Heathrow Airport
In the first nine months of 2016, Heathrow handled over 57 million passengers.
Heathrow Airport received approval from the UK Government for building a third runway. The €19 million construction – the first full-length runway in southeast England since World War II – will allow the airport to handle 135 million passengers a year. In early 2017, the government will publish a draft National Policy Statement (NPS) on airports setting out its policy for developing a new Heathrow runway by 2030. There will be a public consultation process running for 16 weeks. In summer 2017-autumn 2018, the government will analyse responses from the public consultation and select committees before finalising NPS. In late 2017-early 2018, final NPS will be debated in parliament followed by a formal vote. If it is approved, the Transport Secretary can formally designate the NPS. In 2018-2022, once the NPS is designated, Heathrow can start the process of applying for planning permission for the third runway.
Shannon Airport
Shannon has averaged 3% monthly growth so far in 2016.
Shannon Airport is the first airport in the world to trial the new pre-clearance checkpoint concept, which was developed as part of the EU-funded XP-DITE project. This high-tech system could halve security screening time at airports by combining EU and US checks into one checkpoint and, consequently, by replacing the existing two separate checkpoints that are used with just one. Pre-clearance allows passengers to complete immigration and customs formalities, as well as security screening for US domestic flights, before they travel to the US. This means that they can land at any airport in the US, take domestic flights without rescreening, and their luggage can be checked through to their final destination.
Copenhagen Airport
Copenhagen is on course to handle over 29 million passengers in 2016.
Copenhagen Airport has become the latest gateway to install new Airport Collaborative Decision Making (A-CDM) technology. The successful implementation of Amadeus’ Airport Sequence Manager and A-CDM Portal solutions, which provide the airport, its airline customers, ground handlers and air traffic controllers with accurate and synced information on aircraft departures, ensures that the gateway will soon join more than 20 airports in Europe that are A-CDM compliant.
Keflavik Airport
Keflavik has not posted a monthly growth figure in 2016 of less than 25% (Jan-Sept).
Keflavik Airport will get its first domestic flight. Air Iceland, an Icelandair affiliate, announced that from the end of February 2017, the airline would offer up to six flights a week between Keflavik Airport and Akureyri, Iceland’s second-largest urban area. This improvement in service will open up the possibility of getting a domestic flight in connection to an international flight.
Munich Airport
Munich has averaged 3% monthly growth so far in 2016.
Munich Airport is to set up a new subsidiary to handle its management and consultancy work on international projects. The company is a 100% subsidiary of Flughafen München GmbH, the operator of Munich Airport. Besides expanding the services to airport O&M contracts and to strengthen the international activities of FMG’s Airport Academy, Europe’s first five-star airport plans to open several sales offices around the globe. Currently, FMG is providing services to 13 airport clients worldwide with a team of 70 experts.
Oslo Airport
Oslo is maintaining its position as the second-largest hub in Scandinavia behind Copenhagen.
Oslo Airport has turned to video game technology to train its employees and get them ready to navigate the new terminals, as it prepares for the opening of its new, expanded facilities. Almost 23,000 employees will be using a 3D game to explore various realistic situations in the airport area. The purpose of the game is to make employees familiar with the new terminal areas through various storylines and tasks that need to be solved. Points are awarded for solving tasks. Customer service, security and team spirit are key elements of the game.
Warsaw Chopin Airport
In 2015, Warsaw Chopin handled more passengers than the second (KRK), third (GDN) and fourth (KTW) biggest airports in Poland combined.
Warsaw Chopin Airport has installed four new airport maps, which can be touched and are equipped with audio information in Polish and English – the so-called typhlographic terminals – to help blind and visually impaired people navigate their way around. These maps are located in front of the departure hall, at the bus stop at the departure hall, in front of the arrivals hall, and at the Chopin Airport train station. After pressing the maps button, the user will hear where the most important objects in her/his environment are, in which direction to go and where to get help.
Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport
Moscow Sheremetyevo handled on average 2.79 million passengers per month between January and August 2016.
Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport has invested €786 million into building a new terminal and expanding its operations. The main renovation stage, which will be completed by 2018, will increase airport capacity to 55 million passengers per year. By 2026, capacity will grow to 80 million per year. The number of take-offs and landings will rise from 55 to 90 per hour by 2018 when the third runway will be built. The new terminal will be linked to the existing ones by a railway tunnel worth €228 million.
Tirana International Airport
Tirana is on course to handle over 2 million passengers in 2016.
Tirana International Airport has been acquired by Hong Kong-based investment holding and asset management company China Everbright Limited (CEL) in a 100% buyout of the entire stock issue of Albania’s Tirana International Airport. The airport had been in the hands of German, US and Albanian shareholders since 2005. The price of the deal was not disclosed.
Greek Airports
Thessaloniki Airport has achieved double-digit growth in four months so far in 2016 (Jan-Sept).
Fraport has unveiled a €400 million investment plan to upgrade and extend the facilities in 14 Greek regional airports. This plan envisages, for instance, that the area of Santorini terminal building will increase from 5,000sqm to 15,000sqm and it will double from 30,000sqm to 60,000sqm at Thessaloniki Airport. Corfu’s terminal will grow by 1,000sqm, while Chania Airport in Crete will have its interior renovated. Plans to create modern shopping centres within the terminals were also announced.
