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S
ince long before the Wright brothers
the aviation industry that has soared – as
took on gravity in 1903, human
markets grow more dynamic and consumers
beings have looked to the skies. The
less patient, every industry can thrive from
ingenious dreamer Leonardo da Vinci drew
this easy access to the four corners of our
up plans for the helicopter in 1493, 450
connected, ever-accelerating world.
years before a real helicopter would ever
In Endeavour: Aviation, we look at exciting
leave the ground. Centuries earlier, the ancient Chinese hatched plans for hot air balloons, hang-glider-esque kites and even adventurous flying machines powered by fireworks! Meanwhile, the ancient Greeks warned each other of the fictional Icarus, who dared experience the impossible by flying on man-made wings, but soared too close to the sun. Flight
has
re-invented
the
way
airlines to distribution, emergency services and independent enterprises. Whether you work in this sector, your industry relies on it or you’re simply curious, we hope you’ll come fly with us.
ALICE INSTONE-BREWER
journey apart, everything is in reach, taking hours to get to instead of weeks. For developing markets and countries, aviation can provide an empowering injection of employment and industry, and in wealthy markets, the products and destinations available become almost limitless. Business trips, holidays, trade – this transport that we now take for granted is arguably one of the biggest game changers of modern history (and there’s been a few!) In 2017, the global aviation industry
US $687 billion. Of this revenue figure, US
no legal responsibility will be accepted by the
$527 billion was produced by - you guessed
publishers for loss arising from use of information
it - passenger flights, with the number of flyers having doubled since 2005 and
retrievable system or transmitted in any form or
still seeming on the rise. However, US
by any means without the prior written consent of
$50 billion came from cargo shipments.
the publisher.
Since logistics learned to fly, it isn’t only
Copyright © Littlegate Publishing Ltd 2019
commercial
goods and nations standing a perilous
revenue, at a similarly staggering cost of
publication may be reproduced or stored in a
from
this planet is much smaller – instead of
produced a staggering US $743 billion
published. All rights reserved. No part of this
companies,
we
living or dead is purely coincidental. Whilst the information contained within this magazine,
aviation
experience the world around us. Suddenly,
the publisher. Any resemblance to real persons, every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of
developments happening in the world’s
Endeavour Magazine | 3
CONTENTS
KISHUGU HOLDINGS FEATURES
NEW TIMEHRI HANDLING SERVICES 4 | Endeavour Magazine
6 GRU Airport Sao Paulo’s Global Gateway 14 New Timehri Handling Services Delivering Service Excellence 21 African Airlines Association (AFRAA) Providing The Right Stuff To Keep The Planes Up 26 Oman Airports Management Company Soaring To Success 33 Air India Up, Up And Away 38 Airports Authority of Jamaica Rising To The Challenge 45 Kishugu Managing Fire 50 Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority Come Fly With Them 58 Antigua and Barbuda Airport The Sky’s The Limit
TANZANIA CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY
62 68 72 80 86 92 96 102
Bahrain Airport Services Feet on The Ground Eyes in the Skies Cairo Airport Sand And Skies Changi Airport Group Through The Airport Entebe Airport A Flight Of Fancy George Airport Flying High Kenyan Airport Authority High Above Their Competition Mozambique Airports Company African Air Norwich International Airport Fine Flying
NORWICH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Endeavour Magazine | 5
GRU AIRPORT WWW.GRU.COM.BR // 55 11 2445-2945
SAO PAULO’S GLOBAL GATEWAY There are few places in the world capable of making the likes of London and New York feel positively provincial, but, as anybody who has visited or lived in the city will agree, Sao Paulo is undoubtedly one of them.
WRITTEN BY DJAMIL BENMEHIDI
GRU AIRPORT
It would be difficult to find a greater contrast than
that between Sao Paulo and its more flamboyant neighbour, the samba city of Rio de Janeiro – a destination that somehow manages to be chaotic and serene all at the same time.
ABOVE. BEYOND.
W
here Rio is chic and sexy, Sao Paulo is a juggernaut - an enormous, almost intimidating metropolis that isn’t so much a sensory overload as a full-on assault. Not that this
is intended as a slight upon the city; Sao Paulo is cosmopolitan, rich in culture, and complex. It is a place of many layers, and understandably tourists, travellers, and backpackers have flocked here by the million over the decades to get lost in it all - an easy thing to do in a city that is 20 million-strong. However, since Brazil’s gradual emergence as a bona fide world power in the making, the city has gained a reputation altogether more serious. In keeping with its standing as a leading international business and financial centre, today Sao Paulo is regarded as one of the world’s leading Alpha cities, alongside the likes of Dubai, Seoul, Frankfurt, Brussels and Miami. Throngs of people are now as likely to arrive here to do business as they are to soak up the sights, sounds, colour and culture. Irrespective of whether visitors are travelling to this larger-
Data is one thing. Real intelligence is something else.
than-life city for business or pleasure, GRU International Airport is
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the gateway through which they will arrive. Based in Guarulhos, a
Explore more at: www.sita.aero/airportpulse
of scale, 36.6 million people passed through GRU’s gates last year
region at the heart of Sao Paulo, the airport is not only the largest in the country but in the whole of Latin America. To provide a sense alone – a colossal number that accounts for more than 65% of all international passenger flow into the country. To manage such
8 | Endeavour Magazine
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14:31| 9 Endeavour19.04.17 Magazine
GRU AIRPORT large volumes of passengers, more than 40 airlines operate out of
broken, and today six of Brazil’s leading airports, including GRU
the airport, including prestigious carriers such as Emirates Airlines,
International, are in private ownership, with a further four to follow
who are set to launch their first Airbus A380 Superjumbo service
this year. Naturally, the effect of this transition has been great, and
to Brazil this year, along with Delta, Lufthansa, Air Canada, and
the airport’s component companies – the airlines, retailers, logistics
KLM, linking the city to more than 100 national and international
companies, government agencies and handling companies, among
destinations.
others – have increasingly worked in collaboration to ensure a level
The airport’s transport services aren’t limited only to passenger
of service delivery that is high-quality, efficient, and safe.
traffic, as GRU’s COO, Miguel Dau, was keen to stress: “In addition
Speaking on the effect that this change of landscape had on
to being a platform for the air transport of passengers, the GRU
GRU and the wider industry, Miguel Dau explained: “With the end
Airport operates in logistics and is responsible for storage of 41%
of Infraero’s monopoly, greater competition among the companies
of all cargo imported and exported in Brazil by air. In the commercial
that manage the airports has led to improved levels of service and
area, the airport has contracts in different segments, such as retail,
cost-effectiveness.
VIP rooms, parking, real estate development and advertising space, among others.”
GRU International Airport holds a prominent position in the industry, mainly from being located in the largest economic center
Suffice to say, business is booming, and it is no coincidence that
of the country and our connectivity with the main Brazilian cities,
GRU International’s rise to prominence has come about following a
as well as leading destinations in the United States, Europe, Asia
decade-long economic boom in Brazil between 2003-2014, and the
and Africa. Today, GRU has double the passenger-handling capacity
federal government’s decision to gradually privatise the country’s
of the next airport behind us, and accounts for 65% of international
airports soon after. Whereas once, all of the country’s 66 airports
passenger flows into Brazil. Such factors and characteristics should
were owned and managed by Infraero – a state-owned company
keep GRU as the main airport in the country for the foreseeable
that monopolised the market – this monopoly has since been
future.”
10 | Endeavour Magazine
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Endeavour Magazine | 11
GRU AIRPORT To help ensure that it maintains its standing as an international airport with service standards that are of the highest caliber,
as the world’s second most punctual airport in 2016,” Miguel explained. He continued:
the airport’s frontline and backroom staff play an integral role in
“All this is the result of actions not only to improve the physical
ensuring passengers enjoy a superior customer experience. As the
structure of the airport or investments in new technologies, but
country’s leading airport, GRU International is an ambassador of
mainly the commitment of employees to make the airport a pleasant
sorts for Sao Paulo, and as a result no expense is spared to ensure
travel experience, both for those arriving or leaving São Paulo.”
that all airport staff are trained to the highest standards, so as to
With regards to what the future holds, the signs are promising.
ensure the highest levels of service. Miguel is proud of his staff, and
It is well-known that the Brazilian economy has struggled greatly
is under no illusions as to their importance in driving GRU’s success
in recent years, and yet for all its difficulties GRU International has
to ever greater heights over the years to come.
for the most part escaped these difficult times unscathed. For the
“Today, the airport has about 1,400 direct employees. Altogether, there are 30,000 direct and indirect employees. Over the past four years, the airport has invested considerably in training employees to improve the quality of services and
sector in general, there is significant growth potential, and many industry experts are of the opinion that come the turn of the year, an anticipated upturn in economic fortunes should help stimulate demand for both domestic and international services.
increase operational efficiency. The adoption of a collaborative
At GRU International itself, the coming years will see the airport
policy involving all stakeholders also contributes greatly to improve
continue to expand and modernise, as it strives to take its operations
the airport’s image among users. Between 2015 and 2016, GRU
and service standards to the next level. Following the success of an
was considered in its category (over 15 million passengers) the
airport upgrade just prior to the 2014 World Cup, conducted in
best airport in the country in the Passenger Satisfaction Survey,
partnership with communications and IT solutions provider, SITA,
sponsored by the Civil Aviation Secretariat (SAC). In the ranking
more work is in the pipeline for 2017. Having provided critical
of OAG (aviation specialist British consultancy), Guarulhos appears
systems for the 2014 airport transformation, including the airport
12 | Endeavour Magazine
operations database, resource manager, flight information displays, and automated passenger announcement system, SITA will once again assist in the ambitious Terminal 2 modernisation project. Miguel concluded the interview on this point, stating: “Today, the main work in progress is the Terminal 2 modernisation project, which should be completed by the end of this year. The project will expand the capacity of operational areas such as check-in, X-ray inspection, baggage claim, and passport control. As a parallel work, the dealership has been intensively acting on the commercial area, seeking new contracts with retailers, airlines, and logistics companies, among others. In this context, we set up contracts with Dufry to open two large stores in Terminal 2, with the Peruvian Retail Services, which will have four new stores at the airport, with SouthRock, which will bring to the airport brands well-known by buyers, such as TGI Fridays, among other businesses. The goal for 2017 is to further expand the range of services to passengers, especially in the food court, shops, and new travel destinations.”
FOR THE MILLIONS OF PASSENGERS WHO PASS THROUGH GRU EACH YEAR, BABCOCK guarantees a superior customer experience. On hand with our 220–strong team of professionals in Brazil, ensures that we provide the finest level of service. Luggage systems, boarding bridges, audio systems, automatic doors – at BABCOCK, we are world leaders in our field, making sure every part of your airport journey runs smoothly. With our international-standard technological solutions, GRU has the critical components it needs to be the best in Latin America.
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Endeavour Magazine | 13
NEW TIMEHRI HANDLING SERVICES WWW.TIMEHRIHANDLING.COM // 592.261.3021
DELIVERING SERVICE EXCELLENCE Guyana’s new government has pledged to re-pivot the Guyanese economy away from its traditional reliance on agriculture and commodities, in favour of an ambitious economic diversification scheme which will help open the country up the world, not to mention the investment riches that this will bring. WRITTEN BY DJAMIL BENMEHIDI
NEW TIMEHRI HANDLING SERVICES
Thanks to Guyana’s quite outstanding natural beauty,
tourism will be an important mechanism for economic growth in years to come, and the country’s aviation sector and leading airport, the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), the instruments to achieve it.
A
s Guyana’s leading airline ground handling services provider,
over 180,000 visitor arrivals last year, Guyana’s aviation sector is
New Timehri Handling Services – a company which, thanks to
under great pressure, as it faces the unenviable task of not merely
its international standard professionalism and dedication to
sustaining but improving the customer experience of large flows of
employee excellence, has long enjoyed industry leader status - will
tourists, whilst at the same maintaining its vigilance in the face of
play a less visible, but no less important frontline role in facilitating
the ever-present threat of international terrorism. It’s little wonder
the growth of Guyana’s budding tourism sector. Endeavour
that the aviation sector, and the airline ground handling sector, in
Magazine spoke to New Timehri CEO, Maurice Gajadhar, to find
particular, is such a tough, competitive field in which to operate –
out more.
in the face of such challenges, not to mention tight profit margins,
As an economic sector which accounted for 9.8% of global GDP
only the best survive.
last year – equivalent to US$7.6 trillion - tourism’s role as an engine
As Cheddi Jagan International Airport’s primary airline ground
for wealth creation, and catalyst for socio-economic development
services provider, New Timehri Handling Services Inc. knows this all
in developing countries is well-known, not to mention valuable
too well, and has established a longstanding reputation as an outfit
for the countries with the natural gifts to host it. Few countries
which delivers the best airline ground handling service delivery in
in the world are fortunate enough to enjoy the wonderful natural
the business, whatever the demands or circumstances.
gifts Guyana enjoys, however; the potential of its nascent tourism sector is truly incredible.
Established in June 2001, following the collapse of its former parent company, Guyana Airways, Timehri Handling Services
Guyana is nature unspoilt. Its spectacularly bio-diverse
provides a range of services to the largest airlines currently
rainforests have escaped the plight faced by the forests of its
operating out of CJIA, including passenger check-in and baggage
neighbours, and remain lush and unspoiled. Its rolling green
handling services, flight operations assistance, ramp services,
savannahs, and the ancient mountainous highlands of the Guyana
ground equipment leasing and maintenance, loading and unloading
Shield are no less impressive, whilst its picturesque capital,
of cargo from carrier and freight flights, and aircraft grooming
Georgetown, is the epitome of old-world charm.
services.In terms of its international-level credentials, its recent
Unsurprisingly, the wider world is finally beginning to catch wind
admission to the global IATA Ground Handling Council is telling.
of one of nature’s best kept secrets. The country’s gateway to the
It cannot be said that New Timerhri’s reputation for excellence
world, the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) is experiencing
wasn’t earned the hard way, however. The collapse of Guyana
ever increasing visitor numbers as the number oftourists who step
Airways hardly set New Timehri good stead, and, initially, New
off the plane and pass through its gates continues to swell.With
Timehri began life from a position of reduced circumstances.
