Official logo of the ACI.

Airports Council International (ACI) is an organization of airport authorities aimed at uniting industry practices for airport standards. Established in 1991, its headquarters (ACI World) are based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and its members operate nearly 2000 airports. [1]

Major programs include safety enhancement (APEX) and Airport Service Quality Awards (ASQ), based on passenger satisfaction ratings. Other initiatives cover economics, operational security, carbon accreditation, and passenger transportation. Next Experience in Travel and Technologies (NEXTT) coordinates the movement of passengers, cargo, baggage, and aircraft by using processing technology and interactive decision-making.

Background

Before 1970, the world's airports were represented by three distinct associations:

  • Airport Operators Council International (AOCI)
  • International Civil Airports Association (ICAA
  • Western European Airports Association (WEAA)

Due to the growing importance of external factors on airport operations, the need for a formal relationship with governments, airlines, manufacturers and other parties concerned became more apparent. In 1970, these three associations created the Airport Associations Coordinating Council (AACC) in order to formulate unified airport industry policies, furthering collaboration between its constituent associations and representing them collectively with aviation organizations and other relevant bodies.[2]

The decision to create ACI was taken in 1989. The Constitution of ACI to succeed AACC was approved in the autumn of 1990 and came to effect in 1991.

In 2011, ACI relocated its headquarters from Geneva, Switzerland, to Montreal, Canada. The decision was in part motivated by the fact that the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is located in Montreal. The purpose was to facilitate better coordination of their activities and also to operate alongside the International Air Transport Association (IATA), also located in the same city.[3]

In 2016, airports worldwide welcomed 7.7 billion arriving and departing passengers and handled 110 million metric tonnes of cargo and 92 million aircraft movements.[4]

ACI reported 641 members operating 1,957 airports in 176 countries and territories. ACI regular members are owners or operators, other than airlines, of one or more civil airports with commercial air services.

Priorities

ACI represents airports interests with governments and international organizations such as ICAO, develops standards, policies and recommended practices for airports, and provides information and training.[5]

Safety

ACI considers safety its main priority and has launched programs such as Airport Excellence (APEX) to help airports enhance their level of safety. It also provides publications that describe recommendations and best practices for airport operators.[6] It is involved in airport design specifications, standard operating procedures for airports, technology, systems & equipment, safety management systems for airports, safety guidance material and training.[7]

Economics

ACI encourages its member airports to improve operational and cost efficiency to moderate the cost of flying, mitigate capacity shortfalls and create sufficient rates of return.[5]

Security

ACI has formulated policy positions on security issues which guide the organization and member airports.[5]

IT

All of the ACI World IT initiatives are coordinated through the ACI World Airport IT Standing Committee, constituted by people from airports and business partners and aims to reformulate recommended practices and develop guidelines, benchmarking and training materials.[5]

Environment

ACI develops initiatives to reduce environmental impacts while supporting economic and social benefits.[8] It created tools to help airports calculate their greenhouse gas emissions.[9]

As one of the founding members of the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG), ACI, along with other trade associations, is part of a coalition of aviation industry experts focusing on sustainable development issues. ATAG defines common positions on issues to make contributions to the industry and governmental consultation processes.[10]

Facilitation

ACI helps airports improve their management or flow of passengers, baggage, cargo and mail by providing a set of best practices together with measuring and benchmarking opportunities provided through the Airport Service Quality (ASQ) programs.[11]

Airport Slots

In 2015, ACI created an Expert Group on Slots (EGS) that proposes a worldwide policy on slots. The Group wrote a Position Paper to guide ACI's advocacy on this topic and recommend involvement in the development of the IATA Worldwide Slot Guidelines.

