating that construction work on the terminal building will be completed by June 2023, paving the way for the airport to open to passengers a few months later.
The project is a key part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) development, which is a cornerstone of China’s One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative.
SYDNEY AIRPORT TO BE SOLD TO INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT GROUP 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.
GIP is certainly well known to the aviation industry having previously held a 50.01% stake in London Gatwick Airport in the UK, which it sold to VINCI Airports for £2.9 billion in 2019 – and it also previously owned London City Airport. IFM holds a stake in Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide airports while QSuper has shares in London Heathrow in the UK. The airport rejected an earlier bid from SAA for “failing to meet its valuation”, even going as far as to label it “opportunistic in light of the COVID pandemic”.
“The Sydney Airport Board believes the outcome reflects appropriate long-term value for the airport, and unanimously recommend the proposal,” stated David Gonski, chair of Sydney Airport Holdings. The deal is conditional on an independent expert’s report, approval from 75% of the airport operator’s shareholders and a green light from competition regulators and the Foreign Investment Review Board.
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The Sydney Airport Alliance (SAA) consortium comprises IFM Investors, Global Infrastructure Partners, QSuper and Australia’s largest pension fund, AustralianSuper.
However, it admitted at the time that it was prepared to hold discussions and consider higher bids with potential suitors, and now feels that its valuation has been met.
A statement issued by IFM Investors chief executive David Neal on behalf of the SAA consortium said: “We look forward to securityholders voting on the proposed deal. “Our alliance represents many millions of Australians, and we intend to work hard to bring more flights and passengers back to the airport as the aviation industry emerges from COVID-19.”
COURT CANCELS PAPEETE FAA’A AIRPORT CONCESSION Egis’ joy at securing its first Asia-Pacific airport concession at Papeete Faa’a Airport in French Polynesia was abruptly ended in November when the president of Tahiti’s adminisrative court annulled the contract. The decision to cancel the concession came just two weeks after Egis Airport Operations outlined its vision of the future for the airport, which included investing $250 million on upgrading the gateway’s facilities over the next five years. Modernising the terminal building and airfield were two of the major infrastructure development projects planned by Egis, which even went as far as preparing and issuing tenders for the projects.
In 2019, Faa’a was the only airport in French Polynesia to boast an international route network, with Papeete having direct connections to a number of cities in Australia, New Zealand, Japan and both North and South America. The route network, which included services to Honolulu, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Vancouver, led to the airport handling a record 1.4 million passengers in 2019. Egis confirmed to Asia-Pacific Airports that the concession contract had been cancelled by a judge but declined to comment further at this stage.
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APA Issue 4, 2021
DAWN OF NEW AIR TAXI SERVICE IN SOUTH KOREA? Volocopter has completed the first test flight of its 2X aircraft at Seoul’s Gimpo International Airport, potentially paving the way for the introduction of flying taxi services at the gateway from 2025.
During the five-minute test flight at Gimpo the 2X aircraft (pictured above) covered approximately three kilometres and reached a maximum altitude of 50 metres and top speed of 45km/h.
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 Hyeong Ouk.
The South Korean capital is the second city in Asia to host a Volocopter test flight, following in the footsteps of Singapore, which held a successful and much publicised trial in 2019 with a flight around its popular Marina Bay area.
AVIATION INDUSTRY UNITES TO ADOPT 2050 NET ZERO CARBON GOAL The global air transport industry has adopted a long-term climate goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050 with signatories to a joint declaration representing the world’s airlines, airports, air traffic management, and the makers of aircraft and engines.
In the declaration, representatives of the world’s major aviation industry associations, including ACI World, as well as the largest aircraft and engine manufacturers, committed that “global civil aviation operations will achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, supported by accelerated efficiency measures, energy transition and innovation across the aviation sector and in partnership with governments around the world.” “We are thrilled to see the aviation sector united in reaching this goal,” said ACI World director general, Luis Felipe de Oliveira. “ACI member airports, who committed in June 2021 to reaching net zero by 2050 for their own emissions, will be key players in facilitating this transition so the aviation system can continue to deliver economic and social benefits to the world. We look forward to collaborating with governments and the wider aviation community to help deliver these goals.” Net zero will be reached through a combination of climate action initiatives. This includes supporting new aircraft
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technologies, such as hydrogen and electric, as well as improvements in operational efficiency and infrastructure.
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The acceleration of the production and uptake of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is expected to play a major role in reducing the climate impact of aviation. Furthermore, any outstanding emissions would be captured using carbon removal measures.
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The declaration was facilitated by the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG), a coalition of organisations and companies throughout the air transport industry that drives the sustainable development of the air transport sector. It has also produced The Waypoint 2050 report which outlines paths for the air transport sector to reach this updated climate goal. “The road ahead will be challenging, but aviation is no stranger to challenges. This historic declaration shows the determination of the sector to work together to take this important climate action,” noted de Oliveira. “It is now imperative that governments support these efforts to make this vital sector sustainable. “This makes it all the more urgent that member states of the International Civil Aviation Organization support the adoption of a long-term climate goal at the 41st ICAO Assembly in 2022.”
APA
Annual World Airport Traffic Report 2021 EDITION Review of 2020 operating year and airport traffic trends in the world’s major aviation markets Over 2,600 airports in more than 180 countries
WHAT YOU CAN FIND:
AIRPORT TRAFFIC DATA
AIRPORT RANKINGS AND TRENDS
INTERNATIONAL BREAKDOWNS
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aci.aero/WATR21
REGIONAL UPDATE Head of communications and events, Jeannie Wong, rounds-up the latest news and developments from ACI Asia-Pacific.
