The airport industry briefing
The latest news, views and numbers you need to know this month
News in Numbers
8
Renewable fuels company Aemetis has entered agreements with eight airline members of the oneworld Alliance for the delivery of 350 million gallons of blended fuel comprising sustainable aviation fuel.
123%
Norwegian state-owned airport operator Avinor reported a 50.9% surge in passenger traffic and a 20.7% increase in aircraft movements in Q3 2021 compared to the same quarter a year ago, with a 123% increase in passenger volume.
2030
Indira Gandhi International Airport in India is looking to achieve the goal of becoming a Net-Zero Carbon Emission Airport by 2030.
£4.3m
The UK Government has announced £4.3m funding to improve regional flight connectivity
51%
Fraport Security Services, a unit of airport operator Fraport, has agreed to sell its majority stake in passenger screening firm FraSec Luftsicherheit to facility services provider Sasse Group.
6.7 million
Dubai International Airport in the UAE has reported a passenger footfall of 6.7 million over the third quarter, accompanied by steady growth in flight movements and cargo volume.
Projects
India to invest $3.3bn over five years for expansion of airports
The Airports Authority of India has announced an investment of $3.3bn to expand existing airports in the country and modernise them over the next four to five years.
This investment will enable the creation of new terminals, as well as the expansion and overhaul of existing terminals.It will also support the expansion or revamp of aprons, runways, control towers and airport navigation services.
The three public-private partnership airports located in Delhi, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru will invest $3.9bn for expansion work by 2025.
HEL Terminal 2 extension to open next month
Finnish airport operator Finavia is set to open the new extension of Terminal 2 (T2) at Helsinki Airport (HEL) on 1 December.
SRV executed the expansion project as the main contractor. ALA Architects designed the new portion of the terminal, along with the bus and taxi stations. Architecture firm HKP was in charge of terminal alterations while Ramboll worked on the technical design.
HEL T2 has been designed to be 30% more energy-efficient than officially needed. It features thermal insulation for effective heat recovery and smart luminaires, which can modify their brightness according to the natural light in the terminal.
Construction starts on WSIA terminal
Construction work has officially commenced for the passenger terminal of Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSIA) in Australia.
This airport is being developed with an aim to offer the ‘most seamless and reliable experience possible’ for passengers.
New PNQ terminal to be completed by August 2022
Airports Authority of India has announced that the construction work for the new integrated terminal building at Pune International Airport is scheduled to be finished by August 2022.
The total project is valued at around $65.07m (Rs4.75bn), with 60% of the work already concluded.
Quotes
AOA chief executive Karen Dee comments on the final report of the Union Connectivity Review:
“The pandemic has had a devastating impact on the UK’s connectivity and the Union Connectivity Review is a welcome step towards recovering and expanding some of our domestic connectivity. The report is right to highlight that aviation provides essential connectivity within the UK that even improvements to other modes cannot replace.
“However, domestic routes are only one part of the post-pandemic connectivity recovery. The four UK nations do not only rely on connectivity to other parts of the UK to thrive but also internationally. This connectivity is expected to recover more slowly and the UK and devolved administrations need to set out ambitious proposals to ensure all parts of the UK have the connectivity they need.
“Without good air links, the UK Government’s Global Britain ambitions and levelling up plans will be difficult, if not impossible, to deliver.”
Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general, warns that the imposition of travel bans by governments could threaten recovery:
"The lifting of the US restrictions on travel from some 33 countries last month raised hopes that a surge in pent-up travel demand would buoy traffic over the coming Northern Hemisphere winter.
"But the emergence of the Omicron variant panicked many governments into once again restricting or entirely removing the freedom to travel – even though the WHO clearly advised that ‘blanket travel bans will not prevent the international spread, and they place a heavy burden on lives and livelihoods.’
"The logic of the WHO advice was evident within days of Omicron’s identification in South Africa, with its presence already confirmed in all continents. The ill-advised travel bans are as ineffective as closing the barn door after the horse has bolted.”