Programs

Airport Service Quality (ASQ)

ASQ is a worldwide program part of the ACI's Airport Quality Service Initiative that surveys passengers on their day of travel, measuring passengers' view. The program claims to "measure passengers' satisfaction" at the departure and the arrival stages of their journey through airports.[12]

Airport Excellence Program (APEX)

ACI first launched the Airports Excellence Program (APEX) in Safety in 2012.[13] The program provides assistance for airports to enhance their level of safety. It is based on airport safety review, which analyzes gaps in airport operation and infrastructure in comparison to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards and safety best practices.[14] ACI organizes and dispatches an on-site team from ICAO and other airports to identify and remedy safety vulnerabilities through peer reviews, information sharing, training, assistance with implementation of management structures. It covers the setup, implementation and performance of the safety management system in the areas of physical characteristics & pavement management, air rescue and firefighting, wildlife management, apron management, documentation, record keeping, and security management systems.[15]

In October 2017, ACI launched the APEX in Security Program based on the same principles as APEX in Safety. The program covers Operational Security Management, with assessments being performed by security experts.[16]

Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA)

Airport Carbon Accreditation was launched as an independent, voluntary program in 2009 after the adoption of a resolution on Climate Change in 2008 at the annual assembly of ACI Europe. Member airports committed to reduce carbon emissions from their operations, with the ultimate goal of becoming carbon neutral. The programme allowed the assessment and recognition of participating airports' efforts to manage and reduce their CO2 emissions.

Airport Carbon Accreditation has been extended to airports in the Asia-pacific region in 2011, in Africa in 2013, and eventually went global in 2014 with the extension to the regions of North America, Latin America and the Caribbean.[17]

Next Experience in Travel and Technologies (NEXTT)

In 2017, IATA and ACI launched the New Experience in Travel and Technologies (NEXTT) initiative for on-ground transport experience, to guide industry investments and help governments improve the regulatory framework. NEXTT investigates how passengers, cargo, baggage and aircraft move through the travel journey with a focus on change in off-airport activities, processing technology, and interactive decision-making.[18]

Human and Wildlife Trafficking

Airports Council International expressed airports' commitment to the fight against human trafficking through the approbation of a resolution during the ACI World General Assembly in 2016. The resolution expressed ACI's commitments to promote awareness of human trafficking through media, provide access to training materials and materials for distribution, encourage the incorporation of training into airport staff security awareness programs, and support activities of governments, charities and non-governmental organizations who are involved in the prevention of human trafficking.[19]

Airports Council International is committed to developing a framework to fight wildlife trafficking and adopting and encouraging the adoption of a zero tolerance policy regarding illegal wildlife trade. ACI was one of the parties involved in the signature of the United for Wildlife Task Force Declaration at the Buckingham Palace in 2016.[20] The organization is dedicated to developing a practical solutions while cooperating with international initiatives such as the Reducing Opportunities for Unlawful Transport of Endangered Species (ROUTES) partnership.[21]

Regional offices

Statistics

ACI delivers data regarding the aviation industry monthly and annually.

Airport Service Quality Awards

The ACI gives out the Airport Service Quality Awards (ASQ), based on passenger satisfaction ratings in the ASQ Survey, which is a global survey based on interviews with passengers on the day of travel. Along with the World Airport Awards by Skytrax, it is considered one of the most prestigious accolades in the industry.[22]

The awards are given out in five categories:

  • Best Airport by Region
  • Best Airport by Size
  • Best Regional Airport
  • Best Improvement

Best Airport Worldwide

Year1st2nd3rd
2006[23]South Korea Incheon International AirportHong Kong Hong Kong International AirportMalaysia Kuala Lumpur International Airport
2007[24]South Korea Incheon International AirportMalaysia Kuala Lumpur International AirportSingapore Singapore Changi Airport
2008[25]South Korea Incheon International AirportSingapore Singapore Changi AirportHong Kong Hong Kong International Airport
2009[26]South Korea Incheon International AirportSingapore Singapore Changi AirportHong Kong Hong Kong International Airport
2010[27]South Korea Incheon International AirportSingapore Singapore Changi AirportHong Kong Hong Kong International Airport
2011[28]South Korea Incheon International AirportSingapore Singapore Changi AirportChina Beijing Capital International Airport
2012[29] South Korea Incheon International Airport Singapore Singapore Changi Airport Hong Kong Hong Kong International Airport
2013[30] Singapore Singapore Changi Airport South Korea Incheon International Airport Netherlands Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
2014[31] Singapore Singapore Changi Airport South Korea Incheon International Airport Germany Munich Airport
2015[32] Singapore Singapore Changi Airport South Korea Incheon International Airport Germany Munich Airport
2016[33] Singapore Singapore Changi Airport South Korea Incheon International Airport Germany Munich Airport
2017[34] Singapore Singapore Changi Airport Japan Tokyo Haneda Airport South Korea Incheon International Airport
2018[35] Singapore Singapore Changi Airport South Korea Incheon International Airport Japan Tokyo Haneda Airport
2019[36] Singapore Singapore Changi Airport Japan Tokyo Haneda Airport South Korea Incheon International Airport
2020[37] Singapore Singapore Changi Airport Japan Tokyo Haneda Airport Qatar Hamad International Airport
2021[38] Qatar Hamad International Airport Japan Tokyo Haneda Airport Singapore Singapore Changi Airport
2022[39] Qatar Hamad International Airport Japan Tokyo Haneda Airport Singapore Singapore Changi Airport

