ACI World assembly charts course for sustainable aviation with three key resolutions

Airports globally prioritise a safe and sustainable air transport system 

Riyadh, 22 May 2024 – Today at the Airports Council International (ACI) World Annual General Assembly, ACI airport members unanimously adopted three foundational Resolutions aimed at ensuring a safe and sustainable aviation system as demand for air travel continues to increase.

ACI World Director General and CEO Luis Felipe de Oliveira said: “Global passenger traffic is poised to soar, with projections nearing 20 billion by 2042, doubling the estimates for 2024. Safely and sustainably accommodating this exponential growth necessitates collaboration across the entire aviation system, including governments. Together, we must ensure sufficient capacity, maintain safety and security, and meet aviation’s net-zero targets. The unanimous adoption of the Resolutions demonstrates the commitment from the world’s airports for sustainable growth, and we thank ACI members for providing a strong collective response. Collaboration is not just essential; it’s the only way forward.”

The annual General Assembly took place at the ACI Asia-Pacific and Middle East/ ACI World Annual General Assembly, Conference, and Exhibition—the most important global gathering of airport leaders—running from 21­-23 May in Riyadh, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and hosted by Riyadh Airports Company.

Safety and security at airports as fundamental enablers of sustainable growth

Recognising that long-term and sustainable growth of aviation requires that the highest levels of safety and security are maintained, this Resolution calls for strengthened collaboration between airports, Civil Aviation Authorities, governments, international organisations, and funding partners to enhance global aviation standards. This includes increasing certified aerodromes, improving safety and security measures through capacity building initiatives, and investing in the development of a skilled aviation workforce.

Airports are encouraged to continue to support the peer review ACI APEX program that helps airports optimise their operations, regulatory compliance, as well as raise aviation standards worldwide.

Enabling system capacity at airports to meet future growth

Recognising that ground and airspace capacity present one of the largest challenges in accommodating future air travel demand, this Resolution calls upon airports, governments, and other key stakeholders such as air operators and air navigation service providers to prioritise collaboration in maximising system capacity utilisation. This includes, through policy, access to timely funding, and operational and technical improvements.

The ACI World-Civil Air Navigation Services Organization (CANSO), Airport System Capacity Enhancement (ASCE) program, remains a key resource to optimise the use of airport system capacity, both in the air and on the ground.

Aviation decarbonisation and airport climate action

Noting the commitment of airports to the industry’s Net Zero Carbon Goal, this Resolution urges governments and aviation stakeholders to prioritise sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) adoption, along with investment in new propulsion technologies like electric and hybrid electric aircraft, and associated airport infrastructure. The Resolution emphasises the need for unified global approaches to aviation decarbonisation, including ensuring a sufficient supply of green energy to airports, and incentivising climate adaptation and mitigation infrastructure development through appropriate financial mechanisms.

Joining the host of ACI environmental resources, including the ACI Airports Carbon Accreditation Program, ACI World has launched the Guidance on Airport Decarbonization, a complimentary publication providing guidance on building a roadmap for decarbonisation, stakeholder engagement, and economic and financial aspects.

About ACI 

Airports Council International (ACI), the trade association of the world’s airports, is a federated organisation comprising ACI World, ACI Africa, ACI Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, ACI EUROPE, ACI Latin America and the Caribbean and ACI North America. In representing the best interests of airports during key phases of policy development, ACI makes a significant contribution toward ensuring a global air transport system that is safe, secure, efficient, and environmentally sustainable. As of May 2024, ACI serves 814 members, operating 2110 airports in 169 countries.