16 | Endeavour Magazine
NEW TIMEHRI HANDLING SERVICES But whilst it began life as a 12-employee company which served
so as to ensure staff know that they have a long-term career ahead
only Suriname Airways, a lot can change in 15-years - today, New
of them in a company which offers real opportunity for growth and
Timehri Handling Services is now a robust performer which enjoys
personal development. Most importantly, however, New Timehri
near-market monopoly status. This is due in no small part to the
staff know that they are working for a company in which their health
heavy investment the company has made in the equipment needed
and safety is paramount. Throughout the business, there is an
to serve the biggest airlines, meaning that airline clients can call
imbedded culture of safe working practice where employees know
upon New Timehri’s large stockpile of ground handling equipment,
they are able to raise issues and concerns with senior management.
which includes motorised airstairs, belt loaders, transporters, tugs,
All in all, these are exciting times for the company, and the
aircraft scaffolding, a 200-ton aircraft jack, and other essential
inevitable continued investment in and expansion of Guyana’s
equipment when the need arises. A focus on quality has played no
tourism sector will undoubtedly see New Timehri continue to grow
less an important role in New Timehri’s success, however.
over the years to come. For starters, Cheddi Jagan International
Achieving market leader status, and becoming the go-to ground
Airport is currently in the process of a US$150 million upgrade,
handling service provider for international airlines setting up shop
which will result in the airport’s 7,500ft runway being extended
at Cheddi Jagan International Airport, was built on the company’s
significantly. Additionally, the company is set to benefit directly
ability to offer client airlines a level of service and professionalism
from the construction of a modern, cutting-edge new headquarters
beyond that what rivals can match. New Timehri recognises how
which will replace the two-story wooden building the company
the delivery of service excellence is based around the simple fact
presently operates from – a fitting development indeed for a
that customers have a choice, not to mention long memories.
company of New Timehri Handling Service’s stature.
Quality and Safety is key, and this means giving each and every
And you can be certain that through every step of the journey,
passenger undivided attention each and every time they are
New Timehri will be there, both on the frontlines and in the
greeted by a New Timehri employee. The average check-in process
background, improving standards and ensuring continued industry
only takes a matter of minutes – ample time for the company to
best practice for the hundreds of thousands who flock to Guyana,
make a strong and lasting impression. Professionalism is everything
now and in the future.
in this business, after all, and a business is only as good as its staff - New Timehri’s155 employees have proved their worth time and againas an invaluable aide for client airlines, as they strive to fulfil their commitments to the customers they serve. In aviation, the role of staff is, in many respects, ambassadorial in nature; for the visitors to Guyana who pass to and from Cheddi Jagan International, New Timehri staff are often a first point of contact. Training, therefore, is key, which is why the company places great emphasis on continual training programs which recognise and promote natural talent, and develop expert knowledge and skill. Maurice, who was clearlyand visibly proud of his staff, told us: “Each individual airline has their own individual training program; they tend to be demanding, to ensure that staff can offer an adequate level of service. However, our team at New Timehri, through their work with each of these airlines, must at the very least match the minimum service and training requirements of each client airline. This is achieved because not only do they gain so much on-the-job experience working with each of them, but also our staff training at New Timehri is ongoing and mandatory.” He continued, “this is why most airlines who do business in Guyana currently, along with those who are looking to set-up new flight routes into Cheddi Jagan International, come to us first. I believe our staff are unique; elite, even. And our clients recognise as much” Knowing as it does how its reputation is so heavily reliant on its staff, New Timehri offers a range of employee benefits to help it recruit, retain, and motivate its workforce. As a rule, the company employs locally, and strives to develop the best talent from within, 18 | Endeavour Magazine
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20 | Endeavour Magazine
AFRICAN AIRLINES ASSOCIATION (AFRAA) WWW.AFRAA.ORG 254-20-2320144
PROVIDING THE RIGHT STUFF TO KEEP THE PLANES UP WRITTEN BY JACK SLATER
No matter what political or economic problems that the continent may havem Africa’s airline industry is a thriving one thanks to the global demand for all things African. Whether it be resources exported out of the country or tourists brought in, air travel is not only effective and fast, but also still one of the safest means of travel. To ensure that there is sufficient growth in the industry to keep the planes in the air, the African Airline Association was created as a trade organisation to open new doors of opportunity and keep the skies clear for future growth.
Endeavour Magazine | 21
AFRICAN AIRLINES ASSOCIATION (AFRAA)
Established in 1968 in Accra, Ghana, AFRAA has 40 members from
African Union member states and follows a simple but effective creed, “To be the leader and catalyst for the growth of a globally competitive and integrated African airline industry”
C
T
he creation of the association was not something that merely
It has been a catalyst for all the major policy decisions on the
M
transpired on a whim. Brought about as a result of historic
continent.
Y
developments and economic imperatives at the time, its
Last year, at the 47th Annual General Assembly in Congo
CM
aim was specifically to serve African airlines, thus promoting and
Brazzaville, African aviation industry leaders called for intensified
MY
protecting their common interests.
cooperation among African airlines and the engagement of
CY
CMY
To explain, in the early 1960s a great number of African States
all stakeholders to support the liberalisation of African skies.
acceded to independence and created their own national airlines.
The call for the engagement of all specialised institutions in the
Most of these airlines became members of the International Air
aviation sector to support African States in order to expedite
Transport Association (IATA). AFRAA had its conceptual beginning
the implementation of fully liberalised African skies towards the
in 1963, when a number of African airlines, taking the opportunity
establishment of a single African air transport market by 2017 was
provided by the IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) began holding
accompanied by a call for intensified cooperation among African
consultation meetings prior to the IATA AGMs to discuss matters
airlines in order to stimulate the development of inter-African air
of interest to African airlines and to adopt common positions. This
transport.
was the first step towards the creation of AFRAA.
The three-day conference, which was convened under the high
From that first step, in Rome in 1963, the establishment in
patronage of His Excellency Denis Sassou Nguesso, the President
1968 in Accra, of a regional organisation for the articulation of
of the Republic of Congo, was held under the theme “Open skies:
regional views and promotion of co-operation was undertaken
Growth through competition and collaboration” and was attended
by 14 founding members. The first Annual General Assembly was
by over 500 high profile delegates from 46 countries across the
held in Cairo, Egypt, in February 1969 and approved the Articles of
world.
Association, among other decisions taken. Looking back at the last four and a half decades shows that
SECURITY
AFRAA can modestly claim a couple of factors. Firstly, that it has
Security is a particularly trending topic today when it comes
stood in the forefront of major initiatives in the air transport field
to discussing anything to do with air flight. Understanding this,
in Africa in sensitising African airlines to take concrete actions for
AFRAA, in accordance with its mandate of open discussions and
co-operation in operational, commercial, technical and training
informative solutions, keeps all of its members up to date with
fields. Secondly, that they were instrumental in sensitising African
the latest developments affecting them. For example, when the
Governments through the African Civil Aviation Commission and
European Council adopted EU passenger name record directives
other regional and sub-regional organisations, as to the actions to
to curb terrorism, many of the members heard it first from AFRAA.
be taken for the development of an efficient air transport system.
In April 2016, The European Council adopted a directive on
22 | Endeavour Magazine
K
NEW YORK Ethiopian Airlines 1946-2016
FLYING TO THE CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS 3 TIMES WEEKLY FROM JULY 2016 www.ethiopianairlines.com
AFRICAN AIRLINES ASSOCIATION (AFRAA) the use of passenger name record (PNR) data for the prevention,
Accordingly, the new rules create an EU standard for the use of
detection, investigation and prosecution of terrorist offences and
such data and include provisions on the purposes for which PNR
serious crime, according to a press statement made available to
data can be processed in the context of law enforcement (pre-arrival
PANA in Dar es Salaam. It said the directive aims to regulate the
assessment of passengers against pre-determined risk criteria or in
transfer from the airlines to the member states of PNR data of
order to identify specific persons; the use in specific investigations/
passengers of international flights, as well as the processing of the
prosecutions; input in the development of risk assessment criteria),
data by competent authorities.
as well as the exchange of such data between the member states
“The directive establishes that PNR data collected may only
and between member states and third countries.
be processed for the prevention, detection, investigation and
It will also affect common protocols and data formats for
prosecution of terrorist offences and serious crime,” said the EC,
transferring the PNR data from the air carriers to the Passenger
elaborating that under the new directive, air carriers would be
Information Units and strong safeguards as regards to the
obliged to provide member states’ authorities with the PNR data
protection of privacy and personal data, including the role of
for flights entering or departing from the EU.
national supervisory authorities and the mandatory appointment
“It will also allow, but not oblige, member states to collect PNR data concerning selected intra-EU flights. “However, considering the current security situation in Europe,
of a data protection officer in each Passenger Information Unit.
AFRAA 2016 TO BE HELD IN VICTORIA FALLS
all member states declared that by the date of transposition of the
Air Zimbabwe is to host the next African Airline Association
directive they will make full use of the possibility provided for by
(AFRAA) Annual General Assembly, which will take place on 20-22
Article 2 to include also selected intra-EU flights.
November 2016.
“Each member state will also be required to set up a so-called
Victoria Falls was selected as the 2016 venue, following the
Passenger Information Unit, which will receive the PNR data from
appointment of Air Zimbabwe acting CEO Edmund Makona as
the air carriers,” the EC added statement said.
AFRAA’s latest president, succeeding ECAir director general Fatima
24 | Endeavour Magazine
Beyina-Moussa in the one-year revolving position. The 2015 event, held in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo, was the largest in AFRAA’s history, attracting over 500 delegates. Makona accepted the handover by breaking into song about “beautiful Zimbabwe” on stage during the closing ceremony, drawing a round of applause from the conference room. “We are more than excited to be hosting in the magnificent city of Victoria Falls,” Makona said. The incoming AFRAA president went on to stress the importance of AFRAA’s vision for a globally competitive African aviation industry. “A vision [for liberalisation] is now being ignited; we are entering a new era and a new phase for AFRAA where everything has to be done yesterday. This is about the ‘now-ness’ of AFRAA. We promise nothing less than the best,” he said. The meeting will take place between 20-22 November at the Elephant Hills Hotel, Victoria Falls and the city’s airport is currently being upgraded so it can handle wide body aircraft. In conclusion, it is safe to say that the future direction of Africa’s airline industry will surely be decided here.
Endeavour Magazine | 25
OMAN AIRPORTS MANAGEMENT COMPANY WWW.OMANAIRPORTS.CO.OM // 00968 2336 7461
SOARING TO SUCCESS Taking pride in its work, Oman Airports has been changing the way that people fly by adding innovation to aviation services at every available opportunity. Endeavour Magazine spoke with David Wilson, Chief Operations Officer, to find out more. WRITTEN BY AMY BUXTON
OMAN AIRPORTS MANAGEMENT COMPANY
Being responsible for the smooth running of
airports is no mean feat, but the team at Oman Airports (OA) has been making it appear deceptively simple for years, which is surprising, given the sheer volume of work involved.
government-owned operation, OA has been charged with the
A
“The opening of the new Muscat International Airport in March
management and operation of the government owned civil
2018 has helped us achieve an increase in our revenue. Our new
airports within the Sultanate of Oman, including but not limited
retail and duty-free outlets offer a wonderful product portfolio,
to the overseeing of business-critical infrastructure and facilities.
which can compete with the best airports globally, and passenger
To put this into layman’s terms, if something is needed to ensure
experience has also improved significantly since opening the new
the continued seamless operation of an airport, OA is responsible
airport. Our satisfaction scores have improved across multiple
for making it happen and with as little disruption as possible. From
indicators, reflecting passenger satisfaction with the new airport
marketing and communications through to commercial operations
infrastructure and services offered throughout their journey.”
management and coordinating security efforts, everything falls to OA.
He went on to note; “2018 Quarter 4 scores in the ACI-ASQ survey (an airport benchmark quality survey) have ranked Muscat
With a vision of being among the top 20 airports in the world
Airport 18th Best Airport in the world in the 5-15 million passengers
by 2020, the pressure is on, but thanks to a methodical approach,
airport category.” Wilson also emphasized on the prestigious prizes
exemplar management team and perpetual awareness of who these
that OA won recently. One of these prizes being His Majesty’s
endeavours are all for, things look to be very much on track. The
Sultan Qaboos Award for the Best Private Sector eService and
commonsense approach is highlighted in the symbiotic purpose
the Skytrax award for the title of World’s Leading New Airport in
and mission statements of OA, as the team explained:
2018. Such Awards are a reflection on the efforts of Oman Airports
“Our purpose is to be ‘growing gateways to beauty and opportunity’, while our mission complements this by calling for us ‘together, to excellently manage and develop the gateways of Oman’.”
to achieve the best passenger experience and to be a worldwide brand in this competitive industry and a leader in an innovation. So that’s it, right? OA has entered the top 20 best airports list, so it’s time to sit back and relax a little, surely? Absolutely not. This
Looking at the buoyancy of the industry as a whole, it’s
accolade has only further fuelled the determination of Wilson and
interesting to note that OA is performing very positively, especially
his team to strive for ever higher levels of passenger satisfaction
in comparison to other Middle Eastern operations. While there
and commercial success. Salalah Airport played into this perfectly,
have been periods of uncertainty in every industry in the region,
having enjoyed a particularly productive year, which saw it climb to
OA has more than weathered every storm; it has actively sought to
the position of second best airport in the whole of the Middle East
grow, as David Wilson explained,
and sixth best globally, in the below 2 million passengers category.
28 | Endeavour Magazine
Your Path Towards a Digital Future By Havier Haddad, Manager for Gulf at Dell EMC The pace and scale of change that digital technology is enabling means organisations must adapt to remain relevant. And they must use digital technology to do so. In short, digital transformation is now a business imperative. Most organizations are still in the early stages of digital maturity, working on isolated projects that lack coordination. In contrast, the handful of organisations that fully understand enterprise-wide digital transformation are making increasingly-rapid progress, disrupting industries and leaving competitors behind in the process. This is because, digital transformation clearly means different things to different organizations and customers. Our customers need a technology partner that they can rely on to help them in their journey, and we at Dell EMC are here to be their trusted guide and implement a remedy to advance their digital transformation following four strategic and parallel paths:
Digital transformation: we are well positioned
IT
Workforce Transformation: The experience of
Security Transformation: If the workforce is accessing applications and information from wherever they are, security transformation is needed as well. Data is moving further out to the edge on more devices than ever before, and so the security posture of organizations must evolve to protect the business without being an impediment to it. With its industry expertise along with its expansive set of infrastructure and software technologies, Dell EMC is a powerful ally to businesses in their transformation journey to fuel digital innovation.
to enable customers to shift the status quo and embrace a digital future through Digital Transformation. Our vast and comprehensive portfolio of products and services enable organizations and communities to adopt technology at the heart of everything they do – to accelerate the cycle of innovation and create competitive differentiation – in order to deliver the best experience and meet their customer’ needs first.
the workforce is fundamentally different. We power this workforce transformation by modernizing user experiences, empowering new ways of working and delivering innovative decision-making with intuitive apps and data insight.
