What are the steps to grow and develop an airport?

Holistic Approach: An airport is a complex ecosystem involving multiple stakeholders like passengers, airlines, regulatory bodies, and local communities. Therefore, it’s crucial to approach its development holistically. Analyzing it from multiple angles, as suggested in the statement, ensures that all dimensions of its operations are considered: Dynamic Environment, Safety and Security, Environmental Responsibility, Cusomer Experience, and Strategic Planning.

An airport has a number of dimensions that we need to look at - the city where it is based - the long term strategy & forecast (this will define the infrastructure needs - current & future) - the short to medium term needs - the stakeholders (especially the government & airlines)

A strong vision can build an empire, and a weak vision could break one. There are many different business models and directions when it comes to establishing an airport's vision. The airport serves as a nation's gateway, and it's imperative for the vision to be aligned with the country's direction. An airport could be focused solely on generating revenue with minimum costs, or maximizing connectivity even with low yields. Sometimes, connectivity alone could have higher yields to a country's GDP as it nourishes the hospitality and tourism industries. Employee buy-in is also a deciding factor on an organization's ability to achieve its vision. As long as employees understand "why" this vision is in place, they will naturally be aligned.

Defining the vision and goals is a critical step in airport development. It serves as the roadmap guiding the strategic decisions and actions. By ensuring these are clear, actionable, and aligned with the larger aspirations of the stakeholders and society, an airport can position itself for long-term growth and success.

Growing and developing an airport is akin to steering a colossal ship in an ocean filled with opportunities and challenges. Having defined the direction through a vision and set the desired milestones through goals, the third and critical step is charting the course—developing the strategy and action plan. A well-defined strategy without a concrete action plan is like having a destination without a map, and vice versa. The beauty of the process lies in their interplay. The strategy provides the ‘why’ and the ‘what’, while the action plan provides the ‘how’ and the ‘when’.

Announcing an ambitious vision is easy, but many organizations fail in its implementation. First, the vision will need to be broken down to missions that define organizational goals contributing towards the vision. We will then need to identify high-level divisional goals to meet the organization's missions. Each department/unit will then define SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time-bound) objectives to achieve these goals. The department's objectives will then be used to develop KPIs that measures each employee's performance. Airports are complex and have many variables in nature. However, a clear vision with well communicated goals can achieve wonders in any environment.

Engaging stakeholders is pivotal in the growth trajectory of an airport. Recognizing key players -ranging from passengers and airlines to regulators and local communities- is the first step. These entities directly/indirectly influence airport operations + its future. Mapping out these stakeholders allows for a clearer understanding of their roles, interests, and potential impacts. Communication is the linchpin here; establishing robust channels ensures that their feedback, concerns, and suggestions are heard, fostering a sense of involvement. This engagement is a continuous process. By actively seeking their insights on the airport’s vision, goals/plans, airports can make more informed decisions, unlocking invaluable expertise/resources.

Execution is where vision meets reality. Implementing the action plan ensures that strategic aspirations transform into tangible outcomes. As the airport progresses, it’s essential to monitor how closely actions align with the broader strategy and vision. Using predefined indicators and targets, the airport can measure results, gauging if it’s on the right trajectory towards its goals. Regular monitoring not only tracks progress but also pinpoints any challenges or risks, allowing timely interventions. In essence, effective execution paired with vigilant monitoring is crucial to navigating the airport towards its envisioned future.

Data plays a vital role in impact assessments, learning from previous occurrences and predicting possible irregularities. We always start with measuring the airport's utilization to its existing capacity. If not done periodically, expanding the airport's capacity might be too late and this is when bottlenecks occur. Whether its operational, safety or security related, the purpose of learning from past events is to improve our response / processes in the future. In order to identify alarming trends and improve processes from post-incident reports, it's imperative to validate all relevant information while minimizing missed information. Data is the most valuable asset, but it can also be misleading if it's missing, corrupted or biased.

Here are some quick tips for airport start-ups: 1. Clearly identify the purpose of your airport beforehand (Short passenger journeys for low-cost carriers, long dwelling time for high-service carriers, etc.); it's important to identify your target customer at this stage 2. Involve Subject Matter Experts in the design stage (Operational, Security, Safety & Customer Experience); this will help reduce costs and encourage creativity/innovation due to the additional freedom provided 3. Dedicate a team to monitor the project's progress, start preparing for change management processes and lead cultural change; locals that work with their heart and love towards their country are best suited for this role Leading airports plan their way to success.