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This week has been quite eventful for Move! Over the weekend, our colleagues Michiel, Mathijs, and Stefan visited the annual conference of the Airport Council International North America (ACI-NA) in Long Beach, California. Following the conference, Mathijs and Stefan remained at the ACI-NA exhibition on Monday, while Michiel headed to attend DFW’s State of the Airport 2023. In this article, you'll find a brief overview of both trips.
ACI-NA's Annual Conference & Exhibition 2023
About 2,000 aviation professionals participated in ACI-NA's annual event at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center. The conference, which took place Saturday and Sunday, focused on current challenges, issues and trends in the aviation industry in workshops and educational sessions. Some of the highlights covered were:
- Bridging data silos within the IT infrastructure of airports: how can this data be utilized for the implementation of AI and task automation?
- Capacity issues: how to attract and retain the right staff?
- Cybersecurity: a persistent top priority. Airports continuously monitor potential risks and develop migitation plans.
- Enhancing non-aeronautical revenues through innovative digital solutions. In the United States, parking remains the most important revenue source.
- Communication challenges for airports: many airports rely on third-party services during the passenger journey. Not all passengers are aware of this. How can customer relationships be maintained in such situations?
In addition to acquiring new insights, the conference and exhibition also provide an opportunity to engage with colleagues and make new acquaintances. We had the chance to meet several partners with whom we collaborate in person, and we also had the pleasure of reconnecting with some of our clients at Orlando International Airport (MCO), Dallas Fort Worth Airport (DFW), Houston Airport (HAS), and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.
DFW State of the Airport 2023
On Monday, CEO Sean Donohue delivered DFW's State of the Airport 2023, focusing on the airport's current state and most important foresights, such as the realization of a sixth terminal. Donohue: 'The state of the airport is stronger than ever. We are experiencing unprecedented growth, expanding our destinations and transforming travel along the way.'
DFW also presented the findings of an updated economic impact study. This is the first significant update of DFW's economic impact since 2015, when the airport ranked 10th among the world's busiest airports. Currently, the airport is the second busiest in the world. The results of the study showed that DFW contributes significantly to the region's economy, including $38 billion in direct and indirect wages, $24 billion in visitor spending, $5 billion in annual state and local tax revenue and 634,000 direct and indirect jobs. These figures highlight DFW's role as a critical economic catalyst for the area. We are proud to be DFW's digital strategic partner and it was an honor to attend the event in person.
Heading home
It was a successful week, filled with valuable insights and meetings with peers, partners and customers. We would like to thank DFW for inviting us to the State of the Airport 2023 and congratulate ACI-NA on their 75th anniversary.