Transformation: Digital transformation invariably leads to an IT transformation in the data center because the requirements driven by digital will break traditional IT infrastructure. IT must adopt a hybrid cloud strategy and base it on modern data center technology, automate and act as a service provider in-house and broker additional services from external providers.
To this end, Dell Technologies as a unique family of 7 businesses (Dell, Dell EMC, VMware, Virtustream, Pivotal, RSA, SecureWorks), brings together strong capabilities in the fastest-growing areas of the industry, including hybrid cloud, software-defined data center, converged infrastructure, platform-as-a-service, data analytics, mobility and cybersecurity, provides the essential infrastructure for organizations to build their digital future, transform IT and protect their most important asset, information!
OMAN AIRPORTS MANAGEMENT COMPANY It’s not just passenger services that have been propelling OA to the
new; every single part of the service offering for customers and the
top of the industry though,
systems behind our operations is different.”
“There has been steady growth, in Muscat, in our cargo
He continued to explain; “All our new airports now have boarding
market in the last 12 months, helped by the opening of a new
bridges, improved retail spaces and fully integrated systems and
cargo facility in March 2018, with a capacity of up to 380k tonnes.
control centres, allowing us to provide a much higher quality of
This is definitely a targeted growth area for Oman Airports over
service to airlines and passengers. Indeed, the new infrastructure is
the coming years and we will be working closely with our national
absolutely essential to being able to deliver the level of service that
stakeholders and international partners to continue to improve and
our customers expect and to help us achieve our vision to become
manage the cargo market in Oman.”
and remain a top 20 airport company in the world by 2020.”
OA is in a privileged position in that its key partnership is with
In addition to the Government of the Sultanate of Oman, OA
the Government of the Sultanate of Oman. Both parties are keen
acknowledges a host of other strategic partners that have played
to facilitate the opening of new airports for the nation and with
an important role in the evolution of the region’s airports. The
projects of this nature always being colossal in size, it’s vital to
Public Authority for Civil Aviation, Oman Aviation Group, Royal
have the backing of a large body that has prestige running through
Oman Police, Oman Air and Oman Aviation Services are all cited as
every facet of itself. As a key example, the Government invested
critical strategic partners, though this list is not exhaustive.
significantly in new Muscat International Airport terminal. Such
When it comes to the future, there’s nothing but positivity,
a huge project would be difficult to complete, were it not for the
investment and evolution on the cards. Thanks to a foundation of
unwavering support of the government. Wilson makes it clear
high performance and continuous improvement, there is a level of
that, despite the costs, modernization is key to continued success.
faith and trust that OA is an operation worth engaging with for the
“There is no comparison between the old world airport and the
long term:
30 | Endeavour Magazine
“The Government of Oman, through the Ministry of Transport &
to exceed the expectations of customers, which makes OA such
Communication, has invested significant sums in the development
a pinnacle of modern business, not to mention a benchmark of
of the airport infrastructure across the sultanate of Oman. Muscat
the aviation sector. Open communication with other international
International, Salalah and Duqm now have state of the art terminal
airports maintains both a competitive edge and an overarching
facilities and airfield infrastructure that can accommodate the
standard of excellence for the entire industry, while setting OA
world’s largest aircraft, the Airbus A380. Whilst our airport
apart. The future certainly looks set to be a continuation of the
infrastructure is very new, we are focused on always enhancing
success already being enjoyed by Wilson and the whole Oman
the passenger experience and are embarking on a programme of
Airports team, however, it’s the passengers that will really feel the
implementing technologies such as self-service check-in and Self
benefit.
Bag Drop, which will provide our airlines and passengers with choice.” Wilson went on to explain that even more passenger-critical initiatives are being brought in: “We are also investing in passenger flow management technology at Muscat, which will be able to highlight hot spots across the inbound, transfer and outbound passenger journey which will allow us to refine our forecasts and provide the passenger with a seamless journey through the airport by identifying pinch points that could create queues.” It’s the unerring commitment to upholding the very highest standards, while always actively seeking out new opportunities
Endeavour Magazine | 31
32 | Endeavour Magazine
AIR INDIA WWW.AIRINDIA.IN 91 11-24624074
UP, UP AND AWAY WRITTEN BY AMY TOCKNELL
An airline rich in history and lineage, Air India has been helping people ‘get away from it all’ for over 80 years. Endeavour Magazine took a closer look at this passenger-driven operation to see just how they keep flying so high, despite industry turbulence. Endeavour Magazine | 33
AIR INDIA
Not only is Air India the flag carrier airline of India, it is also one
of the biggest set-ups as well and is responsible for transporting colossal numbers of passengers to over 80 domestic and international destinations every week, but it doesn’t simply go through the motions, it seeks to make every flight an experience that customers will never forget.
O
wned wholly by the Government of India, the airline has been given strict covenants as to the levels of success that are expected, as well as standards of care that must be adhered
to at all times and it doesn’t disappoint. This must be, in part, due to the impressive heritage of the brand, which dates all the way back to 1946 Operating as Tata Airlines for a short while, post WWII saw a dramatic change, when the organisation became a public limited company and with that came a total rebranding, leading to the creation of Air India. It was a savvy business move, given that regular commercial flights were, once again, free to be scheduled and with a keen eye for a fantastic business opportunity, the Government of India claimed a majority stake in the company in 1953. The rest, as they say, is history. Today, an 11-strong board of directors, which is delighted to be celebrating 70 years at the forefront of the competitive passenger transportation industry, manages Air India and does so with a firm, yet approachable hand. Let’s not forget that remaining family-friendly and ‘fun’, is key to any airline that wants to continue welcoming passengers of all ages and with that in mind, the corporate branding starts to make a lot of sense. The impressive fleet that Air India boasts has been expertly
34 | Endeavour Magazine
IN 192 COUNRTIES AND NEVER LOST IN TRANSLATION
THERE’S MORE BEHIND THE STAR
AIR INDIA
decked out in the signature red and orange livery that has come
These are the words of Bobby Kooka, the man who conceived the
to stand for quality and enjoyable travel and is a real feather in the
Maharajah. He is now a familiar, lovable figure that first made his
cap of the airline,
appearance in Air India way back in 1946, when Bobby Kooka, as
“The logo of the new airline is a red coloured flying swan with the ‘Konark Chakra’ in orange, placed inside it. The flying swan has been morphed from Air India’s characteristic logo, ‘The Centaur’, whereas the ‘Konark Chakra’ is reminiscent of Indian’s logo. The
Air India’s Commercial Director, and Umesh Rao, an artist with J.Walter Thompson Ltd., Mumbai, together created him.” The impact that this internationally recognisable figurehead has had, is unquestionable and impressive,
new logo features prominently on the tail of the aircraft. While the
“What began as an attempt at a design for an inflight memo pad
aircraft is ivory in colour, the base retains the red streak of Air India.
grew to take Air India’s sales and promotional messages to millions
Running parallel to each other are the orange and red speed lines
of travellers across the world. Today, this naughty diminutive
from front door to the rear door, subtly signifying the individual
Maharajah of Air India has become a world figure. He can be a lover
identities merged into one.”
boy in Paris, a sumo wrestler in Tokyo, a pavement artist, a Red
There is no doubting that the vibrant livery itself has contributed
Indian, a monk and he can effortlessly flirt with the beauties of the
to a stunning, professional fleet of high quality aircraft that people
world. And most importantly, he can get away with it all, simply
want to travel on, but there is an extra string to the branding bow
because he is the Maharajah! He has completed 56 years and
that also helps to set the airline apart from its competitors, even
become the most recognisable mascot the world over. His antics,
more than the standards of passenger care that run through every
his expressions and his puns have allowed Air India to promote its
line of operation and that’s The Maharajah, a quirky little cartoon
services with a unique panache and an unmatched sense of subtle
character.
humour. In fact he has won numerous national and international
“We call him a Maharajah, for want of a better description, but his blood isn’t blue. He may look like royalty, but he isn’t royal.
nus Halal me upon available request
awards for Air India for humour and originality in publicity.” Naturally, a national airline the size of Air India cannot simply
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rely on cute cartoon characters alone to continue its success and development and that is where the staffing body of over 20,000 professionals come in. From ground staff through to cabin crew and an experienced team of managers, Air India has consistently strived to hire only the best and most dedicated individuals that seek to promote and support the organisation. Any hugely successful company is only ever as strong as the vision that underpins it and the people that can make that vision a reality and while some people might see airlines as simply a functional cog in the holiday machine, Air India seeks to be a memorable and enjoyable part of the whole process, not to mention a luxurious one, leading to their slogan, ‘Your palace in the sky’. Looking to offer all passengers the ‘royal’ treatment, Air India has constantly sought to improve and develop its operation by focussing on in-flight entertainment, frequent flyer programmes and premium lounges, not to mention only acquiring the best and safest aircraft, for total peace of mind. Boasting a fleet of over 100 premium jets and with more in the pipeline, one thing is for sure; the solid future of Air India is not simply ‘pie in the sky’ thinking, it’s a certainty.
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AIRPORTS AUTHORITY OF JAMAICA WWW.AIRPORTSAUTHORITYJAMAICA.AERO // 001 (876) 924-8452-6
RISING TO THE CHALLENGE It is no secret that the country is one of the world’s leading centres of tourism, with more than 3 million tourists entering into the country each year to sample Jamaica’s beautiful weather and rich culture – a fantastic blend of Jamaican, African, and European influence. To ensure that this thriving industry continues to grow from strength-to-strength, the Jamaican government has placed great emphasis on developing and modernising the country’s aviation sector and infrastructure – a role which has fallen to Airports Authority of Jamaica. WRITTEN BY DJAMIL BENMEHIDI
AIRPORTS AUTHORITY OF JAMAICA
Since it was established in 1974 under the “Airports
Authority Act” as an independent statutory body, Airports Authority of Jamaica has worked tirelessly to build a world-class airport system fit to act as the gateway into the Caribbean.
A
s the organisation responsible for martialling Jamaica’s
as a wholly-owned subsidiary of AAJ, commenced operation of the
principle aviation assets, AAJ’s ownership and management
Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA).
of the country’s two international airports, Norman Manley
Airports Authority of Jamaica provides oversight and contract
International and Sangster International Airport, and the newly
administration for the concession agreement that is in place with
built Ian Fleming International Airport, requires professionalism and
each Airport Operator; MBJ Airports Limited and NMIA Airports
a level of service equal to the highest global standards. And that’s
Limited. As a part of its responsibility, AAJ continues with the
without factoring in AAJ’s additional responsibility for the island’s
operation and management of the four domestic aerodromes.
four domestic aerodromes. Air traffic is rising, even in spite of the
In addition, AAJ undertakes the long-term planning and
slow recovery of the regional economy, as are the expectations of
development of Jamaica’s airport system and continues to be at
a new breed of tourist – one which is discerning, and more than
the fore of the country’s air transportation policy development. The
ready to use social media to tell the world about their experience
broad airport development policies pursued and the organisational
in Jamaica.
changes implemented in recent years are aimed at expediting the
The country’s international airports, their staff, and their
expansion and modernisation of the nation’s principal international
facilities are the first things that tourists see as they enter the
gateways. The international airports are highly capital-intensive
country – they are de facto ambassadors for Jamaica, in other
businesses and are organised and managed as self-financing
words, and in an industry where perception is everything, there
commercial enterprises. Both airports are implementing large capital
is a huge amount of pressure to ensure the delivery of a superior
development programmes that are being financed by internally
customer experience.
generated funds, shareholder’s loans and equity contributions, as
Since its inception, AAJ has worked diligently to fulfil its
well as commercial debt.
principal mandate of developing and operating a safe and secure
The Government of Jamaica has taken the policy decision to
airport system for Jamaica. For several years now, AAJ has been
privatise the international airports, commencing with Sangster.
adjusting structurally in keeping with the Government’s airport
This is in keeping with international trends and the need to
privatisation policy. Over a decade ago, in April 2003, the company
attract private capital to finance the required levels of expansion
divested the operational responsibility for Sangster International
and development at the international airports, to cope with the
Airport (SIA) to MBJ Airports Limited, a private sector operator.
projected growth in aircraft and passenger traffic.
Later that year, NMIA Airports Limited, having been incorporated 40 | Endeavour Magazine
Under the agreement, the approved airport operator is
Endeavour Magazine | 41
AIRPORTS AUTHORITY OF JAMAICA responsible for the management of the day-to-day operations of
the expansion of its cargo operation and the growing demand for
the respective airport, in keeping with specific performance criteria
General Aviation Hangars.
and prescribed international standards. Regular performance
“The AAJ is undaunted by the challenges which face the global
reviews and other contract administration oversight functions are
and local aviation sector, and we are committed to positioning
conducted by AAJ, as specified under the concession agreement.
Jamaica’s airports as the gateway to the Caribbean and the
In addition, an Airport Forum is held biannually to provide
Americas. In keeping with National Outcome #9 of Vision 2030
stakeholders with the opportunity to provide progress reports and
Jamaica, we remain steadfast in the pursuit to ’Expand domestic
to address pertinent issues.
and international air transport infrastructure and services and
The benefits of this public-private sector partnership are clear – Jamaica’s international airports will benefit from increased private
Develop Jamaica as a regional hub with multimodal transport linkages’,” stated an AAJ spokesman in a recent report.
sector investment and efficiencies, whilst AAJ’s standing as the
AAJ is also poised to enter into a Sister Airport Agreement
body responsible for review and oversight means that the country’s
with the world’s busiest airport, the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta
aviation sector will continue to deliver the fantastic level of service
International Airport (ATL) in the US – a world-class partnership
and hospitability for which Jamaica is famed.
which, by association, truly showcases AAJ’s industry-leading
So, what next for AAJ? Well, suffice to say, with a strengthening
credentials. This deal is the culmination of a long-term working
regional and global economic outlook, further investment in
relationship between the city of Atlanta and Jamaica, which has
capital works is planned, including the implementation of Runway
formerly seen the authorisation of a Sister Airport Program in
End Safety Area (RESA) and Runway Extension projects at both
2015 and a Sister Cities Programme, linking Atlanta with Jamaica’s
international airports. Additionally, the construction of new Air
Montego Bay. These are heady times for this world-beating
Traffic Control Towers (ATC) by the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority
organisation – like the planes that je -off from its runways, AAJ is
(JCAA) and the development of NMIA’s east airfield to facilitate
set to fly over the years to come.