APA Issue 4, 2021
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 Emissions by 2050 (see news story on page 10) in response to climate change challenges. Nineteen airports in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East were among those first to make the commitment. In alignment with ACI’s long-term carbon goal, ACI Asia-Pacific has selected Carbon Management as the theme for Green Airport Recognition 2022 to accentuate its importance in best practices sharing among airports on their decarbonisation journeys. The Green Airport Recognition programme serves as a vehicle for the commendation of exemplars in the AsiaPacific and Middle East airport community with competence in airport environmental aspects. Submissions showcasing member airports’ pioneering initiatives and projects on Carbon Management are welcome on or before the deadline at midday HKG time (GMT+8) on December 23, 2021. More recently, the ACI community convened in Cancún, Mexico, for the 31st ACI World/Latin America & Caribbean Annual General Assembly, Conference & Exhibition. During the event, the Airport Carbon Accreditation programme published its first carbon performance result for the period May 2019 to May 2021. Globally, the programme yielded a reduction of 347,718 tonnes of CO2, of which a reduction of 73,523 tonnes of CO2 were from ACI Asia-Pacific’s airports. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, despite the dire financial and operational conditions,
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airports remained committed to the global effort to mitigate carbon emissions. In fact, four new airports in both Asia-Pacific and the Middle East joined and became certified under Airport Carbon Accreditation programme: Level 1 ‘Mapping’: 1. Duqm Airport 2. Phuket International Airport 3. Hamilton Airport Level 3 ‘Optimisation’: 4. Kaohsiung International Airport Another example of an ACI Asia-Pacific member going that extra mile in terms of sustainability is Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), which has taken things up a notch by committing to making Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) a Net Zero Carbon Emission Airport by 2030. The ambitious target is 20 years earlier than the IPCC’s 2050 target adopted by all major industries across the world. The announcement was made in November at COP26 in Glasgow. Besides running its business in an environment-friendly and sustainable manner by minimising the adverse impact of its activities on the environment with necessary pollution control systems and safeguards, GMR-led DIAL has implemented various programmes including the use of renewable energy, development of green airport infrastructures and multiple passenger connectivity networks, energy conservation and efficiency improvements and stakeholder partnership programmes etc. So much so that DEL became Asia Pacific’s first Level 4+ (Transition) accredited airport under ACI’s Airport Carbon Accreditation programme.
ACI ASIA-PACIFIC REGIONAL BOARD PRESIDENT Seow Hiang Lee*
(Changi Airport Group Pte Ltd, Singapore)
FIRST VICE PRESIDENT Emmanuel Menanteau
(Cambodia Airports, Cambodia)
SECOND VICE PRESIDENTS H.E. Ali Salim Al Midfa SGK Kishore* (Sharjah Airport Authority, UAE)
(GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited, India)
SECRETARY-TREASURER Sheikh Aimen bin Ahmed Al Hosni*
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad Abdul Majid**
(Oman Airports Management Company, Oman)
(GMR Airports Limited, India)
REGIONAL BOARD DIRECTORS Mohamed Yousif Al-Binfalah* (Bahrain Airport Company SPC, Bahrain)
Nicolas Claude
(Airports of Thailand Public Co Ltd, Thailand)
Chang Wan Son
(Korea Airports Corporation, Republic of Korea)
Akihiko Tamura*
(Sydney Airport, Australia)
(Narita International Airport Corporation, Japan)
Despite a difficult year, our membership continues to grow, with five new airports being welcomed into the ACI Asia-Pacific community in the last quarter.
Jerry Dann
Yoshiyuki Yamaya
The Regional Office had front row seats to the airport privatisation programme in India, and the changing landscape there has led to the emergence of a number of new operators, led by Adani Airports, which now has six airport members.
Gert-Jan de Graaff
(Guangdong Airport Authority, China)
Videh Kumar Jaipuriar
WBP REPRESENTATIVE Greg Fordham
A WARM WELCOME TO OUR NEW AIRPORT MEMBERS
Its latest airport operating companies to join ACI AsiaPacific are Guwahati International Airport Limited, Jaipur International Airport Limited and Thiruvananthapuram International Airport Limited. They follow Ahmedabad, Lucknow and Mangaluru airports, which joined earlier in the year as Adani Airports began to develop and grow its airport portfolio. Riyadh Airports Company (RAC), operator of King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia, also recently became a member as did Broome International Airport in north western Australia. The regional gateway is operated by the Broome International Airport Group. As a result of the new addtions, ACI Asia-Pacific’s membership now stands at 127 airport members operating 611 airports in 49 countries and territories.
Geoff Culbert*
(Taoyuan International Airport Corporation Ltd, Chinese Taipei)
(Brisbane Airport Corporation PTY Limited, Australia)
(Delhi International Airport Ltd, India)
Fred Lam*
(Airport Authority Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR)
Quoc Phuong Nguyen (Airports Corporation of Vietnam, Vietnam)
Yun Qin
(Shanghai Airport Authority, China)
(Kansai Airports, Japan)
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(Airport International Group, Jordan)
Nitinai Sirismatthakarn*
Kejian Zhang
(Airbiz Aviation Strategies Pty Ltd, Australia)
SPECIAL ADVISORS Suleiman Al Bassam
(General Authority of Civil Aviation, Saudi Arabia)
Xue Song Liu*
(Beijing Capital International Airport Co Ltd, China)
Jean-Michel Ratron
(Aeroport de Tahiti, French Polynesia)
* WGB member **Regional Advisor on WGB
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BAHRAIN PHOTO CALL
APA Issue 4, 2021
ACI Asia-Pacific director general, Stefano Baronci, is pictured with Bahrain Airport Company’s CEO, Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah, on his first official visit to the Kingdom as part of his recent tour of the Middle East. The ACI Asia-Pacific Middle East International Airport Programme, which also involved trips to the UAE and Saudi Arabia, was designed to strengthen the voice of the world’s airports in the MENA region. Al Binfalah said: “We were delighted to welcome Mr Baronci to Bahrain to showcase the recent developments
at Bahrain International Airport, which included the new passenger terminal. C
“As a proud member of the ACI Asia-Pacific region, we are keen to share our insights with other airports and contribute through engagement and advocacy to the recovery of the aviation industry. ACI provides a valuable platform for exchanging knowledge and best practices that are crucial to our industry’s development. We look forward to greater levels of collaboration and working alongside other member airports to restore confidence in the travel industry.”
