CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports says aviation needs to advocate for itselfIn International Airport Review’s exclusive CEO series, Bryan Thompson, CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports, details his vision for the adapting aviation sector.
How did your career in the aviation industry begin?My career in the aviation industry began as the Assistant General Manager at O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), which services the city of Johannesburg in South Africa. This beginning in the aviation industry gave me a critical insight regarding the intricacies of operating a large-scale airport, given that O.R. Tambo International Airport is the busiest airport in both South Africa and Africa as a whole. During my time there, I oversaw developments in preparation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which boosted both our passenger and aircraft capacity as an airport. Such preparations were invaluable for the airport infrastructure development projects that I would work on later in my career.
What is the most rewarding aspect of being an airport CEO? On the other hand, what is most difficult?One of the most exciting aspects of being at the helm of Abu Dhabi Airports is the ever-evolving nature of our business and the continuous development of our facilities, infrastructure and products. Our airports group has a wide range of projects coming to fruition in the next few years, be that the Midfield Terminal at Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH), our expanded range of products for businesses at Abu Dhabi Airport’s Free Zone or our ongoing upgrades to our passenger facilities across all of our airports.
However, ensuring alignment across our business groups is a challenge that arises from such continuous growth and development. With a diverse range of business operations, ensuring that growth does not lead to extra complexity and challenges down the road is a central concern for all of us in the executive team. Through working coherently with managers across our business, we strive to maintain a consistent approach across all of our operations and ongoing projects.
Can you give us an overview of the three most exciting developments currently happening at Abu Dhabi Airports?We are currently in the final stages of testing and completing the construction of Abu Dhabi International Airport’s new Midfield Terminal, which will be one of the largest new pieces of aviation infrastructure in the region. The terminal will have the capacity for 79 aircraft at any single time, 154 check-in counters and 12,150m2 of food and beverage space. We are looking forward to welcoming passengers to the new Midfield Terminal when it opens.
In addition to the construction of the Midfield Terminal, we are developing the wider complex which surrounds Abu Dhabi International Airport. We are delighted to offer business and logistics solutions that cater to a wide range of commercial organisations. A great example of this is our development of the East Midfield Building, which will offer easy landside and airside access, ideal for online e-commerce businesses.
We are also continuing to expand our facilities’ use of technology with a wide range of projects designed to make modern airport life easier for the everyday passenger. An example of such a project is the autonomous wheelchair technology which we are trialling at Abu Dhabi International Airport in collaboration with Etihad Airways, SITA and Whill. The robotic wheelchairs allow passengers with reduced mobility (PRMs) to easily navigate through and around an airport setting, enabling a smoother journey for all passengers.
What is the biggest challenge that Abu Dhabi Airports is having to tackle?Our biggest challenge is keeping up with the pace of technological advancement within the aviation sector. Continuously implementing new systems and technologies that enable us to remain at the forefront of the airport industry is a significant but surmountable ongoing challenge.
With the Midfield Terminal, we will be able to seamlessly offer passengers, airlines and businesses the latest next-generation technology; be that in bio-recognition software that ensures passengers a smooth journey through our airport, or pioneering e-commerce-centric logistics infrastructure that facilitates same-day and next-day deliveries. Nevertheless, new technologies continue to be introduced apace, and ensuring that our airports group remains at the forefront of advancements in the industry remains a priority for all of us at Abu Dhabi Airports.
At this moment in time, what do you see as the biggest disruptor to the aviation industry?In comparison to other industries, aviation has not yet faced disruption from start-ups in the same way that other traditional sectors, such as retail, hospitality or other aspects of the travel industry, have faced. This is primarily due to the high set-up costs entailed in entering aviation, yet challenger brands have started to look to the skies, providing new opportunities and challenges for airports.
A notable example of this has been the entry of Amazon Air into the air freight sector. The brand is now enabling the e-commerce giant to act as a challenger to other well-established market leaders in air cargo. Whilst Amazon Air is currently only active in the U.S., their cargo approach demonstrates the future potential of established start-ups entering the traditional aviation space.
There are a wide variety of technologies that have the capability to initiate wide-ranging change across the aviation sector, but their implementation is not yet immediate, whereas established start-ups are now challenging traditional brands in the aviation industry. For large airport groups, such as Abu Dhabi Airports, we need to adapt accordingly to these changing market conditions.
In your opinion, how does the aviation industry need to adapt to secure its place in the future?Aviation is clearly a critical aspect of modern life in our global society, and IATA predicts a doubling of passenger figures by 2037. Yet, the sector’s dominance should not be mistaken for longevity. The modern aviation industry has a core issue which we are all aware of, a consistent dependence on traditional fuel sources and increasing greenhouse gas emissions.
As governments, private entities and the public strive to develop solutions for the impacts of climate change, the aviation industry can expect to have to answer difficult questions in the legislative, commercial and public arenas. We need to improve the sustainability of air travel now to ensure that we can continue to provide passengers with the safe and convenient service they have become accustomed to.
It is for this reason that we have been proud to see Abu Dhabi International Airport receive an accreditation level of ‘reduction’ from Airports Council International’s (ACI) Airport Carbon Accreditation programme, which recognises our commitment to carefully managing and reducing our carbon dioxide emissions. We seek to bring such an attitude to the future Midfield Terminal Building in managing and reducing our airport’s emissions.
What does the future of the aviation industry look like to you?The aviation industry is a wide and disparate range of businesses and industries, making it difficult for me to comment on that full picture. However, from an airport perspective, we can look forward to three principle aspects:
A continually improving passenger experience that prioritises the customer’s journey through an airport, in terms of speed, access, comfort and choice afforded to them through the implementation of a range of technologies, including bio-recognition and integrating more with customers’ personal electronic devicesAn ever-growing integration between air and land cargo sources, which enables goods to be quickly and swiftly taken from the cargo hold to the container truck. With the implementation of technologies, such as robotics and blockchain, and driven by increasing customer need for faster delivery of their product, I expect to see this process become increasingly swift as time goes onGreater engagement with designing, discussing and implementing sustainable solutions for modern airports. The aviation industry needs to advocate for itself to adopt sustainable solutions, and the steps we have taken so far only represent the beginning of our transition to sustainable, emission-free air travel. I look forward to seeing how our industry can lead in the development of sustainable solutions for the future.