42 | Endeavour Magazine
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44 | Endeavour Magazine
KISHUGU WWW.KISHUGU.COM 0027 13 741 6400
MANAGING FIRE WRITTEN BY STEVEN WELLER
Kishugu is more than just a company devoted to suppressing fire. Implemented via the company’s very own Working on Fire (WOF) initiative, the mission is to equip companies within the agricultural sector and beyond with the tools and knowledge to manage one of natures most unpredictable forces. Endeavour magazine had the pleasure of speaking with Kishugu’s joint managing director, Mr Chris de Bruno Austin. Endeavour Magazine | 45
KISHUGU
In 1986, a group of young fire prevention enthusiasts came
together in the South African city of Nelspruit to form a company that would not only change the fortunes of South Africa but the world. Like a phoenix from the ashes of the Fire Prevention Association, in 2003, the brand Kishugu was born. A company committed to saving lives, supporting agriculture and educating workforces. A company truly dedicated toward, “the greater good,” Kishugu is a shining light to those whom it serves.
“F
ire is very much misunderstood, it is not the destructive
buds etc. and then there’s the global effects of climate change. Is
force which it’s really made out to be. In fact, we need
there a correlation between rising atmospheric temperature caused
large scale fires to ensure survival. The lands need
by increased carbon emissions and wildfires? No one is better to
replenishing on an 8-year cycle in the southern hemisphere for
judge than Chris, who has worked in fire for the best part of 25
habitat to flourish”, Mr Austin explains.
years. On this he elaborates, “We are definitely seeing an impact,
Wildfires are no new phenomenon. For the past 420 million
we are seeing drier dry spells and wetter wet spells. Third world
years, fires have engulfed the natural landscape; no wonder, given
countries are currently the ones suffering from these spells. There
the earth’s cover of carbon-rich vegetation, seasonally dry climates
is a lot of money being thrown at suppression when there needs to
and levels of atmospheric oxygen which are critical for sustaining
be a higher emphasis on prevention training.”
life. Many ecosystems rely greatly on cyclical fires for wildlife to reproduce and grow. This may seem difficult to fathom but consider this: fire helps return nutrients from plant to soil, and the heat it produces is essential for the germination of certain seed types. Additionally, the dead trees which are left behind create essential habitats that are beneficial to fauna. So, what’s all the fuss about?
CHANGING CLIMATES
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS Chris began his career fighting fire on the ground, and one particular day in 1985 lasts long in the memory; a day known locally as Black Thursday – an unhappy day in the eyes of many South Africans, remembered for the devastating wildfires which caused loss of life and many millions of dollars in damage. Chris was working on the ground that day whilst Kishugu’s co- managing
Well, much unlike 420 million years ago, humans now occupy
director Mr Johan Heine fought the blazes from the skies. Following
most of this planet and despite the environmental benefits of
the tragedy, Chris and Johan started providing Integrated Fire
wildfires, they continue to pose a very real threat to both human
Management (IFM) services to forestry companies, fire protection
habitat and life. As we all know, fire can be unpredictable and
associations, district municipalities and landowners; thus, the
cause mass devastation, as illustrated by the California wildfires of
Forest Fire Association (FFA) was established.
2016. According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire
“Ours is a real humble-beginnings story”, said Chris de Bruno
Protection, as of October 29 2016, 6,883 fires had burned 563,411
Austin at the time. “We started as two small businesses in Nelspruit
acres of land, killing 6 civilians and 1 firefighter. Many would argue
and we’ve gone global with a distinctive brand and identity”.
that we are the contributors of our own downfall.
The FFA progressed quickly, acquiring numerous private
Whilst wildfires cannot be pinned to the existence of humans,
organisations, as they continued to develop and implement
evidence suggests we have certainly added fuel to the flame.
IFM strategies. Eventually, the company was rewarded for its
There’s the obvious factor of human negligence, arson, cigarette
endeavours, when they gained their first Working on Fire (WOF)
46 | Endeavour Magazine
African-rooted CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS A2A Kopano began improving and expanding several existing South African black empowered firms since 2005.
With 10 practices country-wide, this national footprint is the oldest practice in continuous operation since 1925.
Guiding you to a better future.
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KISHUGU contract. Thanks to its rapid expansion and ongoing commitment
alone, but their impressive work is by no mean limited to the African
to the highest levels of professionalism and service, by 1995 the
continent. “In 2004 we expanded our Integrated Fire Management
company had grown considerably, covering 70 percent of South
services into Chile, where we currently employ in the region of
Africa. With ambitions to become a global leader in IFM, the FFA
1,600 staff. We are also established in Australia and currently
transformed into the Kishugu Group in May 2014, taking its name
progressing into new markets such as Indonesia, US, Canada and
from the Swahili word for an anthill. The name, explained Heine,
Mongolia. There was a lot of resilience initially, but the results are
reflects the industriousness of ants, which are, “a perfect example
there for all to see and we broke the mould,” said Chris on company
of a broad collective that works for the common good”.
expansion. Kishugu’s resources are as vast as their staff force. Remarkably,
WORKING ON FIRE
the company manufacture vehicles and equipment internally, “We
In South Africa, the most visible aspect of Kishugu’s expertise is
believe in vertical integration, we supply our own fleet, aviation
in the award-winning South African government-funded Working
and training with 400 vehicles in South Africa and near 200 Chile”,
on Fire (WOF) programme. The Working on Fire subsidiary not only
continued Chris.
manages the company’s IFM services but, through the government funded programme, provides poverty and income relief via work opportunities. The programme has seen more than 5,000 previously unemployed people trained to become highly skilled wildfire firefighters, as well as supporting rural communities to be Firewise. WOF is celebrated as the most successful job creation and skills upliftment programme in the history of Southern Africa. To date, Kishugu employs a team of over 7,000 in South Africa
48 | Endeavour Magazine
FOR THE GREATER GOOD On another level, Kishugu has implemented, through its Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) subsidiary, a Global Environment Facility project to reduce climate change-induced risks in South Africa’s highly vulnerable Fynbos Biome, the world’s smallest but richest floral kingdom, which is expected to become more fire-prone under increasingly hot and dry conditions. Kishugu PBO offers clients
a platform to engage civil society, the private sector, donor and government agencies in partnership efforts to find sustainable solutions to socio-environmental problems. They’ve launched four successful programmes that include Kishugu JobShop, Kishugu Kids, Kishugu Honey, and Kishugu Carpentry. Take Kishugu Honey, for example, which provides a platform for ethical, ecosystem friendly honey production linked to economic development at a community level. Honeybee populations are threatened globally, and collapsing swarms are impacting on pollination and food security. It was Albert Einstein who famously quoted, “If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would only have four years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man”. Just one of many examples of the company’s commitment toward “the greater good”. Moving into 2017, Chris tells me that he plans to double the size and stature of Kishugu within South Africa. On an international level, the company will continue the implementation of fire management via the Working on Fire subsidiary throughout previous territory and new. Chris’ vision is the same now as it was 25 years ago, “We want to make a difference”.
We value life, that’s why we invest in it.
Kishugu believes in the power of the collective. Empowering people good. We live up to our promise to protect lives, the environment and property.
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Endeavour Magazine | 49
TANZANIA CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY WWW.TCAA.GO.TZ // 00255 22 2198196
COME FLY WITH THEM Civil aviation development and administration in Tanzania has come on in leaps and bounds, thanks to the continued hard work and dedication of the Tanzania Civil Aviation authority. Endeavour Magazine took a closer look at this progressive and everchanging operation in order to garner a better understanding of where it has come from and, more importantly, where it looks destined to go. WRITTEN BY AMY BUXTON
TANZANIA CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY
If we claimed to be a world-leading authority as to the
state of the Tanzania aviation industry, we would quickly become unstuck, which is why extensive research needed to be undertaken and what an eyeopening experience that was!
L
ittle did we know that there is no way anybody could talk about the sector, without taking a thorough look at how the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) came into being, as
the organisation confirmed, “…the civil aviation administration in Tanzania can be divided
Ground handling for corporate & VIP Jets Permit
into four parts, starting with during colonial era, after independence and during and after the collapse of the East African Community.” Essentially, a single authority, responsible for a number of localities, was affected by British colonial rule and it was only in the 1990s, as part of significant economic reforms, that the TCAA as
Fueling
we know it now was brought into existence,
Transport
“Economic reform in the 1990s required autonomous
Aircraft security Charters and cargo Meet & assist Hotel accommodation
regulatory authorities for technical and economic regulations in their respective sectors. Generally, the established authorities included responsibilities in enforcing technical standards (safety and security) and for promoting effective competition and economic efficiency, protecting the interests of consumers and promoting the availability of regulated services to all categories of consumers in the regulated sectors. The Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) was one of the first four regulatory authorities to be established.” Taking up the heavy and responsibility-laden mantle of full
Equity Aviation Services (T) Ltd Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) P.O. Box 18092, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania Tel: +255 739 923 721 +255 22 28 42 901
52 | Endeavour Magazine
Mobile: + 255 754 49 48 96 VHF GROUND FREQ: 128.8 Email: ops@equityaviation.co.tz Website: www.equityaviation.co.tz
regulatory operations in November 2003, a clear and defined commitment to safe, enjoyable and economically sound aviation activities were the primary concerns and, most impressively, continue to be the guiding principles of the Authority, to date.
Swissport Tanzania Plc, the leading aviation services provider is a subsidiary of Swissport International Ltd. Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority has licenced it to provide ground handling services at Class I airports in the country. Currently it is at Julius Nyerere, Kilimanjaro and Songwe International Airports; and Mtwara Airport.
With a track record of more than 31 years, the company employs about 1000 workforce, handles about 17,000 flights, 1,300,000 embarking passengers and 25,000 tons of cargo a year. Recently Swissport Tanzania Plc Swissport Tanzania launched a state of the First Floor Swissport Freight Termina +255 22 2844 610 art Import Cargo Facility with modern cargo Julius Nyerere International Airport +255 22 2844 343 handling processes and equipment. P.O. Box 18043, Dar.Info@swissport.com www.swissport.com
Dar Es Salaam – Tanzania
Certified under: ISAGO | ISO9001:2008 QMS | ISO14001:2004 EMS
Services offered: Ground Handling Cargo Services Aviation Security Executive Aviation Training (IATA accredited Training Centre)
Swissport Tanzania Plc +255 22 2844 610
First Floor Swissport Freight Terminal
+255 22 2844 343
Julius Nyerere International Airport
Dar.Info@swissport.com
P.O. Box 18043,
www.swissport.com
Dar Es Salaam – Tanzania
Certified under: ISAGO | ISO9001:2008 QMS | ISO14001:2004 EMS Endeavour Magazine | 53
TANZANIA CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY Trying to discuss the all-encompassing breadth of the responsibilities taken up by the TCAA is a mammoth task, but it’s
services while maintaining quality, protecting the environment and safeguarding the interest of consumers and the public”
vital in order to develop a rounded appreciation of everything it has already achieved and hopes to, in the future,
This in itself makes it clear just how important the stewardship of the consumer is in the industry, which is further supported by
“The functions of the Authority shall be to perform the
the vision of the management team, which looks to ensure,
following: To issue, renew, vary and cancel air service licences; to establish standards for regulated goods and regulated services; to
“The civil aviation system in Tanzania to be amongst the safest, most orderly and sustainable in the world.”
establish standards for the terms and conditions of supply of the regulated goods and services and to regulate rates and charges.”
Don’t go assuming that these are just trendy buzzwords and appealing phrases though, as the motto, which states, “Aviation
In addition, effective and responsible fiscal monitoring is key,
Safety and Efficiency. Our Commitment. In partnership” offers
as is the continued overseeing of expected standards compliance
an insight into the genuine integrity, professionalism, efficiency,
and customer satisfaction. To this end, the Authority pledges to
quality and people-centredness approach that underpins the
share information with all relevant bodies and institutions, as well
steadfast values of the entire operation, values that are upheld by a
as advising the Government as to necessary legislation changes.
stringent team of executives,
It’s instantly clear that the everyday tasks of the Authority are
“The Authority is governed by a seven-member Board of
far-reaching and vital, which is why a comprehensive mission
Directors with six non-executive members and the Director General
statement, a clear vision and a memorable motto are all in place and
of the Authority, as the seventh member. The President appoints
working alongside the Authority in a bid to instigate confidence.
the Chairman and the Vice-Chairman and the other directors are
The mission of the TCAA is,
appointed by the Minister responsible for aviation. The Board
“To ensure safety, security and regularity of civil aviation in
provides overall leadership and strategic direction of the Authority.
Tanzania by providing effective oversight and efficient air navigation
The Board is accountable for the overall performance of the TCAA
Headquartered in Dar es Salaam, Coastal has a network of offices throughout the country and operating hubs in Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Zanzibar.
ye
ing
years of service to the tourism and travel industry in Tanzania.
Celebr
ar Our flights are operated by a s n turbine powered fleet of 21 g safaris Cessna Grand Caravan’s ably supported by 6 pressurized Pilatus PC12s. yi of fl
COASTAL AVIATION is celebrating 30
30
at
Operating the largest fleet on the widest flying safari network in East Africa
Working closely with the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) we have been able to attain the level of services we offer to our guests today; we have recently completed the ICAO 5-phase recertification process.
Specializing in scheduled flying safari and private charter flights using the largest fleet on the widest network of locations in As a major stakeholder, Coastal Tanzania. Currently Coastal flies Reach your safari destination dailyTCAA flights to: aims to play itswith part with to 44 destinations, this gives in making the Tanzanian skies rise to over 1000 possible route • Ruaha • Selous • Manyara ever safer. combinations, daily. • Kilimanjaro • Zanzibar • Nairobi 54 | Endeavour Magazine
•
Serengeti
•
Kigali
•
Tarangire
2017 Tanzania's Leading Domestic Safari Carrier
ye
ar
ing
ng
at
30 yi of fl
Operating the largest fleet on the widest flying safari network in East Africa
Celebr
safaris
s
Reach your safari destination with daily flights to:
•
Ruaha
•
Selous
•
Manyara
•
Kilimanjaro
•
Zanzibar
•
Nairobi
•
Serengeti
•
Kigali
•
Tarangire
CoastalAviation
fly.coastal
ctlaviation
safari@coastal.co.tz # www.coastal.co.tz # +255 787 232 747
TANZANIA CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY in carrying out its statutory functions and achieving its objectives.”
