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The 11th ACI EUROPE Ground Handling & Airport Charges Conference

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2009 Conference Theme:

“Are we responding to a short term economic crisis or a new trading reality?”

The Ground Handling, IT, Security, Environment and Operations conferences at ACI EUROPE Airport Exchange, all under one roof, provide handling stakeholders an invaluable forum to learn the best strategies to evolve their businesses, and to meet the ever changing requirements of airlines and their passengers.

Wolfgang Fasching, Senior Manager Ramp Handling,
Vienna International Airport

Confirmed speakers include:

Tuesday 24th November 2009

Opening Session — 09.00 - 10.00

Welcome address

Christoph Köppchen, Policy Manager, ACI EUROPE

How will the new owners of London Gatwick Airport upgrade and modernise facilities to transform the experience for both business and leisure travellers, and what result will this have on charges?

GIP’s approach to a newly competitive London airports market

Michael McGhee, Founding Partner, Global Infrastructure Partners

What will the true impact of the economic crisis be for airports, airlines and handlers?

John Hanlon, Secretary General, ELFAA

First working Session — 10.45 - 12.15

Regulatory developments at EU level

The new Airport Charges Directive, the proposed Security Charges Directive and the future revision of the Ground Handling Directive – does the EU regulatory framework ensure a level playing field for all stakeholders in the aviation industry? How is the implementation process working? Is there a need for further changes and further regulation?

Chairman – Chris Smith, Managing Director, Seabury Aviation and Aerospace

Opening presentation:

The European Commission’s perspective: The priorities of the new Commission

Rodrigo Vila de Benavent, Head of Unit, Infrastructures and Airports, DG-TREN, European Commission

Panelists:

Jeff Poole, Director Industry Charges, Fuel & Taxation, IATA

Mary Coveney, Manager Industry Affairs, Dublin Airport Authority

Second Working Session — 13.45 - 15.15

Strategies to overcome the economic crisis

How does the economic crisis affect the different stakeholders? What measures have been and should be taken to overcome the crisis? Is more collaboration needed and if so how can it be secured?

Panel discussion:

Chairman: Mary Coveney, Manager Industry Affairs, Dublin Airport Authority & Chairman ACI EUROPE Economics Committee

Panelists:

Dr Stefan Klingelhofer, Regulatory Affairs, Strategy and Slotmanagement, Deutsche Lufthansa AG

Harry Bush, Group Director Economic Regulation, UK CAA

Dr Waleed Youssef, Chief Strategy Officer, TAV Airports Holding Co

Ian Clayton, Airport Regulatory Affairs Manager, easyJet

Questions for panelists to consider:

How do airports cope with fewer passengers and revenues?
Should charges systems become more flexible? What should be the balance between passenger-related and airline-related charges?
Is temporary charges reduction feasible?
What do airlines want from airports in times of crisis? What do airports need from airlines in times of crisis?
The role of the regulator in a crisis: What should they do? What should their role be? Should they relax the rules?
How can airports safeguard themselves from non-payment of airport charges by airlines?
How do ground handlers adapt to changing market conditions?

Third Working Session — 16.00 - 17.30

New charging trends and long-term challenges

Padraig Dixon, Senior Consultant, Oxera Consulting

New charging models: From traditional weight-based principles to new approaches focused on efficient use of infrastructure

Peter MacKenzie-Williams, Associate Director, Jacobs Consultancy

How should low-cost services and facilities be priced? How is the low-cost offer affecting the business model of airports? Is there pressure on non-aeronautical revenues? What kind of ancillary revenues could an airport leverage? Would they be accepted by passengers?

John Hanlon, Secretary General, ELFAA

Emission-based charging schemes and the EU proposal for a Directive on NOx charges – insights from an existing scheme

Tim Hawkins, Economics and Regulation Director (interim), BAA

Wednesday 25th November 2009

Fourth Working Session — 09.00 - 10.30

The past, present and future of handling

Chairman introduction:

An assessment of the ground handling market ten years after implementation. At that time the market was dominated by airlines and airports at many small airports. What are the respective market shares today? Did airlines really use their right to self-handle? Does history give us a good insight to the future?

Christina Cassotis, VP & Head of Airports, SH&E

With airport check-in disappearing, and common bag drops and automated gates looking like the model for the future, how will handlers maintain viability without these key areas of business?

Rico Barandun, Head e-Services, Swissport Group Services LLC

Is there still a future for handling activities by an airport company or airline?

Wolfgang Fasching, Senior Manager Ramp Handling, Vienna International Airport

Fifth Working Session — 11.15 - 12.45

Handling passenger, environmental & safety requirements in a turbulent economic environment

Chairman: Rafael Fernández Villasante, Head of the Airport Services Division, Aena

New technologies: Consequences for the handling operations

With easyJet exploring new web-based passenger processing systems and legacy carriers focusing on Common Use Passenger Processing Systems (CUPPS) how should handlers adapt their DCS strategies to meet all these requirements?