Background

Air transportation of passengers and freight plays an increasingly important role in today’s global economy:

• Air passenger traffic has increased by 276% since 1983
• Traffic is forecast to grow at a rate of 5% pa for the foreseeable future.
• In the UK alone the current annual passenger traffic of 160 million is predicted to grow to 600 million by 2030.

In addition, across Europe, the emergence of Low Cost Carriers (LCCs) such as Ryanair, easyJet, flybe etc, has necessitated a radically different tariff approach from the airports they use, compared to mainstream airlines. Traditional ‘hub’ airports are no longer able to compete for this new traffic because:

• They are already close to capacity and expansion space is at a premium
• They are too expensive for LCC operations
• Passenger movement into and out of traditional airports is too slow

The use of regional airports is therefore much more attractive to LCCs. However, these airports have traditionally been owned and operated by local government who are now being faced with the prospect of running a completely different type of fast-turnaround, minimum-fuss, maximum-throughput airport. What’s more, the majority are in need of major renovation and upgrading – and local or regional government finance is simply not available.

The solution, if regional airports are to meet the new and constantly increasing demands of the 21st century air traveller, calls for a paradigm shift in airport ownership, design and development involving entrepreneurial expertise and a new brand of private enterprise funding. Only by such innovation will new regional airports be designed and built with infrastructures which support the local community and become centres for regional regeneration.

CIAO is in prime position to react to this increased demand for new, vibrant regional airports, by providing logistical support from a highly experienced team with the expertise to bring together complex, multi-discipline projects.