Never losing sight of the people that really matter, the
Don’t you find the levels of corporate governance in place
consumers, while always being vigilant in terms of localised
not only refreshing, but also eminently appropriate, given the
developments, the TCAA has made great strides in not only a
industry that TCAA is operating within? If you do, you might also
competitive industry, but also one that needs to have safety
be impressed by the comprehensive five-year strategic plan that
running through its very core, we just know that the sky’s the limit,
has been put in place to manage the development of the Authority
in terms of future accomplishments and we can’t wait to see them
that looks set to complete in 2019. The third plan of it’s kind, the
come into being.
key to the entire strategy is to focus on best-practices and to take advantage of key economic opportunities, “The second plan consolidated the achievements made in the first plan and steered the Authority into a more effective and efficient organisation by benchmarking its services against best practices. The third pla, while building on the experience gained from implementation of the Authority’s mandate under the previous plans, takes into account the existing changes seen in Tanzania’s social, political and economic environment. In particular, it takes into account Tanzania participation in regional economic communities as well as the aviation industry’s international nature outlook in respect of safety, security and operational requirements spearheaded under the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and other major international collaborators.”
56 | Endeavour Magazine
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA AIRPORT 001 268 484 2300 // WWW.ABAIRPORTAUTHORITY.COM
THE SKY’S THE LIMIT Speaking to Endeavour Magazine, Stanley Smith, Chief Executive Officer of the Antigua and Barbuda Airport Authority (ABAA), talks about the large scale developments being initiated at the airport and what improvements it will make to the operation of the facility. WRITTEN BY AMY BUXTON
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA AIRPORT
The history of the Antigua and Barbuda Airport is
exceptionally interesting, with regular expansion and developments being documented. Initially constructed in 1942, as a basic aerodrome for the American military, it was effectively ‘given’ back to the Government of Antigua and Barbuda to do with what they pleased in 1949. Seeing an opportunity for commercial use, the site was improved and finally open for public use in 1952 under the name of ‘Coolidge Airport’.
A
number of improvements were made in the following years,
new act was stated to “provide for the establishment of an
including numerous runway extensions in the 1960s and ‘70s,
Airport Authority; to make provisions for the ownership, control,
resulting in a 9,000ft thanks to a Canadian Government grant
management and development of airports in Antigua and Barbuda;
being won in 1972. Parking facilities were also drastically improved,
and for matters connected generally with management of airports”.
with extensive expansion being included for extra aircraft. It was
Prior to November 2006, the V.C. Bird International Airport was
not until the 1980s that operational buildings were given attention,
operated under the auspices of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and
but a brand new, 60,000 square foot, passenger terminal was
was managed by an Aerodrome Superintendent.”
constructed in 1982 and following smaller scale renovations, the newly rejuvenated airport was renamed in 1985. Now called the
With the power to authorise dramatic improvement initiatives in place, an incredible expansion plan could be put into place,
V.C. Bird International Airport, named in honour of the country’s
“The Antigua and Barbuda Airport Authority (ABAA) has
first Prime Minister, the Honourable Dr. Sir Vere Cornwall Bird
embarked on a multi-million dollar airport expansion project. This
Senior, the facility has welcomed international arrivals from airlines
includes runway extension, apron rehabilitation, new underground
including Eastern, Air Canada, Air France, American Airlines, British
fuel
Airways and countless others.
construction of a new passenger terminal building. All expansions
hydrant
systems,
airfield
lighting
improvement
and
With such results following redevelopment, it comes as no
have been completed already, with exception of the passenger
surprise that the forward thinking Antigua and Barbuda Airport
terminal building. The new passenger terminal building is expected
Authority (ABAA) has taken inspiration from the former successes
to be completed in the first quarter of 2015 and will accommodate
and embarked upon an impressive series of renovation projects in
passengers within a spacious 23,000 square meters of specifically
recent years, with the final element set to be completed in early
designed space. It will have 46 common use check in counters,
2015. Endeavour wanted to know how these projects have come
15 self check in kiosks, a state of the art hold baggage handling
about and asked Stanley Smith, Chief Executive Officer of the
system, sophisticated pre-boarding screening facilities, passenger
ABAA to expand on the process and how the ABAA has been given
loading bridges and 26 retail shops and 4 restaurants”
the authority to oversee the improvements,
With such attention to detail being included in every facet
“The Antigua and Barbuda Airport Authority Act was passed by
of the new developments, the ABAA are offering state of the art
an Act of Parliament in November 2006 resulting in the transition
airport facilities to rival other large international destinations.
to a full corporate entity in February 2007. The mandate of the
Such improvements are such to attract not only larger numbers
60 | Endeavour Magazine
of international and domestic travellers, but potentially increased
in-house and overseas training will be conducted for all ABAA
numbers of airlines, which will have a huge impact on the financial
staff involved with the operation and maintenance of specialised
buoyancy of the airport itself.
terminal equipment.”
Permeating every area of the airports operations, the ABAA cite their everyday business activities as, “Providing facilities for the efficient processing of passengers,
Clearly the ABAA must be a company that many people harbour a desire to work for, thanks to dedicated training and progression opportunities, but will they be offering any openings soon?
both international and domestic. We also oversee all food,
“The opening of the new terminal building will, naturally,
beverage and retail/commercial activities as well as concerning
see employment opportunities arising in the Information
ourselves with the effective provision of concession space for car
Communication and Technology and Commercial Development
rentals, tour operators and in-plane catering.”
departments. The ABAA takes a unique view of physical well
Is there anything that the ABAA does not do? With every
being and the impact it has on effective job completion, observing
element of its operation being fully geared towards the success of
healthy employees to offer enhanced productivity and as such the
the V.C. Bird International Airport, it stands to reason that it must
ABAA Fitness Challenge was launched in May 2014. This involves
boast an impressive staffing body. Endeavour asked Smith to talk
staff participating in a fitness program, coupled with tailored health
about the importance of hiring effective team members and how
talks.”
they are supported in their career aspirations,
It’s astounding to observe that a company in the midst of a
“The ABAA has continued to promulgate staff development,
large scale redevelopment and improvement initiative can take the
across the company. With this in mind, a comprehensive training
time to consider the health and well being of the 250 strong work
program has been developed for operations coordinators, customer
force that it employs, but this is merely another example of how the
service representatives, mechanical and electrical technicians and
ABAA continues to set the standard for employers the world over.
administrative assistants. Most of these programs are drawn from
With this in mind, it is entirely understandable why the company
Airport Council International and ICAO, to guarantee quality. With
has adopted a new tagline and mantra:
the imminent opening of the new terminal building it has become
“We Deliver.”
increasingly important to monitor staff performance and as such,
They have delivered indeed.
BAHRAIN AIRPORT SERVICES WWW.BAS.COM.BH // +973 1732 1777
FEET ON THE GROUND EYES IN THE SKIES Bahrain Airport Services (BAS) was founded nearly four decades ago to provide fully integrated airport services at Bahrain International Airport (BIA). Supported by more than 3000 experienced staff in total, BAS is an ISAGO accredited Airport Service Provider (ASP) which owns and operates five distinct business units: full aircraft and passenger ground handling, cargo terminal services, in-flight catering services, aircraft line maintenance and aircraft engineering training. We spoke about the details with Chief Executive Officer, George Saounatsos after one year at the helm of BAS. WRITTEN BY JACK SLATER
BAHRAIN AIRPORT SERVICES
“Our Traffic Division handles more than 9 million
passengers annually and 35 different airlines, providing a comprehensive range of ground handling services including passenger and ramp handling, dispatch and aircraft load control, baggage handling, flight planning, crew briefing and administration, a number of airport operational functions as well as premium and special services,” George says, “Our Dilmun Lounge for premium passengers, has won the prestigious award of “Lounge of the Year - Middle East/Africa Region” for 6 years in a row!”
B
AS’ Cargo Division handles 280,000 tonnes of freight annually
average of 500,000 meals per month are produced to satisfy 125
including import, export and trans-shipment. When looking at
different menus while a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point
the scale of work this division is responsible for just one cargo
(HACCP) system is implemented with stringent international
terminal encompasses an area of 19,000 square meters with multibay storage racking and a range of special facilities for perishables, valuables, dangerous goods and livestock. Modern/state of the art computing and communication systems are used for managing its multi-faceted operations to ensure optimum efficiency.
hygiene regulations & standards.” Passengers clearly benefit from the highest level of service at BAS but what have some of the hurdles been for the business? “There are some sizeable internal and external issues which raise important challenges to the management of BAS and our long-term
Aircraft Engineering Department provides Line maintenance
strategic planning,” George explains, “One of the main extraneous
and is an EASA certified Part-145 Maintenance Organization.
factors is linked to the efforts of our national carrier to cope with
It handles a total of 8,000 aircraft maintenance movements and
their growing economic challenges through the rationalization of
54,000 flight movements annually. The experienced engineering
their network and restructuring of their fleet.
staff is supported by an array of ground equipment to provide
He continues, “Our success is inherently linked to the type and
high servicing standards to airline customers. Ground Support
traffic volumes of Gulf Air as our biggest customer. Intelligent and
Equipment includes push-back tugs, air conditioning units, ground
efficient cost control is one of the ways to better prepare for the
power units, air starters, various high lift devices, etc. forming the
uncertainties of the future. There are many areas from where we
most comprehensive fleet of airport GSE in the region.
can reduce costs and even reinvest part of these savings back to
BAS has also invested in a state of the art BD1 million BAS Aircraft Engineering Training Centre (BAETC), an EASA certified
our people and their training in order to improve the level of service and achieve better value for money for all our airline customers.”
Part-147 Training Organization. BAETC provides basic aircraft
“On top of that, we also have to take into consideration the
engineering training, specialized aircraft type-rating courses, as well
competition in the region and be pragmatic. We are within a one-
as OJT and practical experience utilizing technologically advanced
hour radius from three major hubs namely Dubai, Abu- Dhabi and
facilities and equipment
Doha. These airports constitute the home base of three aggressively
“Our modern in-flight catering infrastructure covers an area
expanding global airlines with well established international
of approximately 11,000 square meters and has a maximum
networks and a high momentum. The economies of scale
production capacity of 35,000 meals daily,” George explains, “An
achieved by these “hub and spoke systems”, or in our case “airline-
64 | Endeavour Magazine
airport systems”, generate by default an extremely competitive
lean management system,” he explains, “Among other initiatives, an
environment for our national carrier and consequently for both the
intensive process re-engineering is in progress to re-think the way
airport company and BAS as communicating vessels. Furthermore,
BAS operates, to streamline our operations and take advantage
BAS is a fully privately owned business entity with no direct or
of synergies to optimize the use of our human capital and GSE
indirect state subsidies and has to earn its living based on its own
resources,” and he adds “We are also bringing in fresh blood with
potential.” And he continues: “Given this regional environment, I
international exposure and experience while at the same time
consider it imperative that all the major aviation stakeholders of
maintaining a high level of Bahrainization for which we are proud
Bahrain work closely together and support each other in order to
to say that has reached 86%, the highest in our sector.”
build a competitive model which can withstand those externalities
Furthermore, their selection process for all staff has become
and protect the aviation business and eventually the economy of
more robust and demanding to set the ground for cultivating
the Kingdom.”
the new corporate culture and depart from habits linked to “old”
On the internal front, the main challenge that BAS appears to
mentalities.
be facing is what George refers to as “corporate fatigue”. BAS has
“We have to break the routine associated with day-to-
been serving the aviation community for more than 35 years and
day operations and be proactive in the way we operate,” is
although it is a well established company in its domain, it is inevitable
the declaration, “Work hard to enhance our credibility and
that an organization of this age and size, with accumulated issues
professionalism, give a touch of the real Bahraini hospitality and
insufficiently addressed in the past would experience signs of
offer a true smile to our passengers through our front line staff.”
corporate fatigue.
George notes that “there is no “magic wand” to achieve all this and
“Our objective is to transform the DNA of the company,
our efforts will require quite some time to pay off. This is about
to revitalize BAS and convert it into a modern, competitive and
setting solid foundations for BAS for many years to come and it is
flexible organization with a performance-based and customer-
worth doing it right through methodical planning and systematic
centric culture leading to value added services. To achieve this,
work,” he continues and adds “The positive aspect is that our staff
a number of organizational changes are underway modifying the
are excited and embracing the changes ahead.”
structure of our key business units to achieve a more efficient and
Speaking about staff, one of the most telling signs of any
Endeavour Magazine | 65
BAHRAIN AIRPORT SERVICES company is the promotional and training focuses placed place on
of Bahrain and its airport and become an additional competitive
the people employed.
advantage in the hands of our national carrier and the airport
“Our human capital is the most important asset; solid initial
company (BAC) itself.”
& recurrent training as well as the ongoing development of our
With so much already in place to ensure the standards and
people is the first priority in order to generate the breed of future
facilitation of BAS continue at their high level, what could be the
managers and leaders for BAS,”
new developments for 2013?
As a service provider it all comes down to the way each
“For the short term, our priority is to reshape our business model
individual staff and expert, be it a check-in agent, a dispatcher, a
to meet changing market dynamics domestically,” George says,
load controller or a loading supervisor, handles the passengers and
“We are reinventing ourselves, embracing the latest technological
customer airlines. At the beginning of 2012 a training master-plan
advances and operational best practices to meet client expectations
was developed and a massive training/refresher training program
and offer competitive services.”
implemented.
This includes the acquiring of the new Cargo Handling System,
“Being determined to invest back to our people part of the
while the implementation of a new Resource Management System
achieved margins through improved incentives and rewards, a
is scheduled for early 2013. This will optimize the planning and
newly established concrete Performance Appraisal System was
day-to-day allocation of recourses and shift patterns for staff as
developed. Managers are trained on how to conduct fair and
well as reducing fatigue or ‘human factor’ implications.
impartial staff evaluations against clearly defined goals/objectives
Furthermore, they developed in house and implemented an
towards establishing an equitable culture and a motivating working
integrated Performance Monitoring System (PMS) with more than
environment built on our new corporate values of ethos, respect,
600 predefined Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for all company
teamwork, transparency and fairness,” George states.
divisions for the collection, processing and systematic monitoring
“We are also revisiting for a second time within a year the
of departmental efficiency and quality as well as the monitoring
salary & grading scale structure for all staff to simplify it and ensure that the basic salary of lower-waged staff is increased while the allowances are rationalized achieving a fair and substantiated policy for all staff, and especially those on shift, while establishing a new era in the relation between management and employees.” Furthermore, high performing “contract” staff is converted to “open-ended” status to enhance their motivation and also pass a positive message to all for the recognition of good work and professional reliability. And what about the customers? What focuses are in place with regards to relationship building and consolidation? “Convincing our airline customers that they get the best value for their money is of primary importance,” George emphasizes, “We all have to “go the extra mile”, to give the best of our mind and heart in order to achieve the highest standards of service and ensure sustainable quality under all circumstances.” In a small market like Bahrain, reliance is on the establishment of close ties with customers. BAS’ staff need to be there to support the airline teams at all times, listen to their concerns, discuss their daily operational issues and seek the best solutions for them. That is Bahrain Airport Services has made it a policy for all operational managers to spend a considerable time of their working hours outside the four walls of their office and make their presence noticeable in the heart of operations, where all activities take place. “An integral part of our new corporate culture is to perceive the passengers as our guests and we want to offer a congenial traveling experience to them,” George explains, “This will enhance the image
66 | Endeavour Magazine
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and benchmarking of their operational performance and the service
spending package particularly on infrastructure projects, including
level agreements with our airlines.
the airport terminal expansion, would contribute to the economic
“We are considering to upgrade our CIP passenger buses
strengthening. This is in addition to the GCC pledged $10bn aid
next year with a luxurious interior, boosting the quality of service
package over 10 years to support Bahrain economic and social
to premium passengers and airlines, as well as to enhance our
developments, which will give much needed injection to the
exclusive premium services.”
aviation sector as well.