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WORLD BUSINESS PARTNER NEWS AND DEVELOPMENTS Amid the challenges of the pandemic, it was inevitable that we would lose a few World Business Partners from the membership this year. However, even in the final quarter of the year, we continued welcoming new members in our region. Our newest member is Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL), the subsidiary of Zurich Airport International mandated to design, build and operate Noida International Airport, a greenfield airport in Jewar, India. Until Noida obtains its Airport Operator Certificate, YIAPL has joined ACI Asia-Pacific as a World Business Partner. Also joining as a World Business Partner (WBP) is McKinsey & Company. McKinsey works with airports globally on strategy, master planning, performance improvement and transformation programmes. And speaking of greenfield airports, ACI Asia-Pacific’s WBP members recently had the privilege to hear from the senior executives of not one, but two greenfield airports, at its annual meeting.
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ACI Asia-Pacific’s World Business Partners (WBP) Annual Meeting normally coincides with the regional assembly, conference and exhibition event in the Spring. However, like most other events in 2021, the meeting could only be held virtually due to the pandemic and ensuing travel restrictions. Close to 40 participants representing 30+ WBPs hailing from Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands and the Middle East dialled in. Participants got to hear from Kiran Jain, chief operating officer of Noida International Airport, who provided an update on the recent progress and developments in Jewar, India. WBPs attending the annual meeting also got to hear from Simon Hickey, CEO of Western Sydney Airport, another greenfield airport and major infrastructure project in Sydney, Australia. He revealed that tremendous progress is being made on the project despite the challenges of lockdown during the pandemic. APA
APA Issue 4, 2021
BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE 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 the airport’s capacity by 45 million passengers per annum and offer new levels of service, operational efficiency and convenience to passengers, visitors and our airline customers. It is also the single biggest public engineering project currently underway in Chinese Taipei. Set to open in three annual phases between 2024 and 2026, the $3 billion terminal is badly needed as Taoyuan International Airport handled more than 45 million passengers 2019, far exceeding the 37 million passenger capacity of the current terminals. Looking slightly further into the future, it will become the main departure terminal for our planned new Runway 3, which is the next major infrastructure development project on the agenda.
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WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM TERMINAL 3 IN TERMS OF ITS DESIGN, SIZE AND FACILITIES? The design concept of Terminal 3 differs greatly from T1 and T2. Its design has been inspired by Chinese Taipei’s beautiful landscapes, the seas surrounding it, and the rhythms of nature and life to create a series of unique interior places beneath an elegant hard-shell roof. When fully built, Terminal 3 will cover an area of 640,000sqm, which will ensure a light and spacious environment for passengers and allow for the addition of a number of innovative and purpose-built facilities. In Terminal 3, for example, the retail/F&B offerings will be designed as a one-stop service with most outlets located in an area just beyond border control and the security checkpoint. The single designated space will enable us to offer a wider and more diversified shopping experience and dining choices to cater to the constantly changing needs of passengers.
WILL IT BE A HIGH-TECH TERMINAL? Absolutely! Terminal 3 will be an intelligent terminal with 5G and Wi-Fi 6 wireless coverage throughout. It will boast common use self-service (CUSS) kiosks, self-bag drop (SBD) equipment and biometric technology to facilitate a touchless and smooth clearance procedure. At a higher level, we plan to use Terminal 3 as an incubation centre for new technologies. The plan is to invite the most innovative ICT (information and communications technology) companies to submit applications to test new technologies at TPE that could be used in an airport environment. We are specifically thinking of passenger flow, monitoring and guidance technology, baggage handling and traffic analysis to accelerate efficiency and service levels. WHAT NEXT FOR TPE IN TERMS OF NEW INFRASTRUCTURE? Airport construction never stops. We actually expect to be heavily engaged in major engineering projects until at least 2030, with the previously mentioned third runway or R3 as we call it, the next big project. Chinese Taipei’s Civil Aeronautics Administration is currently working on the land acquisition procedure for the new runway as a part of our Taoyuan Aerotropolis Plan.
After R3 we will build satellite concourses and new cargo and aircraft maintenance areas between the third runway and the existing north runway. We also have plans to develop a new Free Trade Zone.
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As a result, the terminal’s concourses will serve mainly for boarding and rest, with necessary retail and dining options such as snack bars and souvenir shops.
All of these projects are included in our 2040 airport master plan, which will be reviewed every five years to ensure the continued development of TPE and its status as one of the region’s top international airports. HOW DID PASSENGER NUMBERS HOLD UP LAST YEAR AND WILL 2021 BE ANY BETTER? There is no denying that 2020 was a difficult year for us, as it was for most other airports. We served just over 7.4 million passengers in 2020 and I don’t expect us to do much better this year as our international borders have been largely closed and only recently began to loosen a little. It is worth noting that Taoyuan is a pure international airport. We only serve international passengers. As a result, we have been more impacted and operationally constrained by the border closures and travel restrictions caused by COVID than airports with huge domestic markets. ARE YOU ANYWHERE NEAR TO GETTING ALL YOUR DESTINATIONS AND AIRLINE FREQUENCIES BACK? We remain heavily impacted by the pandemic and, in my view, require two key things to happen before international travel can really begin to recover. We need people to be fully vaccinated (two jabs) and we need greater trust and co-operation between nations.
