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Author Articles Archive
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December, 2011A unified transport network: European Commission proposes revision of TEN-T guidelines
On 19 October, the European Commission adopted a proposal to transform the existing patchwork of European roads, railways, airports and canals into a new Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). The new policy follows a major two-year consultation involving Member States, regions and stakeholders, and establishes a Core Transport Network to be established by 2030. Ross Falconer reports.
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December, 2011Aviation security
Aviation security policy, in particular airport security continues to be THE subject that has changed passenger perception of air travel. 2011 has been a banner year with legislation recently adopted for the inclusion of Security Scanners as an alternative means of screening; studies on the implications of full removal of liquids, aerosols and gels (LAGs) restrictions in 2013 and a High Level Conference on ‘Protecting Civil Aviation Against Terrorism’ which took place in Brussels on 27 September. Ross Falconer & Robert O’Meara report.
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December, 2011Kallas focused on Single European Sky and airport capacity challenge
Siim Kallas, European Commission Vice-President Responsible for Transport, assumed his current portfolio in February 2010, succeeding Antonio Tajani. He spoke to Airport Business about a range of issues, including the forthcoming Airport Package, capacity in the air and on the ground, the Single European Sky and aviation liberalisation. Ross Falconer reports.
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December, 2011Schiphol focused on continued sustainable growth
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol saw passenger numbers increase by +3.8% to 45.3 million in 2010, and the projection for 2011 is growth to 49 million passengers. Indeed, the airport recently welcomed its one-billionth passenger. Ad Rutten, COO, Schiphol Group and Immediate Past President, ACI EUROPE, outlined developments to Ross Falconer.
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October, 2011ACI EUROPE and SESAR JU sign cooperation agreement
The SESAR (Single European Sky ATM Research) programme aims to provide the operational and technological solution to the challenges facing European air traffic growth. At the 21st ACI EUROPE Annual Congress, which took place in Lisbon in June, the SESAR Joint Undertaking, signed a cooperation agreement with ACI EUROPE to engage its technical expertise in the programme. Ross Falconer reports.
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October, 2011Further liberalisation essential to ensure Europe’s relevance
At this year’s ACI EUROPE Annual Congress in June, the trade body launched a campaign on aviation liberalisation, with the release of a special publication entitled ‘Expanding Europe’s Aviation Market – Prerequisite for Global Relevance’. It highlights the challenges and opportunities facing European aviation, as well as identifying key priorities for EU aviation policy. Ross Falconer & Robert O’Meara report.
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October, 2011Airports seek priority in revised EIB transport lending policy
As part of the major review of overall EU transport policy currently underway, the European Investment Bank (EIB) launched a public consultation on the revision of its transport lending policy. This process included a stakeholder hearing in Brussels on 6 June, at which ACI EUROPE was represented by Christoph Köppchen, Manager – Economics. Ross Falconer reports.
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October, 2011Hands off our holiday, Mr Taxman!
The UK Chancellor, Rt Hon George Osborne MP, announced in his 2011 Budget that Air Passenger Duty (APD) would be frozen in 2011/12, but would be increased by double inflation in 2012/13. A campaign, backed by the UK Airport Operators Association (AOA), was launched in early-July in an effort to persuade the Chancellor to abandon the planned rise. Ross Falconer & Donagh Cagney report.
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October, 2011ACI EUROPE Annual Assembly: New economic and operational realities
The 21st ACI EUROPE Annual Assembly, Congress and Exhibition, this year hosted by ANA Aeroportos de Portugal, took place in Lisbon from 15 to 17 June. The event featured a broad range of high-level speakers, addressing the central theme of ‘Overcoming new economic and operational realities, while improving the passenger experience’. Ross Falconer reports.
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October, 2011Primary airports provide easyJet platform for future expansion
Carrying more than 50 million passengers per year, easyJet is the UK’s largest airline and Europe’s fourth largest. Carolyn McCall became easyJet CEO on 1 July 2010. In a wide-ranging interview, following her keynote speech at this year’s ACI EUROPE Annual Congress, she expanded on subjects including her strategic vision for the future of the airline, aviation taxation and the airport-airline relationship. Ross Falconer reports.
