ACI Airport Economics & Finance Conference

Airports Council International’s comprehensive 12th Annual Airport Economics & Finance Conference & Exhibition and the 6th ACI-World Bank Annual Aviation Symposium will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 24-26th March, after many years of taking place in London. Here’s a preview of some of conversations that will take place centering around the theme “Airports at the crossroads”: SESSION ONE: PRIVATISATION AS A PATH TO UPGRADE INFRASTRUCTURE AND DELIVER A BETTER PASSENGER EXPERIENCE People expect more from the airports they use as the air transport market evolves. Today air transport is a buoyant and vigorous sector of economic output and value creation for society, and users of airports can fully carry the costs while still allowing dynamic developments. Governments have turned to the private sector to develop maintain and operate airports for a variety of reasons. With a need for large capital expenditure into airports globally, at the same time as travellers expect higher quality services in airports, what benefits can private sector participation bring? SESSION TWO: PROTECT OR INNOVATE? OPPORTUNITIES AND THREATS TO COMMERCIAL REVENUES Non-aeronautical revenues are an important component to the airports’ bottom. However, with demographic and technological change, the airport industry continues to experience major business model transformation in a relatively short period of time. Commercial revenue sources such as food and beverage face continued growth, while conventional product categories that are a source of duty-free revenue such as tobacco are under threat by government efforts to restrict their sale. Other exogenous factors relate to the rise of sharing economy platforms in transportation and real estate that have cannibalised traditional sources of revenues in car parking, car rental and hotel revenues. How can the industry protect the commercial revenue base in the context of technological disruption and heightened regulatory oversight? What are some product innovations, new service offerings and pricing strategies that airports could devise to mitigate declines in their commercial revenues in certain areas? View the full programme

PRE-CONFERENCE HOSTED ROUND TABLES As part of the pre-conference programme of the ACI Airport Economics & Finance Conference event in Kuala Lumpur on 24-26 March, ACI is introducing hosted round table meetings between ACI World Business Partners and airports members. This unique opportunity is available to only five ACI World Business Partners. For further details on how to sponsor the ACI Airport Economics & Finance Conference hosted round table meetings and to register your company’s interest in this sponsorship opportunity, please contact Jonathan Lee at jonathan@aviationmedia.aero.

Tags: 12th Annual Airport Economics & Finance Conference & Exhibition,  6th ACI-World Bank Annual Aviation Symposium