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Singapore Airlines recently relaunched its Taoyuan-Los Angeles service. To us, this demonstrates their faith in our actions to combat COVID and in TPE’s status as a major hub for flights from North America and Europe heading to South Asia, Australia, New Zealand and North East Asia. Air New Zealand has also resumed its Taipei-Auckland service while new services have been launched by Thai VietJet (Taipei-Bangkok) and Hong Kong Express (TaipeiHong Kong). So, there are signs of encouragement, but there is still a long way to go for us, especially as it is generally accepted that the global recovery of international flights will lag behind that of domestic flights. IS IT FAIR TO SAY THAT CARGO DID A LITTLE BETTER IN 2020? Yes, although I actually think that better is a bit of an understatement. A better description of our cargo performance last year would be remarkable. Putting that in perspective, in 2020, TPE processed a record 2.34 million tonnes of cargo, a rise of 7.3% on 2019. The growth rate was the biggest of any airport in East Asia and confirmed our status as the seventh busiest cargo airport on the planet, based on ACI’s traffic figures. And the good news is that this upward trajectory has continued in 2021 with TPE’s cargo volumes rising by 30% in the first half of the year compared to 2020. The healthy increase means that we are on target to handle an all-time high of 2.8 million tonnes of cargo in 2021 – 20% more than last year.
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Many factors have contributed to our cargo growth. Domestically, demand for semiconductors and electronic consumer goods and other components manufactured in Chinese Taipei soared during the pandemic. Our unique geographical advantage at the heart of East Asia has also helped establish TPE as a leading centre for transhipments. The sizeable cargo fleets of home carriers China Airlines and Eva Air have helped in this regards and proved instrumental in allowing us to take advantage of new opportunities when they arise. In terms of the bigger picture, China’s domestic success in combating COVID-19 certainly helped resume global consumption and increased demand for transhipments. The contrasting fortunes of passenger and cargo traffic presented us with the opportunity to make a few operational changes, one of which was to reconfigure TPE’s airside resources to facilitate the handling of more cargo operations. We have allocated more apron space for freighters, for example, and decided to reserve two stands to load and unload freight that would normally have been used for passenger flights. WHAT STEPS HAVE YOU TAKEN TO COMBAT COVID-19 AND ENSURE THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF PASSENGERS AND STAFF AT TPE? The health and safety of passengers and staff is our top priority. We follow the guidance of the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) on all matters related to the pandemic and therefore believe that we have some of the best COVID prevention measures in place anywhere on the planet.
360 accredited airports 50
in North America
182
in Europe
60
in Asia-Pacific
46
in Latin America & Caribbean
Welcoming
4.2 billion passengers per year*
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in Africa
in 75 countries across the world
or 46% of global air passenger traffic*
Visit our interactive results website www.airportCO2.org @AirportCO2 * Passenger traffic data refers to 2019
APA Issue 4, 2021
To highlight a few initiatives. We follow the most rigorous cleaning and disinfection measures every hour. All facilities and space used by arriving passengers are disinfected immediately. We also insist that all stakeholders perform their own deep cleaning and disinfection practices at 4.30pm every day. To protect cleaners, we ask them to remain socially distanced at all times, keeping three to five metres away from passengers and only begin disinfecting areas when they are clear of people. All on duty cleaners are screened weekly.
COVID. This fleet includes 564 taxis, 129 rental cars and 25 tour buses that transport travellers to accommodation/ places approved by the CECC.
To enable us to have better control of the people coming into our terminals we have reduced the number of entrances from 63 to 20, and everyone using them has to wear face masks and undergo body temperature checks by infrared thermal camera or handheld thermometer. Inside the Arrivals hall, passenger flows are divided into four types: general arrival passengers, crew members, travel bubble passengers, and passengers from high-risk countries.
I am glad to say that our COVID-prevention efforts earned Taoyuan International Airport accreditation in ACI’s Airport Health Accreditation programme in April 2021.
We ask all departing passengers to socially distance, keeping at least 1.5 metres from other travellers while checking-in. All check-in counters feature screens with translucent glass designed to prevent the spread of the virus. Arrival activities are limited to the Arrivals hall ground floor, where queue stands (barriers) and signage are used to separate people doing different things. Security guards are also stationed there to guide passenger flows. The airport has also established a fleet of 718 vehicles that are regularly sanitised to prevent the spread of
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Finally, we have implemented a highly successful on-site vaccination programme to make it quick and easy for airport staff to get their COVID jabs. The inoculation centre has been set up in co-operation with the CECC and the Taoyuan City government, and to date has helped ensure that 98% of airport staff been inoculated.
HOW IMPORTANT IS EVA AIR TO TPE’S CURRENT AND FUTURE SUCCESS? EVA Air is very important to us as it is one of the two major home carriers in Chinese Taipei, along with China Airlines. In 2019, TPE handled 48 million passengers and had a route network of 167 cities in 34 countries. EVA Air contributed about 23.7% of the traffic, flying to 60 cities in 19 countries. We work closely with all our airlines, but particularly with our home carriers, which will help shape and determine our future. EVA Air’s planned future expansion of its fleet, for example, will almost certainly increase traffic volumes at TPE. Likewise, its decision to embrace automation and increased digitalisation is likely to require Taoyuan International Airport to add more infrastructure to facilitate its operations.
1. TAOYUAN AEROTROPOLIS LAYOUT
2. PRIVATE INVESTMENT ZONES IN TAOYUAN AEROTROPILIS
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Our relationship with EVA Air is therefore one of mutual understanding and co-operatiion. However, I must reiterate that TPE is the homebase of China Airlines and EVA Air and therefore it is imperative that we meet the needs and requirements of both carriers. WHO ARE THE TOP FIVE AIRLINES AT TPE IN TERMS OF MARKET SHARE? EVA Air and China Airlines traditionally lead the way, pre-COVID handling around 7.3 million passengers each per annum, although last year those figures fell to around two million and 1.9 million respectively. The totals meant that EVA accounted for 28.5% of all passengers handled at TPE in 2020 and China Airlines for 26.1%. Making up the top five last year were Cathay Pacific (5.39%); Peach Aviation (3.03%); and Scoot (2.55%). WHAT WERE THE TOP FIVE ROUTES IN 2020? Our most popular routes in 2020 were Hong Kong, Tokyo Narita, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, Osaka (Kansai) and Seoul (Incheon). In 2019, each route accounted for more than seven million passengers, but last year only Hong Kong, with 641,224 passengers, welcomed more than half a million passengers.