“For the medium to long term, we are exploring investment
With a new vision and mission statement and a set of new
opportunities regarding the formation of joint ventures with
strategic objectives, BAS is committed to continuous enhancement
credible counterparts for building or acquiring business entities,”
of service quality, operational efficiency and customer satisfaction
George continues, “We are exploring possibilities for expanding
while maintaining an uncompromising stance towards the
into new revenue streams. Airport operations and management,
implementation of the highest safety and security standards in the
premium passenger servicing and lounges, cargo logistics &
industry. In conclusion, despite such strength and development and
warehousing, aircraft maintenance & training, aviation security and
the highest standard of results there is still a lot to see from Bahrain
diversified activities such as industrial and hospital catering are
Airport Services. As George puts it “We established ourselves on
some of the domains we’re examining, not only regionally but also
the right track to do better but we have a long and challenging way
in emerging markets,”
ahead of us to ensure consistency in our services and sustainable
On the macro level, and after some difficult months, Bahrain’s
quality under all circumstances.”
economy is poised to grow in 2013, which will give much needed boost to the local travel & aviation sector. Public investment and renewed private sector activity are having positive effect on the country’s fiscal status. The government’s planned stimulus
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www.chevron.com Endeavour Magazine | 67
CAIRO AIRPORT 0020226966811 // WWW.CAIRO-AIRPORT.CC
SAND AND SKIES Providing one of the most important gateways to Africa and The Middle East, Cairo International Airport plays a vital role in the global transport of peoples and cargo. Located at the crossroads of Africa, the Middle East, Europe and the Persian Gulf, it plays a role as a regional hub for millions of visitors to Egypt. WRITTEN BY JACK SLATER
CAIRO AIRPORT
The Ministry of Civil Aviation along with the Egyptian
Holding Company for Airports and Air Navigation and the Cairo Airport Company have embarked on a longterm development plan to upgrade and modernize its facilities, increase its capacities and set a new standard of service in the region.
C
airo Airport’s mission is to become a passenger and cargo hub
Over forty five passenger airlines use Cairo airport (including
for the Middle East North Africa region (MENA).
charter airlines) and nine cargo airlines. EgyptAir is the largest
The plan is to achieve the top levels of service by rising
operator at the airport.
to global competitive levels and gradually applying air transport
It is administered together with other airport facilities by
liberalization policies. Part of the airport’s strategy includes working
EHCAAN (Egyptian Holding Company for Airports and Air
closely with Egypt Air, which joined the Star Alliance group, as well
Navigation). Management is through contractual arrangements,
as its partner airlines. The openings of the 211,000 m2 Terminal 3
currently held by Fraport AG. Started as a naval base, it was after
doubled the capacity of the current facilities to 22 million annual
the Second World War that Cairo Airport started to take shape.
passengers.
After the American Forces commanding the base had left after the
2002 saw the beginning of the ambitious plan to upgrade
end of the war, it was taken over by the Civil Aviation Authority for
Egypt’s civil aviation facilities which continues with the renovation
global civil aviation purposes but it wasn’t until 1963 that Cairo
of Terminal One’s VIP Lounges and Terminal Two was recomissioned.
International Airport earned its title after replacing Heliopolis, the
The aim is to make them ready to host 8.5 million international
old airport, located along the Hike-Step region in the eastern part
passengers per year.
of Cairo.
To this end, they have recently finished the projects upon
By 2009 Cairo Airport was able to serve about 14.4 million
Runway 05R/23L and the new Control Tower to accommodate the
passengers, a sizeable percentage increase from the previous year.
increase of future traffic development. Additional projects include
It also handled about 143,000 movements of aircrafts in the same
enterting the final stage of completion of the Seasonal Terminal
year, also a strategic increase from the previous year. The tonnage
aimed at accommodating 3.5 million passengers per year, a three
of airfreight passing through the airport was about 275,000. Amidst
thousand capacity Multi Story Carpark with the Automated people
this statistics, Cairo Airport still comes second in Africa in terms of
Mover for transporting two thousand passengers/hour from T1 to
busy airport activity.
T3. Further ongoing developments include a five star Hotel and an Extended Metro Line linking Cairo Airport with Giza.
There are more than 65 airlines using the airport, as well as nine cargo and charter airline. EgyptAir has the largest chunk of
Cairo International is the second busiest airport in Africa after
operations in the airport taking up to 61 percent of all departure
OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa.
slots. After EgyptAir was assimilated into the lucrative Star Alliance
70 | Endeavour Magazine
carrier, Cairo Airport has been poised to become the chief hub of
for Cairo Airport Company. This was on the occasion of the 5th
major destinations from Africa, Europe and the Middle East, since
anniversary for Cairo Airport Company that was established in
it has A380 facilities among other major utilities.
1963.
A number of projects are underway to enable Cairo to compete
Another attraction for both leisure and business travelers is the
with Dubai as a transit destination, according to the Minister of
new ‘5 Star Hotel’ which has been built in front the new terminal
Civil Aviation Abdel Aziz Fadhel.
and linked with an air-conditioned, 230m long skyway that is also
Speaking at the Euromoney Conference 2013, Fadhel said
equipped with moving walkway/travelators. The Hotel will offer, on
a 350-room hotel attached to the Cairo International Airport is
a total of 10,000 sqm of land assigned for the facility, opportunities
currently under construction and is part of the ministry’s EGP 6bn
for Conferences, Business Meetings and simply the highest
backlog. “Such a hotel will help promote the airport as a transit
comfort. The Hotel will include 350 Rooms and will be managed by
alternative” to Dubai and boost the number of transit travelers
“Le Meridien.
amounting to currently 30% of total arrivals”, he said. Fadhel added that expansions to the airport with the goal of increasing its capacity from the current annual 21 million passengers are in the pipeline, as well as an unspecified “mega-project” to be set up over a 10 million square metre area that he said would create 100,000 new jobs. New Attractions And The 50 Year Anniversary – Golden Jubilee To celebrate its half centinneriary the Ministry of Civil Aviation & Cairo Airport company celebrated with The Golden Jubilee
ARINC_Littlegate-Endeavour_halfpage ad.pdf
1
06/01/2014
16:23
CHANGI AIRPORT GROUP WWW.CHANGIAIRPORT.COM // +65 6595 6868
THROUGH THE AIRPORT Earlier this year my wife and I were able to take a well-deserved break and fly to Asia for a long overdue holiday, the details of which are unimportant. Commonly an article about a holiday would be focussed on the holiday however I am writing this piece to let you know about the spectacular experience we encountered right at the start while our flight was delayed due to a delay with an overseas airport. WRITTEN BY DAEMON SANDS
CHANGI AIRPORT GROUP
What began as a bothersome stumble became an entirely
enjoyable experience thanks to the clear efforts that the Changi Airport Group have put into keeping their benchmark product at the very height of efficiency and ease.
S
ome background to set the scene: Singapore based, air hub,
Changi handled 27 600 flight movements and passenger traffic to
Changi Airport Group Pte Ltd was formed on 16 June 2009
and from the Middle East and continued its upward trend with the
and the corporatisation of Singapore Changi Airport followed
region contributing double-digit growth every month this year.
on 1 July 2009. As the company managing Changi Airport, CAG
This increase of local traffic and the rising numbers of traffic
undertakes key functions focusing on airport operations and
to and from areas such as Southeast and Northeast Asia and
management, development, commercial activities and airport
Southwest Pacific accentuates Changi Airport’s status as a major
emergency services.
Asia-Pacific air hub. As of the 1st November 2012, Changi Airport
As the world’s most awarded airport, having garnered more
has become connected to 230 cities in 60 countries and serves
than 400 accolades since it opened in 1981 everything is tailored
more than 100 airlines operating some 6,400 weekly flights with a
around the needs of the passenger. To serve them and visitors
flight taking off every 100 seconds.
from the world over, there are over 330 retail stores and 120 F&B outlets across the airport’s three terminals.
Efficiency has a remarkably effect on people and is palatable in the atmosphere and although the airport floor is very crowded with
Known for our discerning tastes my wife and I found one of the
people there is a smooth flow of traffic that suggests everything
most impressive things to be the stark contrast in styles of Changi
has been carefully planned out for this very purpose. Of course,
Airport compared to the British and European counterparts. It was
a lot of this falls to the businesses upon the airport floor that are
remarkably easy to forget that we were in an airport at all - instead
there to attract the attention and imaginations of the travellers. My
we lost ourselves within the expansive mall-styled shopping centre
wife and I spent a great deal of time in the Indian Jewellers where
and wandered through their newly erected tranquillity gardens.
I found the service to be especially prevalent to keeping her mood
This is of particular relevance because I find it very difficult to
intact as she sampled the many fine pendants on offer.
get agitated when surrounded by nature and I’m certain that this
What I especially enjoyed was the person-to-person approach
garden area has managed to sooth many passengers with fears of
that this store had, a cheerful smile and a helpful attitude is
flying or anger at having been unlucky enough to have a delayed
something that is sometimes lacking in other areas but it’s true that
flight.
every smile you receive improves your day just that little bit more.
In fact, the numbers speak for themselves. Changi Airport
To maintain their position as a leader in their region, an
registered its highest number of passengers for the month of
attitude of continuous improvement and development drives this
October where over 4 million movements recorded last month
organisation.
which is 10% higher than the same period last year. Concurrently, 74 | Endeavour Magazine
“Changi Recommends” is now available at every terminal with
CHANGI AIRPORT GROUP the opening of its third outlet at Terminal 1’s Arrival Hall. Changi
and improved version of the original app this one leverages the
Recommends offers exclusive deals for the best experiences in
iPad’s wider screen size and offers improved visual quality and
Singapore which my wife found particularly handy when it came to
enhanced functionality for users. Josephine found a handy YouTube
re-planning our holiday. Visitors to Singapore can also conveniently
video on how to use it. Mr Steve Lee, Chief Information Officer,
purchase open-top sightseeing bus tickets and tour packages from
Changi Airport Group, was quoted on saying: “We have designed
the City Sightseeing counters at the Arrival Halls of Terminals 2
the iChangi HD app to meet the needs of a technologically-
and 3.
savvy audience with sophisticated needs. Changi’s airport maps,
As we were going to be looping back through Singapore on
an important feature commonly used by passengers, have been
the tail end of our journey we made full use of the innovative
enhanced on this app to provide more detail that is easy-on-the
products that Changi have made available to simplify the process
eye. Real-time flight data displayed in various easy-to-use formats
of airport travel. In September 2010, the original iChangi app for
is also a new feature and with push notification functionality,
smartphones was launched and since has become hugely popular
passengers are kept up-to-date with the latest flight information.
with Changi’s passengers and visitors. Cited as the “must-have”
Besides passengers, airport visitors will find the app useful too,
app in Singapore the app has been downloaded close to a million
with more detailed information about travel deals and retail and
times, with an average of more than a million uses each month. The
dining promotions.”
app that we were using was the enhanced, iChangi HD application
“With the enhanced features of this app, we aim to provide
for the iPad which was released on the 15th October 2012. This
passengers with the best airport experience, one that is personalised,
provided my wife and I with all the details of our travel, terminal
stress-free and positively surprising. Innovative offerings such
maps and information about Changi’s retail outlets and food and
as the iChangi HD app augment the Changi Experience, which is
beverage eateries.
already well-served by the range of first-class airport facilities and
For the very first time, this app comes with 360-degree visuals of popular facilities and attractions at the airport. As an updated
76 | Endeavour Magazine
amenities for our passengers and airport visitors,” said Mr Lee. The various attractions, distractions and must-sees at Changi
Airport include five thematic gardens, movie theatres, free Wi-Fi and Internet kiosks, a variety of retail outlets and eateries and a rooftop swimming pool! In July 2012, they marked a new milestone for Terminal 1 (T1), the Grand Dame with upgrading works for their oldest terminal finally being completed. Started in May 2008, this S$500 million T1 upgrading project has given the terminal a fresh and rejuvenated look. Works were carried out to refurbish the terminal’s interior design and finishes, as well as improve passenger flow at key areas such as the Departure Check-in Hall, Departure Transit Mall and Arrival Hall.
About
22,000 sqm have also been added to the building, bringing the total floor space of T1 to about 308,000 sqm. The larger floor area provides for more spatial comfort, better passenger flow, additional facilities and expanded retail and F&B offerings. Developed on the thematic concept of a ‘Tropical City’, the upgraded T1 reflects Singapore’s reputation as a garden city. Improvements to the façade and terminal facilities were done with the aim of improving the overall experience for passengers. Changes were made to the layout of the terminal, with the introduction of better way finding elements. Added to this, higher ceilings, improved lighting, wider thoroughfares and thoughtful
Endeavour Magazine | 77
CHANGI AIRPORT GROUP landscaping have all contributed to a high quality experience that is
for Changi Airport to keep up-to-date with these changes in order
synonymous with the Changi Experience.
to remain relevant to passengers. Hence, the mixed-use complex
A major challenge facing the project engineers was to carry out the upgrading even as T1 remained operational. This meant
will host facilities for travel segments such as fly-cruise and flycoach which are increasingly popular.
that works had to be done in phases during the four-year period
“Focus on heartware too,” Mr Lee Seow Hiang, Chief Executive
to accommodate the different operational requirements of the
Officer, Changi Airport Group said, “Terminal 1 holds a special
terminal’s users. A total of 1.5 million man-hours were utilised
place in the hearts of many Singaporeans given its long history. We
during the project and at its peak, 385 workers could be found
are pleased to have retained its heritage while preparing it for the
onsite at the terminal, toiling round the clock.
contemporary ambience and improved facilities, passengers and
A highlight of the revamped Departure Check-in Hall is the
visitors will continue to have a world class airport experience in T1.
addition of the world’s largest kinetic art sculpture. Known as
The upgrading of T1 would not have been possible without the
Kinetic Rain, this sculpture is made up of a total of 1,216 bronze
strong support of everyone in the airport community. We thank
droplets, moving in synchrony to a specially choreographed dance
all of them for their understanding and cooperation during the
every day.
upgrading period.”