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June, 2011Fraport invests in future as it celebrates 75 years
Frankfurt Airport is Germany’s busiest airport and is among the world’s top 10 hubs. The airport celebrates its 75th anniversary this year – a year in which it will also, significantly, open the new Runway Northwest. Fraport is investing €7 billion in Frankfurt Airport in the period from 2007 to 2015 to sustain an ambitious strategy, as Dr Stefan Schulte, Chairman of the Executive Board, Fraport AG, explained to Ross Falconer.
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June, 2011ICF Airports’ strategy for continued Antalya growth
ICF Airports, terminal manager and operator of Antalya Airport, is a successful joint venture between Fraport and the Turkish Ibrahim Çeçen Group. Antalya Airport has achieved an impressive average annual growth rate of +14.3% over the last decade. Alexander Laukenmann, general manager, Antalya Airport, outlined the strategy for future growth in this dynamic market to ross falconer.
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June, 2011Transport 2050: Infrastructure drives mobility
The European Commission recently published its ‘Roadmap for the Future of Transport 2050’ – a comprehensive strategy for a competitive transport system, with the ambitious aim of creating a Single European Transport Area. Ross Falconer & Robert O’Meara report.
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June, 2011LAGs phase 1 postponed – Where do we go from here?
On 29 April, a major change was due to take place at Europe’s major airports, to accommodate the Phase 1 of the new rule lifting the ban on Liquids, Aerosols and Gels (LAGs). The European Commission announced a postponement of the new regime on the eve of the big day, choosing to protect citizens from confusion over the new rule and which countries were applying it. Ross Falconer reports.
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June, 2011
Grimsvötn eruption shows lessons learned
Just over one year on from the Eyjafjallajökull eruption in April 2010, a second Icelandic volcanic shock occurred on 21 May with the eruption of the Grimsvötn volcano. A swift response, including activation of the European Aviation Crisis Coordination Cell (EACCC) by the European Commission and EUROCONTROL, ensured that the impact was significantly less than the Eyjafjallajökull eruption. Ross Falconer & Robert O’Meara report.
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June, 2011Innovation to drive commercial business
The 20th ACI EUROPE Airport Trading Conference and Exhibition, this year hosted by DAA, took place in Dublin from 4 to 6 April. It was an appropriate venue – Ireland is, of course, where duty free began, at Shannon Airport in 1947, and Dublin Airport itself recently opened its spectacular new Terminal 2, which is notable for its impressive retail offer. Ross Falconer reports.
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June, 2011Budapest opens SkyCourt extension
Budapest Airport has inaugurated its new SkyCourt – a centrally located building linking the existing Terminals 2A and 2B. SkyCourt increases the capacity of the airport’s Terminal 2 from 5 million passengers per year to 8.5 million. Further developments are proposed, which will ultimately enable the airport to handle 20 million passengers per year, as Jost Lammers, CEO, Budapest Airport, explained to Ross Falconer.
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June, 2011VINGA: optimising ATM to reduce environmental impact
VINGA (Validation and Improvement of Next Generation Airspace) is a one-year project being undertaken at Göteborg Landvetter Airport within the framework of SESAR. The aim is to validate, through operational trials, the environmental benefits of implementing new ATM procedures. Ross Falconer reports.
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June, 2011New terminal to strengthen Birmingham’s global connectivity
Birmingham Airport’s new terminal was officially opened by the UK Secretary of State for Transport Philip Hammond on 13 May. It is the latest phase of the airport’s £100 million (€115m) redevelopment. The project to merge the airport’s two terminals into a single facility improves both the airport’s operational capabilities and the customer experience, as Paul Kehoe, CEO, Birmingham Airport, explained to Ross Falconer.
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April, 2011Schiphol innovating to ensure sustainable growth
The Schiphol story is one of success driven by innovation. The oldest airport in Europe, the fifth busiest airport in Europe and an important engine for the Dutch economy, Schiphol contributes around 1.5% of GDP. Ad Rutten, Executive Vice President & COO Schiphol Group, is in his second term as ACI EUROPE President. He spoke to Ross Falconer about the continuing evolution of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and the challenges and opportunities facing Europe’s airports.
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