TELL US A LITTLE MORE ABOUT TPE’S AEROTROPOLIS PLANS? Graphic 1 (above) shows the layout of Taoyuan Aerotropolis. It comprises a yolk (1,860 hectares shown in grey and green) and an egg white (1,860 hectares shown in pink). The yolk is where the airport is located and covers its terminals, runways, aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities, Free Trade Zone and cargo terminals. Taoyuan International Airport Corporation, supervised by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC), is the main planner of the yolk, for which we have compiled the airport masterplan 2030 that designated the development of each projects. The Taoyuan City government is responsible for developing the egg white. To help it do this, it established the Taoyuan Aerotropolis Corporation to invite private investment in several dedicated industry zones of the egg white shown in Graphic 2. For the standpoint of the airport corporation, we encourage and welcome private investments in Taoyuan Aerotropolis, and will do all we can to facilitate its development.
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LUXURY AND SUSTAINABILITY 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.
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n entirely different class of airport is being built on the remote Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia, one that will be fully dedicated to an ultra-luxury resort – now under construction.
The exclusive gateway is situated on the doorstep of more than 90-plus pristine islands, 75% of which will remain undeveloped, while nine have been designated as areas of special conservation interest. Led by The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC), this ambitious $237 million greenfield airport development in Umluj includes an initial phase with 3,000 hotel rooms, recreational facilities and residential properties being built to serve its first guests on completion of the new airport. The destination will be powered with 100% renewable energy at all times, generated by solar and wind. The largest battery storage facility in the world will guarantee supply at night. VIP vacationers can expect no less than a private sanctuary, full of indulgent experiences, tailored for each visitor. All of that will begin at the airport, so the customer experience will have to be above and beyond anything seen at a typical gateway.
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TRSDC is a closed joint-stock company wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, with assets of $430 billion at the time of writing. It has awarded daa International, a subsidiary of Irish airport operator daa, the contract to operate the new Red Sea International Airport (RSIA). Daa, of course, runs Ireland’s Dublin and Cork airports and together with another subsidiary, travel retailer Aer Rianta International (ARI), ensures that the daa Group has extensive global experience, including in the Middle East. At Saudi Arabia’s King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, for example, daa International has run Terminal 5 on behalf of Riyadh Airports Company since it was opened in May 2016. A record 26 million passengers passed through the airport in 2019. According to daa International, it has developed a “customised, passenger-centric operating model for T5”. It also manages the car parks and works with Riyadh Airports Company on route development and sustainability. Undoubtedly, these factors were important in choosing daa International for the Rea Sea project where customisation, passenger focus as well as route marketing and environmental considerations are all top priorities.
In total, daa International will manage operations during three different stages of RSIA’s development. In Stage 1, it is tasked with ensuring that all airport designs benefit the customer. Stage 2 involves planning a full and seamless operational model when the airport opens to the public. Stage 3 will focus on managing and operating this plan to the highest standards in customer experience and sustainability in place. WORKS FORGING AHEAD The current construction phase is being led by Saudi Arabia’s Almabani General Contractors working alongside Nesma & Partners. At the time of writing, 35% of the asphalt runway works, around 50% of more than 16 kilkometres of storm water channels and 64% of the aeronautical ground lighting (AGL) secondary ducts required by the airport have been competed. According to TRSDC, this means that 48% of the overall airport construction is complete. Excavation and installation of AGL ducts and the formation of the primary apron and circular taxiway around the yet-to-be-built terminal building are in progress. In a September 21st interview with radio station Dubai Eye, Group CEO of TRSDC, John Pagano, said: “Red Sea will open its first resorts – probably three – at the end of
next year and then a further 13 by the end of 2023. At least six hotel brand partners are set to be announced in the coming weeks.” Like other Gulf airports, RSIA is at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa with more than 250 million people living within three hours flying time. With 360 days of sunshine, averaging 32 degrees in summer, it is envisaged that the Red Sea Project will be a year-round destination for an elite group of travellers.
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The new airport will ultimately serve about one million passengers annually – a self-imposed limit based on the “environmental carrying capacity of the resort”. The airport peak capacity will be 900 passengers per hour.
Pagano said he expects to see a customer split at the resort that is 50% international and 50% domestic/ regional, brought in on a mix of scheduled and charter aircraft, as well as some private jets. “The main international source markets will be Western Europe, Russia, Asia, China and less so the US,” he noted. Travellers will get their first vacation experience at the airport where Foster + Partners is well advanced with the terminal concept, designed “to bring back a sense of luxury into the arrival and departure experience”, according to senior partner, Toby Blunt. Partner at the architecture firm, Matthew Hayhurst, states: “The brief was to create something that nobody’s ever seen before; that stands out and defines the Red Sea experience architecturally.” Foster + Partners has come up with a semi-circular terminal divided into five canopied sections reminiscent of undulating sand dunes. Planes can park directly under each cantilevered canopy creating a ‘wow factor’ for viewers inside the terminal.
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Hayhurst notes that smart technology will be used to create a luxury experience, part of which will extend to a one-minute arriving and departing process. “Arrivals will go to a welcome centre to be escorted to their destination,” said Pagano. While Blunt noted that “departing passengers will almost feel like they are still at the resort until they get on that plane”. For its part, daa International will soon be providing airfield and terminal operations, aviation services and facilities management as well as overseeing all commercial activities. Nick Cole, CEO of daa International, said: “We’re working through the finer details but, in total, the new airport is likely to provide employment for several hundred staff.” AN EXCEPTIONAL PASSENGER EXPERIENCE In line with the Foster + Partners vision, Cole expects the passenger experience to be very different from a typical airport. “It will be an ultra-high-end product, driven by both the design of the terminal and by the way services are delivered to passengers,” he reveals. “Given that all guests will be staying at the destination, checked-in baggage can be dealt with seamlessly on arrival and departure. You won’t see passengers hauling large bags through the airport, whether arriving or departing.”
