Gaby's Airport Chronicles #4 🛫
An airport is only as good as its network. My experience in the airport commercial management taught me that the airports depend on having the right balance between the number of people who want to travel (passenger demand) and the number of airplane seats available (supply). This balance is shaped by several big factors:
1. Rules and regulations: Governments set policies that control things like airport slots, noise limits, and security. These rules impact how airlines and airports can operate.
2. Airline strategies: Airlines make choices about where they fly, what planes they use, how much they charge, and what kinds of services they offer. These decisions directly affect the supply of seats.
3. Airport strategies: Airports try to attract airlines by investing in facilities, offering deals, and making themselves appealing to passengers. Where an airport is located and what it offers plays a big role in airline planning.
4. Technology: Advances in planes, booking systems, air traffic control, and other areas can open new possibilities for airlines and airports. This can change the supply-demand balance.
So, to invest in thorough market research and data analysis to understand passenger trends, airline strategies, and economics dynamics is crucial. This helps you anticipate shifts and adapt. Athens International Airport (ATH) is a textbook example of how an airport can pivot to changing market conditions.
In the early 2000s, ATH was riding high, but the global financial crisis and Greece's economic woes sent passenger numbers plummeting. Faced with a new reality, ATH had to rethink its approach.
First, ATH identified a key opportunity: positioning Athens as the ideal starting point for island-hopping adventures. They collaborated with tourism partners to create compelling marketing campaigns (Speak Aθenian. Be an Aθenian my favourite) highlighting this unique selling point.
Next, ATH recognized the untapped potential of budget-conscious travelers. They courted low-cost carriers aggressively, offering incentives and support to establish new routes. By 2019, these efforts had paid off, with low-cost airlines driving a third of ATH's passenger traffic, up from a mere tenth a decade prior.
Finally, ATH diversified its revenue streams beyond just flights. They expanded shopping and dining options, got creative with parking products, and leveraged their real estate for new commercial opportunities.
So, what kind of airport do you want to be? The nicest? The most efficient? The most modern? The innovative one? The cheapest? The biggest? The best place to buy? The most profitable? Or just serving the community? Whatever kind of airport you want to be, it's not about following trends, it's about setting them!
#AirportGoals #AirportExperience
