A new vision for global airport excellence under ACI World’s new Director General: Justin Erbacci

The aviation industry is at a critical juncture, transitioning from recovery to significant growth, with passenger numbers expected to double by 2042. Airports worldwide are grappling with challenges, from adapting to new technologies and sustainability demands to workforce shortages and economic uncertainties. In this context, the appointment of Justin Erbacci as the new Director General for ACI World in September 2024, marks a pivotal moment. In this exclusive interview, we delve into his vision for the future of global airports.

Background

The Director General brings a wealth of experience to this role. Fresh from his time as CEO Airports of NEOM in Saudi Arabia, Justin previously served as CEO of LAX for seven years, with various roles before this in customer experience, technology, IT and business planning at Star Alliance Services GmbH and United Airlines. This background gives him a unique perspective, blending both airline and airport operations. “The fact that I have both airline and airport experience, I think is helpful because it helps me to understand both sides,” he said. This understanding is crucial for fostering the necessary collaboration between these key players in the aviation sector. Justin also believes his experience in innovation and technology will assist in leveraging new technologies to solve existing problems.

Justin had only been at NEOM for around 10 months when he became Director General of ACI World, though he saw it as an opportunity he could not pass up: “To be CEO of NEOM was a once in a lifetime opportunity, but this is also a once in a lifetime opportunity for me to be in a role where you can try to work with all other stakeholders in the industry to impact the changes necessary to enhance the air travel experience.”

With this in mind, the Director General’s vision for ACI World is clear: to add value to its members as they move into a period of growth. “The vision that we have as an organisation is to continue to determine how we add additional value to our members as we transition from a period of recovery to a period of growth,” he stated.

The organisation recognises that the anticipated doubling of passenger numbers by 2042 will present significant challenges for airports, requiring ACI World to offer expert advice and guidance. “We need to provide lots of value, expertise, advice and guidance to our airports to help them to be able to figure out how to accommodate this growth,” he explained, underscoring the critical role ACI World will play in supporting its members.

A key part of this vision is the development of a new strategic plan for the next five years, which will be presented to the ACI World governing board for approval. This plan will set the direction for how ACI World will provide additional value to its members, helping them accommodate the upcoming growth in the industry. A new, more tailored approach to specific initiatives will help ACI World focus on key issues and leverage innovative technologies to find the best solutions. “What we don’t want to do is just say, well, there’s these technologies out there, so we have to find a problem for them. We need to see what  the real issues that we’re dealing with are and figure out how we can leverage the new and innovative technologies to resolve those solutions,” the Director General explained.

Growth and regional focus

The regions expected to experience the most growth are Asia-Pacific, India and the Middle East. ACI World is aware that there is no one-size-fits-all solution for airports, and that there are diverse needs of its members, which are primarily small to medium-sized airports. The organisation plans to work with its regional colleagues to focus on global issues and align on common approaches. “As part of working with our regional colleagues and with our partners, we’re going to focus at ACI World on those issues that are global in nature. A big part of what we try to do is to develop alignment both on positions and on our approach towards specific issues,” the Director General said.

Despite a move towards global alignment, the specific challenges of different regions are not being overlooked. “Regional challenges must be addressed by the regions, with the support of the global organisation.”

Sustainability and innovation

Sustainability is a central focus for airports globally. ACI World is fully invested in sustainability and is committed to reaching net zero carbon by 2050. The Airport Carbon Accreditation programme is a key initiative, with over 600 airports now accredited. “This is a great programme that helps airports to measure where they are and understand how they can efficiently become more carbon neutral,” he explained. ACI World is also working to promote the production and use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and is active in industry collaborations like the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG) and the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO).

In terms of innovation, Justin recognises the potential of technologies like AI to increase capacity within existing airport infrastructure. “AI has a lot of potential uses in the industry, specifically around figuring out how we can increase the amount of capacity we get through our existing infrastructure, allowing our airports and our space to run more efficiently. Essentially, increasing capacity without having to develop more,” he explained. This approach is about addressing real issues and applying innovative solutions rather than trying to find problems to fit new technologies.

Addressing industry challenges

The aviation industry faces persistent challenges including labour shortages, infrastructure limitations and economic uncertainty. To address workforce issues, ACI World is working to attract a more diverse group of people to the industry. “We’re trying to attract as many different types of people to the airport industry as we can, to work with airports,” he said. A study is being published to broaden the talent pool. ACI World is also a key member of the Global Aviation and Aerospace Skills Task Force. “This group is trying to build momentum to make aviation a magnet for talent. ACI World is very active in this and holds the secretary role. We’re really trying to push that initiative in conjunction with the UK Department of Transport and other groups.”

Economic uncertainty is also being addressed, with a focus on helping airports access green financing. An ESG framework is being developed to help airports assess their current position and identify gaps. ACI World’s economics committee is exploring ways to help airports obtain funding, including for capacity development. “One of our main focus areas is going to be, how do we help our members maintain financial viability during this development period and during the need to become more sustainable?” the Director General said.

Diversifying revenue streams and collaboration

The development of non-aeronautical revenue is an important opportunity for airports to obtain needed funding. A special subcommittee is focused on this, recognising that non-aeronautical revenue has changed significantly since the pandemic. ACI World is also supporting airports in exploring public-private partnerships and concession agreements to fund development.

Collaboration is essential for making changes in the industry. “For me, it’s really important that we show that we are willing and able to collaborate with our partners, and we need to be as active as possible in some of the major initiatives that are joint collaborations in the industry,” stated Justin. This means ACI World will continue to participate in key industry bodies and actively promote solutions that will move the needle for air travel.

Immediate priorities

The immediate priorities for the Director General include getting the strategic plan in place and making necessary adjustments to the organisation.

Building relationships with key stakeholders and developing a collaboration culture is another focus. The goal is to set the stage for the next three to five years, ensuring that ACI World can provide value to its members.

The Director General’s approach is rooted in his diverse experience and a commitment to collaborative solutions. The airport industry is facing a period of significant change. Under his leadership, ACI World aims to guide its members through these challenges and towards a future of global operational excellence.