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Record Passenger Numbers for Dublin Airport this October

November 7, 2017
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Record-breaking Passenger Numbers in October for Dublin Airport | Airports NewsDublin Airport has announced the busiest October for passenger handling since it was opened 77 years ago. The record-breaking figures show a 6% increase over 2016, at over 25.3 million passengers through its doors so far, this year.

The number of passengers in October were broken down as follows:

  • European travellers increased by 5% with 1.3 million passengers
  • Travellers to and from the UK decreased by 2% on last years’ October figures
  • North American destinations saw a 14% increase, handling more than 300,000 passengers last month
  • Other destinations, including the Middle East and Africa had an increased number of passengers by 16%
  • Irish domestic routes also experienced an increase in passengers, up 6% from last October
  • Dublin Airport has recorded a whopping 36% increase in its hub traffic

Dublin Airport is delighted with its increased passenger handling, and is enjoying a new era of development with its next-generation business hub, offering domestic and international connections. The airport is continuing to grow and expand, and its modern terminals offer passengers a relaxed environment where they can work, shop, eat and be entertained while waiting for flights.

Find out more about Dublin Airport Central.

New Security Measures for US Airports

October 29, 2017
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airport security measures UKThe US has begun a series of new security measures this week, which will focus on the threat of hidden explosives.

Passengers and their devices will be given extra attention at airports across the US operating commercial flights into the country, which could spell security checks and interviews during the departure process.

Passengers planning to fly to the US have been advised to attend airports up to three hours before departure to allow for the additional security measures.

Earlier this year, the US government announced a temporary ban on electronic devices larger than a phone carried in cabin baggage from eight specified countries. This latest move is much wider, and follows fears that an attack by terrorists could be likely, using an explosive device concealed within an ordinary laptop or other electronic device.

Manchester Airport Transformation Program to Keep Passengers Dry and Maximise Turnaround Management

October 23, 2017
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Global Airports News | Manchester Airport ImprovementsManchester Airports Group (MAG) will install new passenger bridges to enhance and improve aircraft boarding and turnaround management as a part of its plans in the Manchester Airport Transformation Program – a project that will see around £1 billion in investment.

The plan for the new passenger boarding bridges will roll out gradually over 2018 and 2019, and are set to deliver greater flexibility and efficiency to the airport turnaround management. Additionally, passengers will receive welcome relief from the UK weather, being completely protected within the new bridges, which will be enclosed with glass sides.

Aircraft turnaround management is a critical process, which can lead to expensive ground delays if not handled to its greatest effect. Many global airports employ a turnaround system in real time, and some have mobile capabilities, such as Rockwell Collins’ ARINC AirTQM, for example.

MAG’s grand plan for Manchester Airport, which will continue until 2020, will give the airport greater capacity to handle 45 million passengers annually, almost 20 million more than it can today.

Airports across the globe are focussing increasingly on passenger experience and customer service. A seamless airport experience is being worked towards all over the world, and is challenging for airports of all sizes, particularly in the current climate, with security at the top of all priority lists. Delays and queuing are constantly monitored with passenger experience high on the agenda.

The new passenger boarding bridges at Manchester Airport are expected to increase efficiency initially at Pier one of Terminal two, and should, once the project is completed, help Manchester Airport to achieve greater efficiency and enhance productivity considerably.

Leeds Bradford Airport to be Acquired by AMP Capital

October 18, 2017
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Leeds Bradford Airport to be Acquired for £220 million | Airport Industry NewsIt has been announced that AMP Capital are to acquire Leeds Bradford Airport in a deal reportedly worth £220 million. The deal will involve investors in AMP Capital’s global infrastructure equity platform, which also holds stakes in Australia’s Melbourne and Port Hedland International airports, and owns the UK’s Newcastle Airport.

Leeds Bradford airport (LBA) handles four million passengers annually, and has a varied airline base of low-cost carriers, charter flights and international airlines. With domestic destinations and short-haul international flights as its mainstay business, Leeds Bradford Airport is a handy hub serving a wide area with a catchment of up to 5.3 million people. Almost 3 million people live within an hour of the airport, and the region is one of the fastest-growing currently in the UK.

AMP Capital will own the freehold of the airport and grounds within the deal, and recognise the potential of the airport, its diverse airlines and large catchment area, in addition to the already well-invested infrastructure.

AMP plan to harness these benefits, and enhance performance through strengthening customer service and working closely with local governments and businesses. The company will also look to improve routes development and use extensive airports experience to enhance commercial opportunities.

