Planning for the future?of travel

As we near the end of another eventful year for airports, we begin to think about starting the year afresh with new goals and, unfortunately, fresh challenges.

With the hottest summer on global records now behind us, and freak weather incidents around the world such as flash flooding, typhoons, droughts and heatwaves only set to increase in frequency and intensity, airports must seriously consider how they will cope with such events. Airports, being critical national infrastructure have a?duty to their communities and countries to remain open and operational to enable emergency supplies and aid to reach those affected by such events. Sarah Marquez discusses this exact topic in her article on page 8.

We also look ahead to the future of air travel, and airports must strive to remain relevant and engaged with their passengers. But this is not easy because “society has changed”, says Neil Pakey in this month’s Leaders’ Series (p.2). Passengers now have a sharp focus on environmental challenges as well as diversity, equity and inclusion, so this must be deeply engrained in an airport CEO’s psyche for master planning for the future.

To engage their passengers, airports must not view themselves “simply as a location for aircraft arrivals and departures, but rather as a hub where individuals connect, a place that encapsulates a multitude of emotions, fresh starts, cultural interactions, and adventures,” says Sunny Yoon in her interview with International Airport Review on page 38. Incheon Airport, along with many other airports are looking to positioning themselves as “a destination in itself”, read more about this in Editorial Assistant, Chunekshi ’s article on page 46.?

Finally, the International Airport Summit is fast approaching on 14-15 November in London, and I?am very much looking forward to connecting with our fantastic line-up of speakers and hearing first-hand about their challenges and how they are looking to solve them. The team and I are also eagerly anticipating the International Airport Honour Awards and recognising the airports who are leading the way in passenger experience, diversity, equity and inclusion, innovation, sustainability and accessibility. We will also be awarding the Airport Leader of the Future award, a?new initiative we have launched to highlight promising future leaders.

If you would like to attend the summit and awards, do not worry as it is not too late to book! Just head over to the website to secure your ticket and we hope to see?you there.

But for now, I hope you enjoy the issue.

READ ISSUE 4 2023 FOR FREE NOW! https://www.internationalairportreview.com/article/189904/issue-4-2023/