ACI discusses challenges affecting airports and civil aviation sector

Muscat: The 65th meeting of the Governing Board of the Airports Council International (ACI) was held in Muscat on Sunday under the chairmanship of Sheikh Ayman Ahmed Al Hosani, CEO of Oman Airports, Chairman of the ACI Board for the current session.

As many as 29 CEOs of regional and international airports took part in the meeting.

The meeting endorsed the ACI work plan for the next two years. It also explored ways to promote cooperation between airports and international aviation organisations.

The meeting also discussed environmental and economic sustainability projects, as well as the challenges impacting the airports and civil aviation sector.

The CEO of Oman Airports said that the meeting discussed the gradual return of travel traffic after Covid-19 pandemic. This traffic, he said, signals the restoration of air traffic at global airports with the rise of passenger numbers during the first months of 2022.

Luis Felipe, ACI Director General, said that the meeting discussed forging future plans to meet the challenges facing the aviation sector, especially with regard to working between airports to confront climate change. He also added that the meeting highlighted the keenness to open markets and support the transformation of the aviation sector to be environmentally friendly.

At the conclusion of its deliberations, the meeting approved a set of recommendations, represented in endorsing updates in laws of security, safety and environmental sustainability, as well as approving a new centre for artificial intelligence (AI) for all airports in the world. The move aims to provide the necessary data and analysis for airports to be more capable to plan for future projects at the executive level.

The meeting also recommended to implement a joint virtual training centre under ACI’s umbrella for the exchange of expertise among workers in the aviation sector.

The meeting also recommended endorsing a unified plan of action in which procedures are consistent to meet any new health challenges and to emphasize the use of modern technology in the airport sector.

The meeting called for a comprehensive review of fees and measures that can be approved by airports to ensure their ability to operate as independent entities, ahead of the ICAO meeting scheduled to be held next September 2022.

The Sultanate of Oman, represented by Oman Airports, chairs the current session of the ACI Governing Board during the period from the beginning of 2022 until the end of 2023.