Industry news

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.

Plaza Premium Group founder and CEO, Song Hoi See, enthuses: “Our new partnership with YQ Now will allow us to offer the world’s largest range of airport hospitality services. We will be able to sell and bundle lounge and hotel access with meet and assist services, across different airports, extending our ability to take care of travellers throughout the airport journey, from departure to transit to arrival.

“This partnership aligns with our commitment to Make Travel Better, especially during the current circumstances when travellers are demanding more personalised services to ensure worry-free airport experiences.”

Behzad Malik, commercial director (meet and greet services) for Plaza Premium Group, notes: “The partnership will enable us to build different product offerings both domestically and internationally to all passengers.

“We have a strong track record in delivering first rate meet and assist services through our own brand, Allways Meet & Greet. Adding in YQ Now’s network will grow our sales channels significantly to more sectors including financial institutions, corporates and airlines.”

AUTO BAG DROP UNITS CONTINUE TO GROW AT NARITA

Tokyo Narita now boasts 72 of ICM Airport Technic’s Auto Bag Drop (ABD) units across its four terminals with another 18 machines and 33 check-in kiosks set to join them early next year.

The Series 7 ABD units currently in place are multi-lingual and described by ICM as “packed with user-friendly features” that are designed to improve the efficiency of check-in and bag drop times for passengers of multiple airlines.

Jetstar Airways has become the latest airline to introduce the technology to its passengers, which the airport wants installed ahead of Tokyo hosting the 2021 Olympic Games.

Next up, ICM in collaboration with NEC will introduce some biometrically enabled units as part of Narita’s ‘Face Express’ One ID path, which will use facial recognition technology to identify passengers as they make their way through the terminal and complete the security and boarding processes.

NEW LUXURY RETAIL OUTLETS OPEN AT CHINESE AIRPORTS

Lagardère Travel Retail has opened eight Luxury Beauty & Fashion stores in China’s Shanghai Hongqiao and Shenzhen Bao’an airports.

In Shanghai Hongqiao Airport, Terminal T2, Lagardère Travel Retail has opened six stores: Chanel Beauty and Accessories; Parfums Christian Diorl Givenchy; Shiseido; Gucci Watches & Jewelry; and Sandro.

In Shenzhen Bao’an, Terminal T3, Lagardère Travel Retail has opened two stores with brand partners new to its portfolio in China: a 150sqm Cartier store; and a 134sqm Burberry Fashion store.

It notes that domestic traffic has recovered quickly in China and believes that economic policies designed to stimulate domestic consumption are also paying off, with Chinese shoppers eager to resume travel and shopping, with a particular appetite for luxury goods.

Eudes Fabre, CEO for North Asia at Lagardère Travel Retail, says: “China is an incredibly resilient market, it has been breathtaking to observe how fast domestic traffic has returned to pre-crisis levels, and how eager Chinese shoppers have been to come back to our stores.

“The growth of the country’s middle class and its appetite for luxury brands has supported a sharp rebound in our business here.

“I am pleased that we are able to build on our leading market position and in-depth understanding of the local travel retail market to partner with some of the world’s leading luxury brands to support their development in what remains an uncertain environment.”

WBP PROFILES

AEROSCAPE SERVICES

Location: Singapore

Type of Business: Consulting & Management

W: www.aeroscape.com

Aeroscape was shaped as a consulting company, providing specialised services and solutions to aviation groups. Though the company’s core objective is to assist its clients in aviation-specific technical challenges, Aeroscape has evolved to support the other ancillary aspects of the industry, while still maintaining the primary focus. The design features of Aeroscape include technical aviation advisory, aviation-based market research, aviation-related advertising and training in the sphere of aviation.

BRADFORD AVIATION ACADEMY

Location: India

Type of Business: Consulting & Management

W: www.bradfordaviation.com

Bradford Aviation Academy organises customised development programmes aimed at improving the overall competency of employees in the aviation industry. We own a dynamic and evolving system which is continually updated in order to cater to new developments in the academic, business and professional quarters. Our long-term vision is to emerge ourselves as a pioneering institution in the province of professional aviation career developments.

SMITHS DETECTION (ASIA PACIFIC)

Location: Singapore

Type of Business: Equipment

W: www.smithsdetection.com

Smiths Detection is a world leader in products and systems to detect and identify threats to our freedom, safeguarding society against terrorism and criminality and protecting our emergency responders and armed forces. Its government regulated technologies detect explosives, chemical, biological and radiological threats, and narcotics and it has developed powerful X-ray screening systems to identify dangerous and illegal objects. Smiths Detection takes science out of the laboratory and puts it in the hands of security professionals.