Future plans include more developments to the existing open-
It is a marvel what has been accomplished and a business model
air car park fronting T1 into an aviation-related mixed-use complex,
that other airport groups would do very well to follow. My wife
this project will increase the handling capacity by 14% to 24 million
has never been so contented in an airport before and when she is
passengers per annum. As part of this project, some of the public
happy so am I.
areas of the T1 building will be expanded, allowing for more space
Our trip to Asia was marked by a spectacular beginning and
for aviation facilities such as the baggage claim hall, arrival hall, car
a matching end and will definitely feature in any return to the
park and taxi bays.
continent. It is not every day that an airport can leave such a warm
The needs of today’s travellers have evolved and it is important
78 | Endeavour Magazine
feeling.
ENTEBE AIRPORT 00256 4143 53000 // WWW.CAA.CO.UG
A FLIGHT OF FANCY With international recognition secured and a multi-million dollar regeneration project in the works, Uganda’s CAA talks with Endeavour Magazine to discover how one industry can contribute to the fiscal growth of a nation WRITTEN BY KATIE BRADSHAW
ENTEBE AIRPORT
As a result of the crippling Uganda-Tanzania war in the
late 1970s, aeronautical infrastructure in Uganda was in a state of disarray for decades. A number of international airlines had lost faith in the country’s aerodromes as a result of the precarious economy, inefficient transport links and serious security concerns.
B
y the early 1990s, there was a piteous annual average of
the core activities include regulation of the aviation industry,
118,000 international passengers heading through the gates
provision of air navigation services and management of airports.”
at Entebbe, the country’s single-working airport at the time,
After removing a chaotic multi-management approach to the
and only nine international airlines were doing business there.
aeronautical industry and streamlining a singular one, the UCAA has
Reflecting the severity of the tough political and infrastructural
secured strong results in its operations, in particular with Entebbe
challenges facing Uganda, there was also little variation in the
Airport, thanks in part to its emphasis nurturing and developing the
levels of export either inland or on any major transit route.
company’s 950 individual staff. “This [training] is a key imperative
Fortunately, the country’s economy has made ardent strides
as the industry experiences rapid changes in the administrative,
over the last 25 years with a registered growth of 7.5% per annum
operational and technological areas,” says Igunduura. The result
and successful integration with east African countries, particularly
of this promotion is allowing the UCAA to deliver its mandate to
since the discovery of oil within its borders. International markets
ensure security and aviation safety at all of its airfields. In addition,
have thus been embracing Uganda’s main exports, with recorded
significant grants of around US$50m from Spain and Denmark have
growth of 714% between 1986 and 2010 and revenue rising from
contributed towards equipment upgrades and runway renovations
US$406m to US$3.291bn. As a land-locked country, air transport
at Entebbe, and a thriving departures gate has instilled a renewed
is a vital commodity here, and the increasing import-export trade
confidence in the sector.
and passenger demands called for the industry to be poised to play
It seems the hard work and investiture is paying off. Last year,
a prime position in the continuing development of the nation’s
the UCAA attracted the highest number of new international
wealth.
airlines and saw passenger traffic grow at an average annual rate
In a bid to lift the dilapidated sector up and off the industry scrap heap, the autonomous Uganda Civil Aviation Authority
of 10% from 2010-2012, consequently winning them the ‘Global Trade Leaders’ Award.
(UCAA) was established in 1991.“The cardinal objective [of the
This prize, reserved for high-performing medium-sized airports,
company] was to promote the safe, regular, secure and efficient use
was heavily contested among strong entrants such as Qatar Air,
and development of civil aviation in Uganda,” Ignie Igunduura, the
Turkish Airlines and Gulf Air. But with passenger numbers moving
CAA’s manager of public affairs tells Endeavour Magazine. “Today,
through Entebbe expected to rise to more than 1.4m by the end
82 | Endeavour Magazine
ENTEBE AIRPORT of the year, surpassing the 757,200 projected for 2012, and now
airfields, particularly at Gula, Kasese and Arua, just three of the 13
with 21 airlines on board (six domestic and the rest international),
airfields owned by the company. There are also plans to lengthen
the airport can rank itself as one of the top performing global
the runway at Soroti, the second largest airfield, from 1,860m to
operations.
2,500m, and install 24-hour landing lights.
According to Igunduura, Entebbe has already hit its projected
In line with proposals, Entebbe Airport will also receive a
passenger volumes for 2019, putting the airport six years ahead of
significant physical and financial lift with the development of modern
its targets. “Their choice of Uganda was not in vain,” he told East
passenger and cargo terminals to ease the capacity challenge,
African Business Week on announcement of the win. “The award is
apron expansion, and the building of further car parking and vibrant
justified if you look at our traffic figures.”
shopping areas. The financial support the UCAA receives from the
In light of such prestigious recognition, Igunduura and his team
national treasury coffers will not only be reinvested back into the
need to keep both employee and client satisfied but procedures are
system through inland taxes, but contribute to further employment
already in place: “Strategies for the improvement of services and
opportunities in the industry.
competition management include regular staff training, facilities
A further plan to convert three additional aerodromes into
upgrade and incentives to investors and tourists,” he says. “The
airports will come at a cost of around US$240m but it is hoped this
UCAA also constantly seeks customer feedback which helps in
will ease traffic at Entebbe significantly and create a more efficient
product and service improvement.”
system for both tourist travel, and the import/export of goods and
A further aviation overhaul is also underway. Less than two months ago, the UCAA announced its 20-year ambitious ‘Master
services. “The projects are estimated to cost US$300m, and are likely to be completed in 2033,” says Igunduura.
Plan’ which will ultimately channel further funds into the industry,
The prospects have been met with significant enthusiasm, with
double the current passenger handling capacity, improve upon its
investors from China, Canada and Malaysia already visiting Uganda
already high standards, and tackle decline in the country’s other
to discuss financial participation. In October, it was confirmed that
84 | Endeavour Magazine
Spanish engineering firm Ineco have been settled upon as plan
provide high-end services to international tourists. The UCAA will
consultants for the project. It’s looking very likely that the recent
clearly contribute significantly to the economic growth of Uganda
addition of oil as a trading commodity could see a significant change
thanks to the influx of investment and improvement to the country’s
to the cost of fuel for the industry, and also increase the number of
vital airfields and services. It will be wise to continue to deliver for
inland flights. The impressive plans have also had a positive effect
both the international and inland consumer for years to come. As
on neighbouring countries, with Kenya recently announcing its
Uganda takes great strides in its socio and fiscal development,
intent to take on an ambitious air transport project of its own – a
and as the number of people demanding air transport continues
temporary terminal at its own Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
to grow, its collaboration with UCAA seems to be one partnership
(JKIA).
that is destined only to flourish.
To secure proper execution, Uganda’s Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi has commissioned a study to look at proposals and ensure proper planning and analysis of the project. Maintenance is a costsensitive business, but the government there has worked hard with the UCAA to address corporate governance, environmental issues and industry safety standards with a cardinal objective “to promote the safe, secure, regular and efficient use and development of civil aviation inside and outside of Uganda.” Uganda is currently enjoying the prestige of being one of the top tourist destinations in the world, so a thriving tourism industry increasing the demand for air transport necessitates expansion of the sector and its facilities. There is clearly a demand, particularly to
Endeavour Magazine | 85
GEORGE AIRPORT 00 27 44 876 9310 // WWW.AIRPORTS.CO.ZA
FLYING HIGH It’s all about staying at the front of customer service when it comes to an airport. This is something that we have found at Endeavour Magazine again and again. With this in mind, George Airport is well ahead of the competition and is setting the example in a number of crucial areas. We spoke with Airports Manager, Brenda Vorster regarding the new developments in progressive training to help disabled people find work. WRITTEN BY DON CAMPBELL
GEORGE AIRPORT
Winning the Best Regional Airport Award six years in
a row they are looking at the development and training of disabled and previously disadvantaged individuals to get them into work. Known as one of the best employers and having one of the best places to work it is also one of the most picturesque locations, situated as it is near the Garden Route, at an intersection of locals and tourists enjoying the natural scenery.
A
busy airport is a happy airport and George Airport deals with over 600,000 a year, which is set to increase by a further 200,000 within the next decade. This will mean a strong
development for the surrounding locations in terms of employment opportunities and corporate functionality. This is an impressive number to cite however, as one of nine regional airports operated by Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), the George Airport has a reputation for an excellent level of customer service as well as an enviably and a strong Corporate Social Responsibility programme.
LEADING FROM THE FRONT. A pioneering move, this innovative move to help, on a sustainable basis, disadvantaged disabled people was started on December 1 2012 and is directed at helping a dozen disabled candidates to gain the sort of working experience that will help them receive a business administration certificate. Assisting people to find employment in a country known for its unemployment and skills shortage will only add to their already impressive catalogue of attributes. Brenda, has managed the airport for the past four years and was quoted in saying that, “One of our CSR pillars is the mantra ‘moving people, changing lives’ and that is what we are aiming to do with this scheme. By giving 12 individuals the opportunity to gain some valuable work experience which we help them in their search for jobs this year could prove vital for their careers.” 88 | Endeavour Magazine
GEORGE AIRPORT It is a sad fact that in many countries disabled people do not
It goes further than that and each year staff are put through a
get the opportunity to do in-house training, and George Airport
customer service training course which is usually done on location
are ensuring that everything is done above par and properly by
with the help of the local university. There are a lot of hefty
giving them a certificate and an allowance while they are at the
regulations that have to be adhered to and to keep their position
airport and providing mentors to watch over them. Furthermore
as one of the leading airports is really down to the capabilities of
if there are jobs at the end of the year going at the airport they
their staff.
will automatically be put into the line for application. This is not
The focus on this standard of customer service has steered
merely a lip-service attempt to keep communities happy but a real
the plans for the business. Pushing for organic growth and
necessary approach.
development, as an example there is no fuel station at the airport. The nearest one is some 20km away.
LOOKING AFTER THE CUSTOMERS. Currently, George Airport employs 550 people and in order to meet the airport’s high standards for customer service, staff are required to undergo rigorous training programmes including an annual refresher course.
Directly because of this, a R7-8 million initial investment has been penned for a project to develop and construct one at the airport site. Yet another way they are looking at polishing their offering and providing additional jobs. “There is never a reason to have unhappy customers complaining that we didn’t have a petrol station,” Brenda explains,
“The nice thing about George Airport is that, although it has
“So this will add to our customer service value as well as providing
been almost seven years, since it was upgraded, it has won the
a valuable service to the local communities and those working at
regional airport award for its excellent standards of customer
the airport.”
service,” Brenda told us.
90 | Endeavour Magazine
A hotel, to cater for the increase of passenger numbers in the
next couple of years, is being considered by management. A small, 80 bed hotel will be put together that could be tendered and go to site within the next decade.
STAYING UP. An appreciate and a keen use of modern technology is the only way to keep ahead in this business. And George Airport, in a typical approach already have systems in place that take advantage of
RELATIONSHIPS. Like everywhere, the downturn in the global economy has made an impact on the airport’s business, which has seen a reduction in the number of passengers across the airport. With a positive light, the situation is starting to stabilise and the numbers are picking up. However, Brenda, who has worked for seventeen years at ACSA and has, during that time studied for both her bachelor and
things like the exponential growth in mobile phone subscriptions. This has already paid dividends as it encourages passengers to print off boarding passes at home or use their mobile phones to scan the passes on its entry machines. Speeding up the processing time and increasing efficiency. “It is an ongoing process. Seven years since the upgrade and we’re just starting,” she concludes.
masters’ degrees, keeps a keen eye on ways in which to develop the airport’s business. She also works alongside leaders in George to further increase and spur traffic to their region. “George Town is using a new strategy and is aiming to turn into an investors’ town. With this in mind we are partnering with the municipality to encourage tourism as we have noticed that the business market is starting to equal tourism,” she said.
Endeavour Magazine | 91
KENYAN AIRPORT AUTHORITY WWW. KENYAAIRPORTS.CO.KE // +254 20 661 1000
HIGH ABOVE THEIR COMPETITION Established in 1991 through a parliamentary act and tasked with responsibly managing all the airports and airstrips in the country, The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) started life with a mission to become the number one airport system in Kenya. Seamless connectivity and the highest level of efficient facilities and services place their average well above stakeholder expectations and like this they have grown in leaps and bounds to become a major contender and a model for all their neighbours. I spoke with engineer Philemon Chandwana about it all. WRITTEN BY JACK SLATER
KENYAN AIRPORT AUTHORITY
In the interests of kaizen (change for the better) Kenya
Airports Authority continuously invest heavily into its facilities, workforce processes and the local community. Ultimately, the Authority is looking to turn Kenya into a ‘hub’ for Africa and have in many ways succeeded in doing that with Kenya receiving more international attention from global companies and decision makers looking to the region as an important destination for business and tourism.
B
ased at the largest airport in East and Central Africa, KAA’s offices are found at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi. The airport originally had a passenger
handling capacity of 2.5 million, however, it now easily handles 6.5 million passengers a year which is a substantial increase which
Ogle Construction Co. Ltd is proud to be associated with the success of Kenya Airport Authority having constructed Wajir and Lodwar Airports along other Airstrips.
