Few of us realise that there is a network of 4000 airports in the world each vying with the other for air traffic.
At present over $1 trillion have been earmarked for the development of airports around the world with 80 percent of them still in the "inadequate" category where safety, security and navigational aids are concerned. In layman terms the same planes are flying into 3 star hotels as they are into five star ones. The level of service is dramatically different.
Airports are now breaking into specifics:
Cityports: The top hundred which are cities unto themselves
Bizjet ports: Dedicated airports for executive jet and fractional ownership traffic, which is on the increase
Cargoports: Essentially for freight and courier carriage these airports have the facilities to cater to the needs of the fastest growing segment in the industry, currently pegged at 6.2 percent per year against passenger increase of 5.2 per year
The concept of Cityports is swiftly gathering momentum and attracting a vast array of services and skills. A good airport can change the topography for miles around and create a financial bonanza. Just loo kat the various categories.
• Airport duty free, food outlets, airline bizclass and first class, lounges, frequent flyer programs, alliances, promotions
• Airport services: Taxis, car hire companies, hotels, travel agencies, courier services, tourist holiday packages.
• Consumer goods aimed at premier passengers: watches, electronics, branded clothes wear, credit cards, traveller’s cheques, luggage, cars etc.
• Airport-centric airports: Airports like Charles de Gaulle, Frankfurt, Dubai, Riyadh, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Boston, Kennedy, Sepang, Chek Lap Kop, Changi actually advertise themselves in major campaigns.
• Airport company providers: Technology, Navigation, Building Materials, Lights, Air Conditioning, Security Equipment, Furniture, Communications and Information Technology.
With 23,250 aircraft slated to fill our skylanes over the next 16 years, there will be a demand to ensure that the network of airports expands in commensurate fashion. On a global scale the investment in airports will cross a trillion dollars and that does not include support systems.
As the 5.2 percent annual increase in traffic ensures a doubling of the present number and air cargo takes on a whole new dimension for itself, airports will have to become more specialised than ever. From commercial hubs to bizjet-centric airports to dedicated cargo operations, the ongoing saga can only be a victim to its own largesse. And there are several issues which directly affect the aviation industry and they centre on airport operations. Be it noise limitation procedures, slot wars, night time close-downs, the need for more trained staff or expansion plans, the airport world is so vital to our immediate future.
It would be fair to say airports are swiftly becoming a key component of an increasingly complex aviation infrastructure, are experiencing many pressures that are testing the air traffic control system, terminal managements, aviation security, rescue and fire-fighting services, weather services, and ground transport systems.
The Gulf is at the forefront of this revolution.
• The Gulf and Middle East has a strong network of over 60 airports and many of them are currently under refurbishment and improvement. The upgrade is worth over $10 billion in the immediate stage
• The top companies in the world are vying for projects in this region and will continue to do so over the next twenty years as projected by the Global Market Research observations from Boeing, Airbus and Rolls Royce.
The 21st century airport manager knows full well that if he wants his customer to use his gateway frequently he must begin to care for him the moment he enters the airport … and until he departs the terminal. Anyone working on airport comfort levels has to be aware of the key role that customer service plays. As privatization comes largely into play those who run airports have realized that their accountability to the communities and to stockholders is predicated to the levels of customer service that the facility offers. This factor will stay paramount in all future planning exercises and investments.
As aviation moves to the era of Future Navigation Systems and the passenger per se demands swift and multiple flight connections, airports around the world will have to ensure they change their tolerance factor and refuse to accept movement into airports that fall below the acceptable parameters. As City Pairings dictate the route maps of the future airports will ipso facto have to get their acts together.
