Video of the week - Asia Pacific airports: the stars of 2019

14 January, 2020

Alongside the CAPA Asia Aviation & Corporate Travel Summit in Singapore in Nov-2019, the CAPA Asia Pacific Aviation Awards for Excellence were presented. Among them, the airport 'stars' from the region were rewarded.

The Asia Pacific regional airport of the year, presented to the regional airport that has been the biggest standout strategically, has established itself as a leader and done the most to advance the progress of the aviation industry, was awarded to Phnom Penh International airport.

It was selected for adopting an innovative strategy that has led to sustained passenger growth in excess of 25% over two years (2017/18) and of 15% in Q1-Q3 of 2019 while the regional leader, Thailand's Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, has languished in the 3% to 10% category.

For (together with the other airports in the group), contributing to up to 17% of the country's total GDP, sustaining more than 1.7 million jobs, representing 20% of the working population. And for the very rapid completion of works to extend the runway to 3,000 metres, thereby expanding the potential for new long haul services.

The Asia Pacific medium airport of the year, presented to the airport with 10 to 30 million annual passengers that has been the biggest standout strategically, has established itself as a leader and done the most to advance the progress of the aviation industry, was awarded to Brisbane airport.

It was selected for boosting the Asia market, by increasing the number of weekly frequencies by 50 to 137 in the period July 2016 to July 2019, a critical enhancement for Queensland and its tourism industry, which accounts for 4% of Queensland's GDP. China has become the largest source market for Queensland while Japan is the third largest source market. Together with Queensland and Brisbane tourism and economic development bodies, Brisbane has become a model for airport business development.

Secondly, for its innovative development of non-aeronautical businesses, and attendant revenues. For example, the BNE Auto Mall, of which stage one will open by 2021. It is a 300 million Australian dollar automotive precinct which will include a performance track, car dealerships, manufacturers and retail amenities and which will also service and sit alongside exhibition and conference facilities, hotels and driver training schools, which are all located next to the Brisbane Airport international terminal.

And finally, for being one of the leading airports in the world for on-time performance.

The Asia Pacific large airport of the year, presented to the airport with over 30 million annual passengers that has been the biggest standout strategically, has established itself as a leader and done the most to advance the progress of the aviation industry, was awarded to Hong Kong International airport.

It was selected for its role in managing the difficult process of agreeing its third runway project with multiple parties and the accompanying Terminal 1 expansion and improvement project. This will ensure that three years before the runway is completed, terminal capacity will be more than sufficient to handle the anticipated increase in passengers.

It was also selected for its resilience in dealing with the disruption caused during the political protests of 2019 and for managing to maintain consistent services to the passengers using it during that disruption, thus offering support to Hong Kong's beleaguered international commercial and tourism sectors.