The Munich way

Our editorial board members form an important part of our publication. Offering insight and knowledge, they contribute comment on the issues that are shaping the market. In the first of a regular feature we interview each board member to find out more about them and how their role is having an effect on the industry.

Recently, Mark Glover went to meet Dr. Michael Kerkloh, CEO of Munich Airport, which has once again been voted the best airport in Europe at the prestigious Skytrax awards. We discuss the accolade as well as expansion at the airport, the SESAR initiative and his favourite football team!

Mark Glover: You have again been voted the best airport in Europe. How do you intend to maintain your title? Dr.

Michael Kerkloh: First of all, the award is an honour. It is awarded by the customers which is important to us. The challenge will of course be staying at number one, particularly as we aim to expand to a larger airport, so maintaining the quality as a larger airport is our goal.

We always listen to the passengers; they can tell you where your weaknesses are.

We have adapted to the needs of our passengers, the young, the elderly, and the professionals – the complete range. Ultimately, passengers aim to travel non-stop, if you can avoid an airport you would, so therefore our airport has to offer a unique experience, so you don’t have to compensate for the misfortune of being delayed.

We also make sure the basic functions are done well such as cleanliness, signage, clean toilets, efficient baggage handling and seamless movement through the building. Friendly personnel and staff are also very important, good customer service is a huge priority.

We also think we look slightly different to other airports and this is very important to us. We have a unique aesthetic that is not cloned from other airports from around the world.

MG: How important are these aesthetics to the airport?

MK: How we look is very important. As you approach the airport from the central highway you will notice the lack of commercial interest such as advertising, this is a decision that we deliberately made. If we do want to include advertising we discuss what we want to do to see if it will correlate with our general outlook. Recently, we skipped a large advert that was being offered for terminal two primarily because it did not fit our overall aesthetic, we do not want to lose our character.

MG: Has it been frustrating getting the approval for the third runway?

MK: The legal framework is complicated but I accept it. The whole application process has been ongoing for nearly six years, we want a decision to start construction in 2012 but yes, the third runway is essential for us, for us to grow we need it. We are efficient, very efficient but we are full. We have 90 plane movements per hour over a period of eight to nine hours a day; ultimately this will have a negative impact on our traffic numbers as we cannot provide airlines with slots. There is a demand so that runway is essential.

MG: How have you dealt with the inevitable opposition to the runway?

MK: Nobody wants a runway but everyone needs it and I have to convince the people they want it. I am the face of the airport that everybody sees in the papers and on TV. I just want everybody to fight for the right thing, after all the whole process could take 10 years so let’s make it worth while.

However, the runway is not being built in the most over populated area in Germany, and I understand that people will be directly affected by the expansion. Yet, so far, there has not been a protest, the city of Munich will not be affected, this is fortunate. But it is important that this does not become a topic for the front page of the papers or the TV news headlines.

MG: You have certainly carried yourself well in the whole process.

MK: I have no problem with this runway. It is a runway for Germany. Everybody knows that there will be an increase in air traffic, even with rising oil prices. Europe is a prime destination in the world, Germany is a prime destination and this is a runway for Germany.

MG: What is the key to pushing the SESAR initiative forward?

MK: It is one of the most ambitious and necessary projects ever to be undertaken in Europe but we cannot allow for slow progress and all participants and stakeholders should continue to collaborate in a constructive way – collaboration is of the upmost importance. The initiative will make better use of the airspace capacity and minimise resources needed such as fuel, ultimately we strive for efficient flying across Europe. For example, it is a scandal that when you want to fly to Spain from Germany you have to go via France, this is not efficient and that is why we need the initiative. It can improve the costs of flying as well as having a positive effect on the environment.

MG: Who do you think are the important stakeholders in terms of moving SESAR forward?

MK: In terms of technology, the experts know how to do this. However, the challenge is the Government and getting national authorities to agree that this is the best thing for a common Europe. SESAR would be the best symbol for an EU Europe. Maybe, one day planes will fly without pilots but that’s another conversation. MG: What do you enjoy about your job?

MK:The mobility business is a ‘sexy’ business and a growth business. Successful economies and a good infrastructure will always depend on international travel.

An airport is a place of welcome and to say goodbye. Everybody is here, from the single man to the presidents. When there is something happening in the world you know that 48 hours later it will affect your airport. For example, in the case of the tsunami and nuclear fallout in Japan, we had to x-ray planes that had landed from the country and make sure they were fit to fly. We wanted to communicate with and help our Japanese colleagues. When Bayern Munich won the Champions League they returned here to a hero’s welcome but they won’t win this year!

MG: Are you a Bayern Munich supporter?

MK: No! I am a Borussia Dortmund fan! We will play Manchester United next year in the Champions league and then perhaps next year we can talk about that!

Since September 2002 the management team of Flughafen München GmbH (FMG) has been led by Dr. Michael Kerkloh. He is FMG’s president and CEO, and also serves as the company’s labour director. Born and raised in Ahlen in the Wesphalia region of western Germany, Kerkloh completed secondary school and military service before attending university in Göttingen, London and Frankfurt. He completed a degree in economics in 1979 and until 1985 held a lectureship in economic policy at the University of Frankfurt, where he also completed a doctorate in political science. Beginning his career in the aviation industry in 1987, Kerkloh was in charge of operational planning, organisational implementation and the coordination of aircraft handling at Frankfurt Airport. Between 1995 and 2002 he was one of two managing directors at Hamburg Airport. Since June 2009 he is one of three European representatives in the Governing Board of ACI World, the umbrella organisation of commercial airports worldwide.