Simon Ellis, Head of Origination at AMP Capital for Europe said, ‘We believe there is a clear opportunity for performance enhancement through tailoring and improving the customer experience and working collaboratively with our key partners including airlines, government and local businesses. In addition, the airport serves the Yorkshire and the Humber region, one of the fastest-growing regions in the UK with a population growth of 6% since 2001 and there is also potential for further route development.’

There is no further information about when the deal may be concluded, and the investment figure is currently an estimation. We will bring you the facts as we find out more.

Sydney Airport Lost Property Auction to Benefit Local Charity

October 10, 2017
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107 Projects to Benefit from Sydney Airport Lost Property Auction | Airports NewsSydney Airport has announced that local creative arts charity, 107 Projects, is to benefit from a grant of up to $100,000 AUD funded by the proceeds of the airport’s lost property auction within Sydney Airport’s Bid for Good program.

Many unclaimed items are left at the airport every year, and the Bid for Good event, in partnership with the Sydney Community Foundation, attracts hundreds of keen bidders looking for a bargain and at the same time, support the distribution of funding for local, grass roots charities.

Goods of all kinds are available in the auction, including lost or left luggage, photographic equipment, computer equipment and devices, and much more.

Kerrie Mather, CEO and managing director of Sydney Airport said, ‘We’re delighted to award the major grant to a charity that is creating a real sense of community in the local area. The grant will help fund 107 Projects’ newest space for emerging creatives, following the strong success of its Redfern facility. This is another way we’re supporting the arts within the Sydney basin, and creating spaces that unite people and foster brave new ideas in the airport’s local community.’

107 Projects encourage creativity within cultivated spaces, and is enthusiastically supported by the Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore. She, and the Sydney residents have enjoyed watching the growth of 107 Projects over the past 15 years, and look forward to their latest project at Green Square – the Joynton Avenue Creative Centre, which will occupy the former nurses’ quarters in the Esme Cahill Building, and is expected to be opened later this year.

Creative space will be available to rent, and exhibitions will be held throughout the year.

The Mayor said, ‘It’s fantastic that Sydney Airport’s Bid for Good programme is enabling great community initiatives such as this, which focus on enriching our community.’

How Airport Systems Integration is Improving Efficiency

September 28, 2017
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Airport Systems Integration in the Back Office | Airports Systems NewsAirports have complex systems and products working simultaneously behind the scenes to deliver efficient flight operations regardless of airport size or capacity.

The key to improving efficiency across the board is airport systems integration.

When key systems and products are integrated, efficiency and productivity can be enhanced through visibility, and enables analytics data to be reviewed constantly to make further improvements.

Today’s modern airport environment at a much faster pace, and the number of flight passengers is increasing every year. To make sure airport operators can face the challenges that this creates, systems and services must remain seamlessly reliable.

Flexibility can be achieved by integration of systems, such as:

  • Passenger check-in
  • Baggage handling
  • Self-service kiosks
  • Security

When information, data and systems speak to one another, a holistic view can be achieved by the operational teams, and issues can be detected and addressed before they become problems that can lead to expensive ground delays.

Master systems integrators, Rockwell Collins’ ARINC airports, offer a range of specialist services that can help airport operators of all sizes to gain an advanced opportunity to create a seamless airport environment that serves both passengers and personnel to the maximum capability.

Passengers of today have high expectations for their travel experience, and airport systems integration can help achieve those goals for airport operators. With options for fully managed services, round-the-clock support and cloud solutions, Rockwell Collins’ ARINC airports are certainly ahead of their game.

Auckland Airport Restricts Ticket Sales Due to Fuel Shortage

September 21, 2017
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Auckland Airport Fuel Shortages | Airports NewsFollowing an incident earlier this month, when a fuel supply pipeline was severed accidentally by the oil refinery after a digger crashed into the pipe, Auckland Airport has restricted the sales of airline tickets.

Many flights were cancelled after the incident, and fuel uplifts were down to just 30% of their regular fill capacity. It has been reported that 3,000 passengers were affected, after other flights were redirected to other airports for refuelling.

The Marsden Point oil refinery is taking steps to repair the pipeline, but Auckland Airport is taking no chances, and has restricted ticket sales for all but essential flights. The damaged section of pipe connects the Marsden Point refinery to Wiri Oil Services, the Auckland-based company that supplies the airport’s operating airlines with aviation fuel.

The disruption is hoped to be a temporary measure, and additional staff have been employed to address passenger concerns and to assist with rescheduling.

