Worldwide Airline Passenger Traffic May Hit 11 Billion By 2029

Manila Bulletin
April 27, 2012
by Edu Lopez

The Airports Council International (ACI) has predicted that worldwide and permission to grow is needed if the industry is to continue operating in benefit of communities worldwide.

To accomodate that growth, airports need better collaboration and cooperation from air transport stakeholders in industry, government, regulators and NGOs, said Gittens.

"Many airports are still viewed by regulators as simple providers of infustructure, as regulators have not grasped the evolution of airports into diversified businesses and community partners. In order for airports to provide social and economic benefits to communities, airports need permission to grown from local governments."

Gittens said government regulatory decisions must be structured in way that enables airports to attract the interest of the private sector.

According to the ACI's 2011 economic surveys, some US$135 billion in capital expenditure are planned at airports worldwide between 2013 and 2016, not including the current projects in the Middle East and it onlyincludes two airports in mainland China.

"An increasing number of countries are calling on the private sector for the development aeronautical infrastructure, be it in the form of outright privatizations or public private partnerships. This necessarily implies the need for states to provide the right economic regulatory framework to allow airport companies to generate the type of financial returns required to attract provate investors."

On the aviation side, the industry needs to demonstrate environment stewardship and in keeping with this responsibility, the industry has introduced its CO2 Roadmap and ACI has demonstrated its commitment with ACI Europe's Airport Carbon Accreditation Program.

Airports must also focus on local community issues such as noise, air quality, water, waste and land use if local government and communities are to provide permission to grow.

"At the sixth aviation and Environment Summit last month in Geneva, the leaders of our industry - airports, airlines, air traffic control and manufacturers - stated that will do their part to maintain and grow a vibrant, sustainable air transport industry. However we need permission from governments and society if we are to be allowed to provide local, national and global communities with the economic and social benefits they need", Gitten said.