SPECIAL REPORT: SUSTAINABILITY
Building a legacy
ACI director general, Angela Gittens, reflects on busy times for ACI and the importance of sustainability.
A
ugust and September are busy months at ACI as we prepare and publish the 2009 airport traffic report, conduct an Airport Service Quality forum in Atlanta, prepare for our Aviation and Environmental Summit in Geneva and prepare for the ICAO
Triennial Assembly. We also produce a new edition of the ‘Airside Safety Handbook’ and
the new ‘Global Traffic Forecasts 2010-2029’, prepare for the World/Latin America & Caribbean general assembly, conference and exhibition in Bermuda, launch new training programmes and develop the steering structure and pilot projects for the Safety Strategy. In short, we are gathering momentum on our core mission of
advancing airport interests and promoting professional excellence in airport management and operations. As such, we thought it appropriate timing for this Airport World issue
to reflect on ‘sustainability’ – not just as associated with actions to mitigate adverse environmental effects of airport development and operations, but as a logical extension of the essential nature of airports as long-term economic assets in and for their communities. Just about every aspect of airport business needs the stamp of
sustainability. We are a business based on long-term planning, so each choice needs to pass the test of “is it the best solution for the future vitality of the airport?” Without solid financial balance sheets, our future would be bleak. To
maintain and reinvest in both landside and airside facilities requires considerable financial commitment. The return to growth in demand for air travel means that we will need to invest in new infrastructure. At most airports, aeronautical revenues derived from airlines do not
begin to cover costs, and passenger fees now represent a larger share of that part of the pie. On a global average, roughly half of our income comes
from non-aeronautical sources – a growing trend in all regions. So for many airports, financial sustainability will be linked to successful revenue diversification. Sustainable also applies to the way in which we deliver our services. Strategic technology investments in systems for passenger and
cargo processing help introduce greater efficiencies in airport operations, particularly when implemented in collaboration with our many airport partners. Many of our business suppliers have understood this dual benefit and
are working hand in hand with us through the Business Partner Programme and representation in our ACI World and Regional committees to promote the best solutions for the future. And there is the human element of sustainability – how we train our
staff and help them develop lasting careers at airports will shape the next generation of airport leadership. Safe and secure air transport depends on the qualified people
who will be drawn to our industry and who will know how to put international standards in practice. We need to build this pool of knowledgeable staff, business managers with an entrepreneurial approach and insightful leaders whose expertise will determine the contours of our future industry. The challenge will be to attract and retain dedicated individuals. In today’s competitive market, where airports compete not only with
each other but also with other businesses, this human factor is yet another critical component of aviation’s sustainable future. Sustainability, in a word, characterises every choice we make in
meeting the challenges of tomorrow and should be our measuring stick in making management choices. By investing today in a sustainable future, we build the bridges to fulfil our long-term vision.
AIRPORT WORLD/AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2010 AW 23
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