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He continues: “Typically airport designers create bigvolume spaces. At Red Sea, Foster + Partners will create smaller, more intimate spaces within the terminal. It will feel more luxurious.”
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Within the terminal, five separate departure suites are being designed as a series of pods, each one offering facilities such as spas and restaurants. On the all-important sustainability front, daa International has outlined some of its plans. “We will be encouraging airline customers to use the newest, most energy-efficient aircraft and also be working with them in relation to the introduction of sustainable aviation fuels and electricengineered aircraft,” says Cole. All ground operations will be powered by 100% renewable energy from TRSDC’s campus, adds Cole, while singleuse plastics will be banned. As part of TRSDC’s larger regenerative tourism initiative, RSIA may well set new standards in airport sustainability practices, while also offering the most luxurious, customised service at any gateway in the world. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Curtis Grad is partner, president and CEO of strategic investment advisory and professional services company, Modalis Infrastructure Partners.
APA
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AIRPORT ECONOMICS* AT A GLANCE
in US$
*
GLOBAL INDUSTRY REVENUES
$180.9 billion
GLOBAL RETURN on invested capital
6.6% GLOBAL AERONAUTICAL REVENUES per passenger
54.0% Aeronautical
40.2%
5.7%
Non-aeronautical Non-operating
GLOBAL NON-AERONAUTICAL REVENUES per passenger
TOTAL COST per passenger
$9.99 $7.44
$14.11
CAPITAL EXPENDITURE per passenger
$7.13 DISTRIBUTION OF NON-AERONAUTICAL REVENUES by key source STORE
Retail concessions
26.4%
Car parking
20.9%
PUBLICATIONS@ACI.AERO
Property and real estate
15.2%
ACI.AERO/KPI21
Others
37.5%
Others include car rentals, food and beverage, advertising and more.
TRANSFORMING KIX Kansai Airports is renovating Kansai International Airport’s existing facilities and introducing new technology to enhance the passenger experience.
The move is in line with VINCI Airports’ commitment to bringing the highest quality standards to its network of 45 airports across the globe. Instead of building a new terminal, operator Kansai Airports, is improving the existing terminal and KIX’s operational efficiency by proactively introducing cuttingedge technologies in a bid to ensure a comfortable, stress-free travel experience for all passengers. Kansai Airports is implementing its own Fast Travel initiative to streamline departure procedures and increase KIX’s processing capacity, ultimately allowing passengers more time to enjoy the terminal’s facilities before boarding. On the fourth floor of Terminal 1, they have introduced self-check-in kiosks and self-service bag drop units alongside check-in counters to shorten passengers’ check-in time. Furthermore, with an aim to direct passengers to less crowded security areas and improve the security processing capacity, the airport has enabled passengers to see the congestion level and estimated waiting time of each international security checkpoint on their website as well as on the departures floor. This has been made possible with the Passenger Flow Management (PFM) system that uses sensors to
recognise and count passengers in a queue and predicts the time required for security and passport clearance, factoring in the number of lanes used for security check and other elements.
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ansai 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.
At the entrance of each security checkpoint, Kansai Airports has installed e-gates to automate the verification of boarding passes, which makes departure procedures even smoother. Previously, security personnel collected boarding passes from passengers and scanned them at the entrance of the international security area to ensure all passengers had valid tickets. With the new gates, passengers can now self-scan their boarding pass to enter the security area. The introduction of the automated gates has expedited passenger processing and enabled smoother security screening. At security checkpoints, Smart Lanes, the latest security screening machines, have been installed. They can check baggage of multiple passengers at a time, which allows passengers to go through the security screening more quickly than before. KIX is also changing the layout of its international and domestic areas to better integrate international operations that are currently divided into north and south. The new layout will increase the international departure area by 60% allowing it to introduce a walk-through duty-free area and many new shops and restaurants. It will also allow an extra five boarding gates to be used for international flights.
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HOME AND AWAY 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 an initiative designed to provide accommodation and education to 300 girls whose families have been devastated by the COVID pandemic. More accurately, BIAL’s corporate social responsibility arm, Kempegowda International Airport Foundation (KIAF), Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited and Sparsha Trust are to open a residential and learning facility for girls within a purpose built campus being built by the trust close to Kempegowda International Airport. Sparsha Trust is a Bengaluru-based NGO that is working towards creating a safe space for vulnerable children by providing them with care, protection and education. The new facility will be called Chinnara Dhama, which in English translates to ‘A sanctuary for young children’, and will be managed under KIAF’s flagship education programme (Namma Shikshana). BIAL says that the initiative will provide food, safe and secure lodgings and education at one of its adopted
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schools as well as social and psychological support to girls aged between six and seventeen. “Many children across the state have been deprived of their parents and their emotional and financial stability can be threatened if they do not receive timely support,” said BIAL’s managing director and CEO, Haru Marar. “As a responsible corporate citizen, it is our primary responsibility to help the most vulnerable amongst us in their time of need. We hope this initiative can help reshape the lives of 300 girls so they grow up to become responsible citizens.” The project is being monitored by an independent team of governing volunteers consisting of entrepreneurs, corporate executives, defence veterans and social luminaries. SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUPPORT FOR LOCAL COMMUNITIES Queen Alia International Airport operator, Airport International Group (AIG), has officially launched a new foundation to act as the executive arm of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities.
QUEENSTOWN AIRPORT DEMONSTRATES ‘GREEN’ CREDENTIALS Queenstown Airport in New Zealand is confident that achieving Toitū Carbonreduce certification shows that it is “making strides in its sustainability journey”. The certification means that the gateway has accurately measured greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, put in place initiatives to reduce them, and is seeing real results.