References

  1. ↑ "About ACI – ACI World". 7 April 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  2. ↑ "ACI History". aci.aero. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  3. ↑ "Airports Council International moving to Montréal | News". international.gouv.qc.ca. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  4. ↑ "Mission, Objectives, Structure". aci.aero. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "iwasroute". Airport Suppliers. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  6. ↑ "Initiatives". aci.aero. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  7. ↑ "Airports Council International officially launches its APEX in Safety programme – International Airport Review". internationalairportreview.com. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  8. ↑ "ACERT". aci.aero. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  9. ↑ "iwasroute". Airport Suppliers. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  10. ↑ "What we do". atag.org. Archived from the original on 1 September 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  11. ↑ "Facilitation". aci.aero. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  12. ↑ "ASQ Homepage". aci.aero. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  13. ↑ "Airports Council International continues its growth in Montréal, the civil aviation world capital – Montreal International". Montreal International. 19 March 2014. Archived from the original on 1 September 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  14. ↑ "ICAO and ACI Collaborate to Enhance Safety Standards at Airports". icao.int. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  15. ↑ omalaetiit.com, Omalaeti Technologies, Namibia. "Namibia Airports Company – Airports Council International (ACI) and Airports Excellence(APEX) Safety Audit at Hosea Kutako International Airport". airports.com.na. Retrieved 3 August 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  16. ↑ "ACI World's APEX in Security | Airport Business". Airport Business. 4 December 2017. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  17. ↑ Rebelo, Ines. "Airport Carbon Accreditation – About Airport Carbon Accreditation ?". airportcarbonaccreditation.org. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  18. ↑ IATA. "IATA – IATA and ACI Launch New Experience in Travel and Technologies (NEXTT)". iata.org. Archived from the original on 1 September 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  19. ↑ "Airports Council International expressed airports' commitment to the fight against human trafficking". aci.aero. 28 September 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  20. ↑ "Airports Council International expressed the commitment of airports to join the effort to stop the transportation of illegal wildlife products". aci.aero. 28 September 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  21. ↑ "Wildlife Trafficking | ACI World". aci.aero. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  22. ↑ "World's best airports announced – Asia dominates" Archived 9 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine CNN Go. 15 February 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2012
  23. ↑ "ASQ Award Winners 2006". ACI. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  24. ↑ "ASQ Award Winners 2007". ACI. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  25. ↑ "ASQ Award Winners 2008". ACI. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  26. ↑ "ASQ Award Winners 2009". ACI. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  27. ↑ "ASQ Award Winners 2010". ACI. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  28. ↑ "ASQ Award Winners 2011". ACI. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  29. ↑ "World's Top 100 Airports 2012". SKYTRAX. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  30. ↑ "World's Top 100 Airports 2013". SKYTRAX. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  31. ↑ "World's Top 100 Airports 2014". SKYTRAX. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  32. ↑ "World's Top 100 Airports 2015". SKYTRAX. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  33. ↑ "World's Top 100 Airports 2016". SKYTRAX. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  34. ↑ "World's Top 100 Airports 2017". SKYTRAX. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  35. ↑ "World's Top 100 Airports 2018". SKYTRAX. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  36. ↑ "World's Top 100 Airports 2019". SKYTRAX. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  37. ↑ "The World's Top 100 Airports of 2020". SKYTRAX. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  38. ↑ "World's Top 100 Airports 2021". SKYTRAX. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  39. ↑ "World's Top 100 Airports 2022". SKYTRAX. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
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