Concessions in US airports generated $7.49 billion in revenue in 2008, representing a 6.4% increase over the previous year, according to a report by ACI-NA. "With passenger traffic continuing to decline in this challenging economy, airport concessions have become a critical component of nonaeronautical revenue," said ACI-NA CFO Bill McAllister.
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is to begin construction in March of a new baggage transport system known as the Backbone. It recently signed a contract for the system with Vanderlande Industries and IBM. The Backbone will link the West, E, D and South baggage basements, "thus creating an integrated baggage system." The project is expected to be completed in mid-2013. Two rows of check-in desks in Departure Hall 2 will be closed alternately from May 2011 through September 2012 to facilitate the project's completion.
An advisory group is set to propose an "administrative unification" of Japan's Kansai International, Osaka International and Kobe airports in an effort to streamline costs, Japan Times reported. The proposal will be presented at a Dec. 14 meeting of regional leaders. Currently, each of the airports has separate management groups.
BAA last week placed a £235 million ($391 million) Sterling index-linked bond with a 2039 maturity and a fixed real annual interest coupon of 3.334%. The issue follows placement in late November of a £700 million, 17-year bond issue undertaken by the company. Proceeds from the bond issues will be used to refinance existing debt and will lengthen the airport operator's debt maturity profile.
Vancouver Airport Authority is gearing up for the 2010 Winter Olympics in February with programs to manage increases in passengers and oversized bags and new snow removal equipment that will maintain operations in adverse weather conditions. The airport also plans to double the size of its volunteer force and is training more than 5,500 frontline employees to help passengers find their way around the airport.
Singapore's Changi Airport Group launched the Changi Airport Growth Initiative to replace the Air Hub Development Fund, which expires at the end of December. According to CAG CEO Lee Seow Hiang, the focus of CAGi will be to incentivize airlines and airport partners to grow their traffic volumes at Changi. "While the priority of the AHDF in the past year was to provide urgent across-the-board cost relief, the key thrust of CAGi is to increasingly shift towards promoting growth--for both Changi Airport as well as our partners.
World airport traffic rose 1.8% in October compared to October 2008 to 287.6 million arriving and departing passengers, continuing the upward trend seen in September, according to Airport Council International's PaxFlash traffic report. Domestic traffic climbed 3.5% to 151.7 million passengers while international traffic dipped 0.2% to 131.6 million passengers.
Airports Council International-North America is urging US lawmakers to fund airport infrastructure projects because they will help create jobs and promote economic growth.
Ryanair will base a third and fourth 737-800 at Trapani from March and launch new service to Billund, Bratislava, Cagliari, Eindhoven, Genoa, Gothenburg, Ibiza, Baden-Baden, Krakow, Maastricht, Memmingen, Trieste and Valencia. It will increase flights to Brussels South Charleroi, Frankfurt Hahn and Dusseldorf Weeze and plans to operate to 34 destinations from TPS next summer. The LCC also plans to add a third -800 at Bologna and March, supporting a new thrice-weekly service to Malaga and additional frequencies to London Stansted and Ibiza.
V Australia launched twice-weekly Melbourne-Los Angeles service on Sunday and will begin weekly MEL-Phuket on Dec. 3 aboard a 777-300. American Airlines brought forward the start of its daily Chicago O'Hare-Beijing 777 service to April 26 from May 1. Blue1 will operate a seasonal weekly Kittila-Dusseldorf flight Jan. 14 - March 25.
Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), has selected airport systems innovator Cavotec to supply and integrate a range of environmentally friendly ground service equipment for remote aircraft aprons at Bahrain International Airport, The contract is believed to be worth in excess of $40million.
