Air Service Development Seminar Held By CIFAL Atlanta
21-22 April 2016, Gold Coast, Australia – CIFAL Atlanta, a UNITAR-affiliated training centre, in partnership with Airports Council International and Hartsfield Jackson International Airport, held a two-day seminar on air service development with 19 senior level airport officials from countries including Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Micronesia and Mongolia. The seminar focused on providing participants with an understanding of how to effectively approach and support airline decisions that best serve their airports.
Through a blend of sessions consisting of short presentations, participant dialogue and case studies, the seminar presented practical strategies for developing a route network that not only improves the function of airports in connecting local economies to the rest of the world, but that also enhances the airport’s commercial success.
Upon completion of the seminar, participants were able to describe the fundamental elements of airport/airline business relations, including the evolution of airline business models, and develop an air service development strategy that correctly approaches their airport’s domestic and/or international markets. They also learned to identify the right target airlines to serve strategic markets, taking into account provision of supportive airport policies, facility access, pricing, and marketing incentives. The seminar also quipped participants to adjust the airport’s air service marketing strategy to reflect competitive responses and the evolving commercial environment of the airline industry. Participants learned the importance of involving domestic and international stakeholders in the airport’s marketing approach to achieve commercial success through policy support and establishing cooperative dialogue with airlines that supports the growth of long-term business relationships.
Photo: Participants gathered for the two-day seminar to hone their skills and expertise related to air service development.