The airport has issued a warning to passengers to check scheduling before arriving at the airport.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport Announce New Terminal Design

September 15, 2017
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amsterdAAmsterdam Schiphol Airport New Terminal Design Selected | Airports NewsAmsterdam Schiphol Airport has announced the selection of the design for its new terminal, expected to be ready to open in 2023. The CEO of the airport, Jos Nijhuis said, ‘This design suits the Schiphol DNA. That was the main reason why the jury decided to choose this design.  The design solution contributes to excellent processing, it provides optimal support to passengers, contributes to our sustainability ambitions and is future-proof. We are looking forward to welcoming airlines and passengers in the new terminal and adjacent new pier.’

The Dutch airport aims to continue to keep its operations under one roof, and the new design will incorporate an expansion of the current airport layout and retain its ‘one terminal’ design.

Schiphol insist that it will be ‘business as usual’ during the expansion project work, being overseen by the Royal Schiphol Group and known as the Capital Programme, which handles large projects optimally as its main aim.

The last time the airport carried out major works was in the early 1990s, when departure and arrival halls 3 and 4 were constructed. The new project promises to deliver greater capacity for the airport, which expects to be able to handle 14 million additional passengers every year.

The project invited designers to submit their plans, and the Dutch company KAAN Architecten has been successful.

How Airport Systems Integration Will Shape the Future of Air Travel

August 28, 2017
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Airport Systems Integration Solution | Streamlined Airport OperationsThe demands and challenges faced by modern airports today are continually increasing. Passengers require more flexibility, fewer and shorter queues, and a streamlined security experience, while global government departments increase mandatory requirements.

Airport systems integration could provide the answer, as when systems and processes work seamlessly together, airport operators are able to better manage day-to-day operations and resources from a holistic perspective.

Airport management is more than just flight scheduling and passenger processing. Airports are also working businesses with bottom-line budgetary requirements, personnel, retail units and back-office applications. All these processes and systems can be integrated into managed platforms that give the airport operators and owners enhanced control and management capabilities.

Some of the working airport systems that can be integrated include:

  • Passenger processing
  • Self-service kiosks
  • Baggage handling systems
  • Security
  • Maintenance scheduling and management
  • Resource management
  • Car parking
  • Flight scheduling
  • Flight operations and ground handling
  • Retail unit management and revenue
  • Aircraft communications
  • Advance Passenger Information – collection, storage and handling
  • And much more.

Rockwell Collins’ ARINC Airports Managed Services provides comprehensive support via a unique platform, which can also integrate third-party applications and systems. They can work with airports of all sizes to ensure they receive a tailored solution that works for not only their current requirements, but remains scalable for future planning.

As master systems integrators, AMS approaches every project with a clear focus on individual needs and requirements, from both a technical and financial perspective. They can offer solutions that are right for a specific operation, whether their solutions, or those from other vendors.

When an airport has the right balance of solutions, each working with the other seamlessly, then the focus can shift to operational management of the airport, streamlining the passenger experience and making the best use of resources and valuable terminal space.

Watch the video to find out more about Rockwell Collins’ AMS, or visit the website now.

UK Airport Owners Want Clarity Over EU Flights After Brexit

August 23, 2017
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Airport Owners Seek Clarity Over Concerns About Passenger Numbers After Brexit | Airports NewsFive UK owners of Stansted, Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and London City airports, have joined forces to put pressure on the Government in the form of a report that suggests that passenger numbers are likely to fall when the country leaves the EU in 2019, if a deal is not in place by then.

The airports commissioned EPI Economics to produce the report, following concerns about the EU treaties that are currently in place that allow British airlines to operate internationally outside the EU.

The report highlights concerns that ‘without the security of guaranteed future access to the single aviation market, the greater the negative economic consequences will be.’

This backs up recent warnings from Ryanair, although other airlines have dismissed the likelihood of flights being affected.

Economists have gone further, and have issued a ‘worst-case scenario’ that suggests that the effects could be catastrophic for the aviation industry, with a drop in passenger numbers in 2019 that could total 8 million. A more conservative estimate gives a figure of 2.3 million, but the uncertainty that has surrounded the Brexit issue since the vote was cast has led to confusion and concern across all sectors of the aviation industry.

The report urges the UK Government to prepare to strike a deal with the EU by mid-2018, and suggests that passengers will wait before they make any holiday or travel plans, in case issues arise post-Brexit. As flight schedules are planned and sold up to a year in advance, the report stresses that clarity is necessary to enable airlines to plan too.

Heathrow airport remains confident that the UK Government understands the position of the aviation industry, and the contribution it makes to the country’s economy. Its plans for a third runway are still on the table, and it says that expansion will become more necessary after Brexit.