2009 NAC

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At the Tuesday, Sept. 22, NAC luncheon, each table was asked to comment on industry issues. The following responses were received:

Top 5 trends facing the airport industry:

  1. ticket prices; service-related IT, such as paperless tickets, Blackberry and Ipod; route availability; sustainability (FAA funding for all airports); customer service; aircraft fuel efficiency.
  2. going green; technology; airline consolidation; privatization; regulations.
  3. economy; technology that leads to reduced need to travel; energy (price or stability of oil prices); sustainability/green initiatives; common use terminal equipment; common use self service equipment.
  4. move toward more a la carte services on airlines; more environmental/green equals more fees passed on to passengers; airline subsidies; increasing fractional use; more use of common use facilities.
  5. transparency of information (flights, pricing, etc.); government/regulatory (who calls the shots?); ticket lobby design; reliance upon technology; globalization; sustainability.

Potential new sources of non-traditional, non-airline revenue:

  1. Freedom from FAA obligation to be able to lease or even sell unneeded land to non-aviation entities; airport owns and operates its own concessions; drop-off valet parking; airport to install all IT needs, both backbone and equipment; drop-off kennel.
  2. percent of FBO or either business sales as part of assignment or percent of refinance if it requires lease extension.
  3. ground handling; airport FBO/fueling; AAAE needs to address training programs for non-traditional services; solar panels; cell towers with percent of hits from calls.
  4. develop business-related industry around airport and utilize surplus land for compatible third-party partnerships/business development; every airport should have a fueling station and a hotel in its business plan.
  5. better ground transportation to the city center.

Recruiting Future Airport Leaders:

  1. Cross-airport job shadowing for potential leaders as part of an apprentice program.these women and men could be exposed to current complex issues and problems for which they would be expected to recommend an approach to a solution.
  2. internships; aviation programs at high school and college levels.