“Since 2013, AIG has been committed to its role as a socially responsible and environmentally conscious Jordanian company that gives back to the community. As such, we are incredibly proud to be officially launching AIGF, which seeks to systemise and scale many of the company’s diverse philanthropic CSR efforts,” enthused Omar Masri, chair of the foundation’s board of directors.
The company measures Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions in line with ISO Standard 14064-1 and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol). The company’s net GHG emissions in FY21 were 267.64 tCO2e lower than the net GHG emissions in FY19.
The plan this year is to commence five vocational training programmes for 56 young women and men across various fields – namely tailoring, cooking, hybrid car maintenance, hairdressing and photography and videography.
Queenstown Airport’s general manager for corporate and community affairs, Sara Irvine, said the airport was proud of the certification and the 31% reduction in GHG emissions since 2019 showed real progress towards reducing its environmental footprint and goal of net zero emissions by 2050 or earlier.
AIGF will also offer football training for 60 children and hold a sustainable agriculture course for 20 beneficiaries who will be introduced to backyard fruit and vegetable gardening.
“Now that we have a few years of quality data, we can better understand what our largest emission sources are and prioritise our environmental efforts,” said Irvine.
Additionally, AIGF will partner with the Arab Group for the Protection of Nature (APN) – an independent non-profit organisation concerned with the conservation of the environment and natural resources across the Arab World – to plant 1,000 fruit trees for numerous families in nearby areas.
“As a large organisation in the region, we know our impact is real, and we are committed to continually learning and improving in this space. Working with Toitū not only keeps us accountable but their team is helping us set science-based targets across the business to achieve our goals.”
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The Airport International Group Foundation (AIGF) will focus on three key areas –youth empowerment, underprivileged community development and the environment. It notes that the goals are in direct alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), a universal call to action to end poverty and protect the planet, which are being addressed in co-operation with several public institutions and local NGOs.
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The reduction in emissions so far reflects the progress made to lower electricity consumption and increase waste diversion, but it’s also important to note the reduction in passenger volumes has played a part.
OneHive is the largest honey producer in the UAE and maintains more than 3,500 beehives in the country, which are used to produce certified all-natural and local honey and hive products using sustainable practices.
Toitū Envirocare is a leader in carbon mapping that works with brands such as Kathmandu, Antarctica New Zealand, Silver Ferns Farms and Auckland Transport.
VANCOUVER OUTLINES ITS ROADMAP TO NET ZERO CARBON EMISSIONS 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.
PRESERVING THE UAE’S HONEYBEES Dubai Airports and OneHive have agreed to partner on a new initiative to promote the preservation and conservation of the UAE’s honeybee population. Through its partnership with Dubai Airports, OneHive will create an educational facilty at Dubai International Airport (DXB) to raise awareness of the value of bees to the environment and food chain and showcase the benefits of beehive-based products to achieve healthier lifestyles. The DXB installation will also showcase the OneHive Honeybee Garden and Discovery Center in Hatta, a hands-on education and experiential learning centre advocating for sustainable apiculture, dispelling negative attitudes about bees, and promoting pollinator-friendly conservation practices.
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Earlier this year, YVR was the first airport in Canada to commit to net zero emissions by 2030, accelerating its original climate commitment by 20 years from 2050. “At YVR, we have a long history of innovation and sustainability and are proud to be at the forefront of creating a greener, more resilient future for aviation as well as our community and the economy that supports it,” said Marion Town, director of climate and environment for Vancouver Airport Authority. “Our Roadmap to Net Zero Carbon is an extension of our Environmental Management Plan and will ensure we achieve our ambitious goals.”
Dubai Airports’ executive vice president for commercial, Eugene Barry, said: “Our partnership with OneHive will introduce an engaging learning opportunity to millions of travellers at DXB, including insights into the vital role that bees play in diverse ecosystems, and promoting healthy, natural, locally-sourced products.
YVR’s new Roadmap to Net Zero Carbon outlines four decarbonisation pathways that are necessary for the airport to reduce emissions from its direct operations. Pathways include green fleets, energy conservation and electrification, replacing fossil fuels with renewable alternatives, and strategically purchasing carbon removals to close the gap.
“There will also be an opportunity for direct action within Dubai, in which this partnership advances Dubai Airports environmental and social partnership goals, while contributing to the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 commitment.”
“Our roadmap moves us forward in decarbonising our operations by using what we know is possible to implement today along with built in flexibility to evolve in the future,” said Town.
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WBP NEWS
APA Issue 4, 2021
The latest news and views from ACI Asia Pacific’s 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 airport is owned and operated by TAV Airports who will invest $200 million to develop it into one of the biggest hubs in Central Asia – doubling its current capacity. The new baggage handling system will be capable of accommodating up to 2,400 bags per hour with the outbound baggage system consisting of 40 check-in conveyors and a screening and sortation system feeding four make-up carousels. The inbound system consists of three large reclaim carousels. The airport is scheduled to open in 2022 with expansion plans to grow the capacity according to demand. Alstef Group notes that it has worked with TAV Airports ever since installing a baggage handling system in Turkey’s former hub at Istanbul Atatürk Airport in the 1990s.
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“This project represents an exciting new step for the Alstef Group as we expand into Central Asia, working with a key partner to deliver a strategically located transport hub that will serve as a bridge between Asia and Europe,” said Philippe Hamon, Alstef Group’s sales director for airport solutions. TAV Airports’ procurement manager, Emin Sonmez, said: “We chose Alstef Group because they had the most co-operative and technically qualified bid during the tender. “Their bid fulfilled the entire requirements of the project, and they took time to understand the scope of work, and to develop the existing design to make the system more practical and economical.” As part of the largest airport management group globally, TAV Airports plans to promote Almaty and Kazakhstan as the business capital of the region. Kazakhstan leads Central Asia in economic growth and generates roughly 60% of the region’s GDP and, as a country with a rich cultural heritage and diverse tourism opportunities, TAV Airports plan to increase the connectivity of Almaty to the world.
