Deloitte, IATA offer advice on managing airports
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Deloitte have published guidance materials for governments considering public-private partnerships (PPP) and other forms of privatisation programmes for airport infrastructure.
“Airports provide critical infrastructure,” said IATA director general and CEO Alexandre de Juniac. “It’s important that governments considering privatisation or PPP take a long-term view and focus on solutions that will maximise the economic and social benefits of connectivity.
“The aim of ‘Airport Ownership and Regulation’ is to help governments make better-informed decisions using best-practices gleaned from decades of experience with the good, the bad and the ugly of airport privatisation.”
“Airport Ownership and Regulation” builds on industry best practice and the results of research into the effectiveness of different ownership and operating models from the perspective of a range of stakeholders.
The phenomenal demand for air connectivity is outpacing the capacity of current airport infrastructure and many governments are challenged in finding the effective financing means to enable critical expansion.
“The global growth of airports,” said Deloitte global airport lead Dorian Reece, “is increasingly putting airports under pressure, increasing the need for governments to explore alternative financing solutions and enhance management efficiency.
“The current pipeline of airport privatisation being considered globally makes this guidance booklet timely, and we believe it will support governments to better assess private sector participation options.
“There is a critical need to ensure strategic objectives are appropriately assessed and the benefits and risks understood when evaluating airport ownership and operating model options. Whatever ownership or operating model is applied, governments, investors and aviation stakeholders need to put the end-consumer central to the selection of the optimal solution.”