Ogle Construction has been nominated to receive CQE Award of 2014 in Geneva and was previously awarded Arch of Europe 2013 Award in recognition as a driver for quality & excellence.
has created a ripple effect through their organization and affiliated businesses. Two other airports that the KAA is also responsible for include Moi international airport in Mombassa and Eldoret International Airport. There are a number of smaller local and domestic airports that the KAA is in charge of such as Wilson, Malindi, Kisumu, Wajir and Lokichoggo and in addition to the airports, Kenya Airports Authority also looks after close to 200 airstrips in the country. Professionalism and teamwork are two of the Kenya Airport Authority’s core values and the organisation invests significantly in
Our services: Project Management, Maintenance and Construction of Roadworks and Airports, Builders Works, Water and Surge Rehabilitation.
developing its 1,700-strong workforce. “Every employee, at least once a year, gets some serious training with numerous refresher courses,” says Philemon, “Our training programme is comprehensive locally and overseas with particular focus on safety, security and customer service,” Everybody is is given safety awareness training and on the security force is regularly refreshed and retrained so that they can keep themselves at the top of their games, especially with
Physical address: Garissa Kenya Postal address: PO Box 327 - 70100, Garissa, Kenya Telephone: +254 722 516 840 Mobile: +254 722 516 840 Email: info@ogle.co.ke 94 | Endeavour Magazine
those responsible for the security of passengers boarding and disembarking. The KAA is also going to train up ‘ERP Champions’ to coincide
with the launch of its new management tool. Champions will be
having only one runway is dangerous,” something that Endeavour
selected from each operational area; for example, finance, customer
Magazine has seen in the past working with Norwich International
service, human resources, and are then trained in South Africa on
Airport, “The building of a second strip will also give us the chance
using the new software.
to refurbish some of the neighbouring facilities.”
Training is not enough, treatment is also of concern and the employees at KAA receive both to a very high degree. Above
Meanwhile, the KAA has just completed full refurbishments of both Kisumu Airport and Malindi Airport.
average pay, medical schemes, a bus service to take staff members
With such huge investments taking place in the KAA’s processes,
to and from work and a car and housing allowance for senior
airport facilities and workforce, it seems fair to predict that it will
employees are some of the incentives given.
be successful in achieving both its mission and vision. Specifically
“Those are some of the things that we are doing to ensure
looking at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Kobuthi hopes
that we are top notch, in terms of having a motivated workforce,
the addition of a fourth terminal and second runway will help it to
but also in terms of improving our facilities and our processes,”
more than double its passenger capacity.
Philemon specifies.
“The aim is to be able to handle excess of 20 million passengers
A great deal of capital is being invested into The KAA airports,
a year at JKIA, in the next five years,” he says. “We are also working
being put into terminal refurbishment, expansion and construction
towards attaining a category one status, which would mean that
of new runways. One of the biggest projects the Authority is
anybody, including people from the US, can fly to Nairobi directly
presently involved with is the major refurbishment of the JKIA, and
which will be a significant boost to the economy.”
its overall cost has been estimated at half a billion US dollars. At the moment, the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport consists of three terminals and one runway. A fourth terminal is currently being put together and Philemon hopes this will be completed by the end of the year. He elaborates,
“A second runway will be build because
He concludes by saying: “I see Jomo Kenyatta as being the top airport in the whole of Africa within five years.”
MOZAMBIQUE AIRPORTS COMPANY 00258 21465375 // WWW.AEROPORTAS.CO.MZ
AFRICAN AIR Maputo International Airport also known as Lourenço Marques Airport or Mavalane International Airport is located three kilometers (1.9 mi) northwest of the center of Maputo which is the largest city and capital of Mozambique. WRITTEN BY CHATUM O’BRIAN
MOZAMBIQUE AIRPORTS COMPANY
Holding the position as the largest and busiest airport in
Mozambique is the operational hub for LAM Mozambique Airlines and Kaya Airlines and provides gateway flights to all African destinations while TAP Portugal operates a service to Lisbon and Portugal while Qatar Airways operates flights to Doha. Endeavour Magazine spoke with Managing and Commercial Director Acacio Tuendue regards to the company and how they are the leaders in the sky.
M
aputo International Airport is part of the Mozambique
A full catalogue exists for the company as there are five
Airports Company which is in itself a public company with
international airports that fall under the umbrella of the Airports of
legal personality acting with administrative and financial
Mozambique and these include Maputo, Beira, Tete, Nampula and
autonomy. It is only subordinate to the Ministry of Transport and
Pemba. In addition to this there are also five major national airports
Communications and has the main object to act on an exclusive
of Lichinga, Inhambane, Chimoio, Quelimane and Vilanculos, nine
basis to establish and operate the public service in support of civil
airfields Secondary: Angoche, Bilene, Inhaca, Lumbo, MocĂmboa
aviation.
Ponta de Ouro Beach, Costa del Sol, Ulongue, and Songo).
The Airports Company of Mozambique (ADM) was created by
After long years of working under the direct management
Decree 10/80 of November 1 as a State Company, the culmination
of the State, ADM was transformed from a State owned Public
of a long process of restructuring of the activities of Civil Aviation
company to company by Decree-Law Nr. 3/98 of 10 February.
in the country to open access to Africa and an international
This prominent and historic development provided a new lease of
community. It was important therefor to integrate the operational
life for the company since the transformation from State to Public
activities of airport infrastructure with the then committed
running provided a fresh and innovative framework of enterprise
Department of Civil Aviation.
management services within the realms of airport infrastructure
Many activities are attributed to the Airports of Mozambique
and air navigation.
and these include the primary functions of directing and controlling
Creating or rehabilitating the infrastructure feeding and leading
air traffic, ensuring the concise arrival and departure of aircraft and
into the airports has been an important mandate for the company
to create ideal conditions for loading, uploading and transferring
dominated by innovative business management which has including
of passengers, cargo and mail. The secondary activities include
the participation of private capital.
the planning, execution, operation and maintenance of the
With six hundred and seventy one employees the vision for
infrastructure network which lends important support to the
the company has been a uniting call that has been an attribute to
primary activities and finally to promote the raising of revenue
the prevalence of the company. This vision includes ensuring the
from internal and external sources to be used in the administration,
efficient and effective management of Airports and Air Navigation
operation, maintenance,
Services and to be a benchmark standard for the internal, regional
expansion and beautification of
infrastructure for air navigation. 98 | Endeavour Magazine
and African operations.
Our customers are : • • • • • • •
Namibian Airports Company Civil Aviation Authority Zimbabwe Civil Aviation Authority Botswana Swaziland Civil Aviation Authority Zululand Airport Wonderboom Airport Orapa and Debswana Airports
Marcé Mozambique
Marcé Botswana
Marcé Zimbabwe Marcé Polokwane
Marcé Namibia
Marcé HQ Marcé Cape Town
Rua do Bagamoyo nr. 322, 2nd floor - Maputo – Mozambique Telefax: +258 21 300956 Email: sales.marce@tdm.co.mz www.marce.co.za
|
sales@marce.co.za
|
+27 12 742 9200
MOZAMBIQUE AIRPORTS COMPANY Congruently, their mission, includes providing airport services
900,000 per year and help expand tourism in the city and country.
and support navigation to the customers, guaranteeing levels of
The terminal was also to have 14 check-in counters, electronic
security and quality for their ongoing satisfaction.
panels displaying flights, a presidential VIP lounge, escalators and
At the Maputo International Airport, China’s Anhui Foreign
an electric central cooling system.
Economic Construction Company has built a new cargo terminal, in
The new terminal was expected to serve 400 arriving and
what was the starting point of the first phase of a Chinese financed
departing passengers per hour, compared to the old building that
expansion project, with an initial estimated cost of US$75 million.
could only handle 150 passengers per hour. A parking lot for six
The first phase concluded with the opening of the new international
hundred vehicles was also created by the new terminal. Maputo
terminal on 15th November 2010.
International Airport currently as of 2011 handles 495,000
The new terminal has a capacity of 900,000 passengers a
passengers annually and, to put this figure into perspective; the
year, a far cry from the comparatively measly 60,000 it could hold
entire country’s annual amount of passengers is 1.3 million.
before. Originally, this modernization project had in mind to benefit
Maputo International Airport is of only one of two airports in the
from the 2010 FIFA World Cup held in neighboring South Africa,
country that currently runs at a profit, the other being Vilankulo
but unfortunately it could not be finished in time. It was, however,
Airport, and effectively subsidizes the others, as stated by (ADM)
ready for the All Africa Games which were held in Maputo in 2011.
Mozambique Airports Company.
The project also experienced a serious cost overrun, with the
Considering the economic growth in the country the Airport
builder requesting an additional US$40 to 50 million to complete
Company of Mozambique has opened the pathways for international
the work on time.
investment to enter the country. By bringing in this form of life
The second phase entailed the construction of a new domestic terminal where the old terminal stood and the whole plan was for Maputo International Airport to double its capacity from 450,000 to
100 | Endeavour Magazine
blood they’re playing their part for an even more prosperous future as one of the major hubs of the African continent.
Endeavour Magazine | 101
NORWICH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WWW.NORWICHINTERNATIONAL.COM
FINE FLYING Like the inner workings of the planes that safely carry us through the air, most of us never appreciate the complexity that goes into an airport. We turn a blind eye to the buzzing hive of activity that exists behind the scenes, away from the eyes of passengers in this, one of the world’s busiest and most security conscious industries. WRITTEN BY MARTIN WHITE AND DON CAMPBELL
NORWICH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
We prefer to ignore the teams of people responsible for
our individual safety, the businesses involved in the day to day operations, the communication and involvement required to keep an airport functioning and on time.
P
eople like to look at airports as being largely automated: you
Council in 1967 and developed to become Norwich International
hand in your baggage, show your ticket and passport in one
Airport. Whilst the City and County Councils retain a 19.9% interest
area, you get onto a plane, watch the clouds, the inflight movie,
in the airport, since 2004 it has been owned and operated by the
enjoy the meal and drinks and then you arrive at your destination. A lot of effort is put into distracting attention from what is beyond the airplane’s wings - mainly a lot of fresh air.
UK based airport and investment company Omniport. We’ve mentioned how airports are having to diversify into other areas and, with many key functions including property
But the bulk of operations takes place at the airports themselves
development, offshore charter operations and aircraft engineering,
and things have changed, times have changed and the small airports
Andrew is making use of the airport grounds that would otherwise
are expected to diversify into other areas to survive because, when
go unused. It’s not about offering the space to anyone though
passenger safety and regulatory compliance are at the forefront
as the locations offer a host of advantages to certain businesses,
of the minds of management, there is little room for manoeuvring
which has led to many beneficial partnerships.
when it comes to keeping an airport successful and safe.
The offshore sector is a key market for Norwich considering
Norwich City is one of the busiest but lesser known cities in
the levels of development within the North Sea for the energy
Britain, surrounded by farmlands. Often more associated with
industry and their airport is positioned to be one of the most direct
potato farming and Colman’s Mustard, it serves as a vital touching
methods of reaching the southern North Sea. By developing and
pad for Britain and the world.
maintaining close operational relationships with companies such as
The airfield was first developed as RAF Horsham St Faith and
Bristow Helicopters and Bond, they provide a mutually beneficial
opened on 1st June 1940 as a bomber station used throughout
arrangement where a give and take of services provides a busy and
the Second World War. Although the first operational aircraft to
commercially viable partnership. Bristow provides a channel into
fly from here were Spitfires of 19 and 66 squadrons from RAF
the offshore market while Norwich Airport handles the processing
Duxford, it became the operational base of the USAF 56th Fighter
of their passengers.
Group and finally the 458th Heavy Bombardment Group which
Over a million pounds has been invested in a state-of-the art fire
flew 240 combat missions from the airfield before returning home
training facility which is able to replicate a multitude of scenarios.
to South Dakota, USA in July 1945.
This is in addition to the fire engines, snow clearance vehicles and
After many years as a post war front line RAF station, the
other equipment which have been heavily invested in as part of
airfield was taken over by Norwich City Council and Norfolk County
the regulatory requirements. Security is critical to the business
104 | Endeavour Magazine
NORWICH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT COnfIdEnCE In flIghT. WorldWide.
and if anything were to happen that could potentially threaten
“Airports are capital intensive and an infrastructure based
compliance then the airport would not operate, that is the culture.
business and the operational cost base can absorb growth without
The Airport uses the fire training equipment to ensure its
low levels of increase. Obviously we must always maintain our
fire crews are fully compliant with the required regulations that
runway and taxiways, and keep our on site fire service, air traffic
determine their ability to act in the event of an accident. The
control and security services operating, for example. These are each
equipment simulates a wide variety of scenarios to enable training
significant investment pools critical to our operation but once they
to be as varied and realistic as possible.
are in place we can build volume and diversity to increase revenue.”
“Security requirements for passenger travel are controlled
Away from the operational runway there is a large area on
by national and European Authorities. We have to operate to
site long earmarked for aviation related development which it is
the highest standards of compliance and we cannot compromise
hoped will be made available for aircraft engineering and related
in this area. Nevertheless we try hard to minimise passenger
businesses to establish operations at the airport.
inconvenience.”
The key objectives are to ensure sustainability of the business
The key is the deployment of highly skilled workers across
and increasing revenue but Andrew does not believe in putting all
operations and air traffic control. This is a hazardous environment
his eggs in one basket, which is why the passenger business is being
more anyone keep your people safe, lower your across the activities, from air operations through Bristow to groundis doing expanded by than developing the to route network. He is also notching offshore operating and improve productivity. Our Target handling and security - these groups are each closelyE&P regulated, more strings tocosts the airport’s bow with your the property development niche sectors which require specific experience and training. operations. Zero cultureand of aircraft safetyengineering is recognized for delivering industry-leading safety “People with the right skills can be hard to find.” “It is a diversified revenue lineprograms which will beare critical to our long performance, while new best-practice providing unmatched “It is very important to have an airport in this region, not only term growth and success.” on-time reliability and customer service. So your people and your for the leisure market but also because of the number of important production are always right on schedule. industries that exist here such as offshore oil and gas, tourism, automotive and technology which rely on local connectivity”
It’s time to discover there’s a bottom-line difference in helicopter service providers. Bristow is focused on delivering value to prove it.
B r I S T O w g r O u P. C
BRISTOW HELICOPTERS: HERE TO STAY Supporting the oil and gas industry and the operations in the southern North Sea takes collaboration and teamwork which is what Bristow Helicopters have developed with Norwich International Airport. Having invested over £3.5 million into their facility at this East Anglian airport Bristow Helicopters are here to stay. They are particularly proud of their achievements in providing the safest and most reliable service to clients in the Southern North Sea in support of production, drilling and completion activities on Normally Unmanned installations (NUIs), Offshore Rigs and manned installations. Efficiency equals added value and Bristow’s key approach is through complete commitment to Target Zero - Zero Accidents. Zero Downtime. Zero Complaints.
106 | Endeavour Magazine
COnfIdEnCE In flIghT. WorldWide.
Bristow is doing more than anyone to keep your people safe, lower your E&P offshore operating costs and improve your productivity. Our Target Zero culture of safety is recognized for delivering industry-leading safety performance, while new best-practice programs are providing unmatched on-time reliability and customer service. So your people and your production are always right on schedule. It’s time to discover there’s a bottom-line difference in helicopter service providers. Bristow is focused on delivering value to prove it.
B r I S T O w g r O u P. C O m