Airports Council International to help reduce missed passenger connections and delays

Today, Airports Council International (ACI) announced the launch of Airport Collaborative Decision Making (A-CDM) in Africa, Asia-Pacific (including the Middle-East), Latin America-Caribbean and North-America.

A-CDM minimizes delays and maximizes airport capacity by enabling key partners in the air transportation system to share vital aviation data necessary for improved aircraft turn-round times and pre-departure sequencing processes.

According to Angela Gittens, Director General of Airports Council International, “Information sharing underlies the smooth operation of any ecosystem and the air transportation system is no different. A-CDM will enable a more undisrupted passenger journey as aviation partners will have access to real-time data about flight arrivals and departures and baggage routing. It will help avoid delays, prevent missed connections and reduce costs for travellers and service providers alike. Airport operators, aircraft operators, ground handlers, air traffic control and air traffic management will share key information for the benefit of the system as a whole. As more airports implement A-CDM, we will see an aviation system more akin to a finely tuned orchestra than an ensemble of talented solo players. Airports in Europe have already achieved impressive benefits in passenger service, operational efficiency and cost reductions ACI will work with airports in other parts of the world to follow similar flight paths.”

Patti Chau, Regional Director of ACI Asia-Pacific said “The Asia-Pacific region will see a tripling of its traffic between 2013 and 2025. Our airports deserve innovative solutions to meet the challenges in front of us and manage such an increase in traffic. A-CDM will help our members fully utilize the existing airport infrastructure while delivering operational benefits, reducing costs, improving efficiency and preserving the environment. I strongly urge our airports to start implementing this great initiative while traffic is still manageable.”

The launch of A-CDM follows the 25 June 2012 signing of a memorandum of cooperation between ACI and CANSO (Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation) on the promotion and implementation of A-CDM and follows the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) resolution on A-CDM stemming from its November 2012, 12th Air Navigation Conference (ANC) in Montréal, Québec, Canada.

The 8th ACI Asia-Pacific Regional Assembly, Conference and Exhibition that runs from 22 to 25 April 2013 in Phuket, Thailand will feature a session on “Airport Operations – Planning for the Future” where A-CDM will be introduced as a strategic solution to enhance airport operational efficiency and address capacity constraints in Asia-Pacific, the fastest growing market in aviation.