ACI EUROPE is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its Annual Assembly, Congress and Exhibition taking place in Milan on 16-18 June. ACI is the only worldwide professional association of airport operators. However, membership is equally open both for airport operators as well as for airports’ suppliers and business consultants.
The World Business Partners (WBP) programme was designed in 1993 to meet the specific needs of commercial enterprises which are linked to aviation. It was a pilot project responding to the business’ demand for networking and knowledge sharing in the air transport industry. Its immediate success prompted the gradual evolution of the programme and it was decided to keep it on a permanent basis.
Most of ACI EUROPE’s WBPs currently come from the UK, Germany and France.
The goal of the WBP programme is to maximise business connections, to create awareness in the airport community about new technologies, products and services available.
Since the beginning of this year, the newly enhanced WBP programme is being run directly by each of the five ACI regions, with ACI WORLD in Geneva providing additional global services to WBPs, whatever their region. As a result, European members of the WBP programme are now coordinated by Yulia Plyusnina at ACI EUROPE in Brussels.
Members of the World Business Partners programme enjoy equal benefits with the Regular Members – airport operators, but for the possibility to nominate a full-voting representative to the ACI EUROPE Board. At the moment there are 183 regular members (426 airports and heliports) and 138 WBP + 4 affiliates. By the amount of members, ACI EUROPE is the second largest region, after ACI NORTH AMERICA.
The majority (88%) of WBPs affiliated to ACI EUROPE are from the 27 EU Member States. It is planned to increase the amount of non-EU members by involving Russian-speaking countries, as well as offering affiliate memberships to WBP members in other regions.
The focus of the WBP programme is two-fold: knowledge and industry expertise sharing via professional publications, newsletters, regular updates, traffic and passenger reports, as well as professional gatherings throughout the year. It is an excellent opportunity to interact with the airport industry decision makers, establish contacts, and help to influence aviation policies.
Geographical distribution of members
The majority (88%) of ACI EUROPE WBPs are from the 27 EU Member States. It is planned to increase the amount of non-EU members by involving Russian-speaking countries, as well as offering affiliate memberships to WBP members in other regions.
Most of our WBPs currently come from the UK, Germany and France.
Membership level
ACI EUROPE provides two membership levels: Silver and Gold. Gold membership gives the opportunity to nominate a representative to five of the six ACI EUROPE committees – where the issues challenging airports are discussed in more detail and ACI EUROPE positions on policy topics are developed: safety, security, environment, economics, and facilitation & customer service. Though, as it is shown on the graph, only one third of members choose this type of membership.
ACI EUROPE provides two membership levels: Silver and Gold. Gold membership gives the opportunity to nominate a representative to five of the six ACI EUROPE committees. Though, as it is shown on the graph, only one third of members choose this type of membership.
The programme also offers special discounts for companies that have fewer than 10 full time employees involved in the airport industry.
ACI EUROPE’s plans include growing WBP’s participation at all of its events, expanding programme benefits and providing more opportunities to network with all members.
