The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced that it would host the 59th Airport Council International (ACI), Africa.
This was disclosed by the Managing Director of the agency, Saleh Dunoma, in a press conference on Monday and explained that the agency would host the 59th Airports Council International (ACI), Africa Board Regional Committees Meetings, Regional Conference and Exhibition in Lagos between April 14 to20, 2018.
He said that the conference this year would dwell on commercialization and business investment at the airports and noted that airports around the world rely on non-aeronautical revenues (NAR) such as retail concessions, car parking property and real estate, adding that global NAR accounts for 40 percent of airports income.
He disclosed that during the conference, an entire session would dwell on the challenges and future of tax-free retail shopping, a major source of non-aeronautical revenue.
Dunoma also disclosed that in 2017 FAAN generated N38 billion from Passenger Service Charge and attributed it to the newly introduced ease of doing business and the visa on arrival policy introduced recently by government.
“FAAN generated ₦38 billion from Passenger Service Charges in 2017, although passenger traffic dropped. The automated car park at the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport increased FAAN revenue by 68 per cent.
“African airports must position for increased passenger volume, particularly business travellers and tourists. Last year, the continent saw a nine percent increase in tourism, the highest increase in any region”, he said.
Speaking on the forthcoming conference which would be held for the first time in Nigeria, Dunoma, who is also the President, ACI-Africa, said the theme of the conference, “Business Transformation for Sustainable Development of African Airports”, was timely, adding that among other things, the conference would push for a change in the perception of business in African airports.
According to him, there should be a change in how the business of African airports is viewed for the region to realise the vaunted benefits of Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM)’ agenda.
“The 59th ACI-Africa Board and Committees Meetings and Regional Conference and Exhibition is holding just after 23 African countries signed the Single African Air Travel Market (SAATM) last January in Addis Ababa. SAATM has the potential to transform/revolutionise aviation business on the continent.
“According to IATA, an open skies agreement among Africa’s 12 biggest economies could see passenger traffic soar by 81 percent to about 11m. It could generate 155,000 new jobs, adding $1.3 billion to GDP. It estimates it could provide 17,400 jobs in Nigeria and contribute $128 million to our GDP
“SAATM is an indication that change is in the air – less than 20 percent of revenues African airports generate is commercial. African airports must transform to embrace this change”, he added.
He added that alongside the meetings and conference, airports, service providers and aviation companies will exhibit their products and services at a large-scale exhibition, noting that the conference sessions will feature industry experts who will share their experience of technologies, innovations, strategies, mindset and models (e.g. public-private partnerships) to improve operations and boost revenue.
He said there will be a greater focus on customer service, which guarantees improved profitability, optimal use of infrastructure and sustainability of the business.
“ACI-Africa, an association of Africa’s airports, is part of Airport Council International (ACI), the global trade representative of airport authorities throughout the world. With over 50 members operating 250 airports in 47 countries throughout the continent, it is the voice of African airports – leading, representing and serving the African airport community
“FAAN is delighted to host global and regional aviation experts and giants of the industry. For over a week knowledge and experiences will be shared, strategies developed, networks formed, and investments attracted.
While noting that about 12 million passengers pass through its 22 airports every year in Nigeria, he said FAAN’s vision is to develop and profitably manage airport facilities that are customer-focused, safe, efficient and world-class.
“At FAAN, we are focusing on better service delivery to passengers. Some recent initiatives – an automated multilevel car park and the adoption of Airport Service Programme of the ACI to measure and track service quality delivery – are in this direction”, he added.
FAAN was established in 1996 to develop and manage all the government-owned commercial airports in Nigeria.
Also speaking, Mrs. Nike Aboderin, director of Finance and Accounts, FAAN, said as part of the preparations towards the conference, the Authority is already engaging some hotels and other companies, adding that participants would on the Social Day, take a tour of places like Nike Art Gallery, Terra Culture and other tourists centres in Lagos.