TRAVELEX TO EXPAND MIDDLE EAST STORE PORTFOLIO Foreign exchange company Travelex has announced plans to expand its portfolio of stores across the Middle East.
The expansion comes as major regional events, including the UAE Expo 2020 and 2022 FIFA World Cup, are set to drive international visitors back to the Middle East. Whilst the majority of new stores will be located at airport locations, in certain markets, such as Qatar, Travelex is also looking to expand its presence in downtown and seaport locations. The company is also working to refine both its store experience and product offering.
Customers will also be afforded a wider range of digitally driven products, with Travelex investing in on-the-move mobile kiosks, a larger ATM estate and solutions such as pre-paid travel cards and clickand-collect services.
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Having opened two new stores in Qatar’s Hamad International Airport earlier this year, Travelex is now working to expand its footprint across Bahrain, Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi airports over the coming months.
In line with changing consumer habits post-COVID, Travelex’s new, redesigned stores will offer a more open, streamlined experience enabling customers to complete transactions more efficiently and with less physical interaction than before.
“As the retail landscape shifts and international travel starts to return, Travelex is working to innovate, expand and embrace new digital opportunities. Through this regional expansion, we look forward to working with our regional partners to help bring about the next stage of the industry’s sustainable growth,” said Batu Dolay, managing director of Travelex Middle East & Turkey.
GENETEC UNVEILS NEW AIRPORT BADGING SOLUTION Genetec has launched a new security centre badging solution to help airports of all sizes automate and simplify the often time-consuming process of credentialling and issuing badeges to employees and contractors.
compliance, optimise the badging process, and lower the overheads needed to run a badging department,” explains Joseph Degrassi, Genetec’s regional director for the public sector.
It says that its new Security Center Airport Badging Solution (ABS) reduces the need to work with multiple different systems and simplifies the entire badging process. This, notes Genetec, not only minimises the risk of potential human error that comes with disparate systems and manual processing, but also streamlines the overall badging process by saving time and increasing efficiency.
With a design based on standards required by the TSA in the US, Security Center ABS is designed to help airports deliver the required information in the correct format to successfully submit and process each employee application, and consistently meet audit and compliance requirements set by authorities.
“Our badging solution provides an industry-first, out-of-thebox, simple solution for these airports to ensure
All data collected on each badge applicant is compiled and stored within the system, which provides real-time updates of the status of applications.
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WBP PROFILES ALG
SITA’S DIGITAL TRAVEL DECLARATION OFFER SITA is to make its Digital Travel Declaration solution – which allows passengers to share required travel and health documentation with governments ahead of travel – available to the world’s governments, free of charge.
APA Issue 4, 2021
It claims that the move is aimed at addressing the global challenge of submitting and verifying health documentation which remains a major impediment to the recovery of the global travel industry. Recent research from IATA highlighted that of 50 countries surveyed, 38 countries had some form of COVID-19 restriction on who could enter. David Lavorel, CEO of SITA at Airports and Borders, said: “In many cases, today’s onerous health requirements are discouraging travellers from flying or leading to long lines at airports. “As an industry-owned organisation working at the crossroads of airlines, airports, and governments, we are able to connect the dots and streamline processes around health documentation. “Making Digital Travel Declaration freely available to governments will be an investment in the recovery of our industry, and we hope will go some way towards addressing the challenges we all face today.” For many countries, economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic relies heavily on travel and tourism. According to WTTC’s 2020 Economic Impact Report, in 2019 travel and tourism was responsible for one in 10 jobs, making a 10.3% contribution to global GDP and generating one in four of all new jobs. However, inefficiencies and a lack of common standards around managing health documentation remain the single biggest obstacle to rebuilding the travel and tourism industry and supporting economic growth. SITA’s Digital Travel Declaration has been operational and used by governments around the world since October 2020, potentially making it easy for travellers to complete health declarations in a few quick steps. A response is shared as proof of approval to travel, so the passenger can demonstrate to airlines and airports that they have all the correct documentation.
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Location: Dubai, UAE Type of business: Consulting & Management E: dubai@alg-global.com W: www.alg-global.com ALG is an international consulting firm with 30 years of experience providing advisory services in transportation, infrastructure and logistics. It offers a high level of vertical specialisation across modes of transport, covering aviation, maritime transport (port, shipping lines), railways and roads. ALG is the transportation consulting brand of Indra, one of the most cutting-edge ICT organisations worldwide and a leading player in transportation and defense.
JACOBS
Location: United Kingdom Type of business: Planning & Construction E: info@jacobs.com W: www.jacobs.com At Jacobs, we’re challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world’s most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good. With $13 billion in revenue and a talent force of more than 55,000, Jacobs provides a full spectrum of professional services including consulting, technical, scientific and project delivery for the government and private sector.
KONE
Location: Finland Type of business: Equipment E: calinmihai.hera@kone.com W: www.kone-major-projects.com KONE is an innovative leader in the elevator and escalator industry. Experience is everything in airports, so designing and maintaining a people flow experience that is precisely tailored to the needs of each individual location is critical. Above all else, the number one priority is to make sure people can move easily, safely and efficiently from kerb to gate, around the clock. KONE solutions can be seen in action in some of the world’s busiest and most well-known airports – such as Atlanta (ATL), Heathrow (LHR) and Beijing (PEK) – as well as in fast-growing ambitious hubs such as Muscat (MCT).
APA
8TH ANNUAL SMART AIRPORTS & REGIONS CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION 13 - 15 July 2022 | Ontario, California, USA HOSTS
Lead Event Partners
Diamond Sponsor
Platinum Sponsor
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INTERESTED IN SPONSORING OR EXHIBITING? CONTACT: ANDREW HAZELL COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR E: andrewh@smartairports.aero T: +44 (0)7495 611 215
