Airport Management and Operations

Irrespective of who owns and operates airport there is a worldwide thrust to

commercialise airport organizations by giving them the mandate to operate on a
commercial basis, with due regard for the needs of their customers and for the financial
viability.
Depending on national or local preferences, airport operators (IAAI) can elect to get
involved in many aspects of airport activities, or to carry out only core functions and let
airlines and other agencies take responsibility for all other tasks.
Although most airports have some commonality of functions, there are several ways of
organising their human resources. Airport management is an attractive career requiring
highly skilled managers.
Ownership and Operation
Airport throughout the world are owned and operated under a variety of arrangements. It
is important to distinguish between airport ownership and airport operations.
Airport Operation
Most airports are owned by a government entity ( the State, a province, a city or another
level of government ).In times of air traffic growth, governments cannot afford to finance
expansion projects to meet the demand. There are therefore under pressure to provide
airports with the required degree of autonomy to meet this challenge. It should be noted
that the autonomy does not imply any particular type of organisation.
Various steps exists relative to the amount of autonomy provided: Commercialization is a
management approach whereby business principles are applied in managing an airport,
without involving the private sector. Corporatisation means creating a separate entity
outside of government to manage airport without change in ownership. Private sector
participation refers to a situation whereby the private sector plays a role in the ownership
and operation of an airport, although the ownership remains with the government.
Privatisation means that the airport is filly owned and operated by a private enterprise.

Airport Management
When it comes to responsibility for a day – to – day operation of an airport, several
arrangement exist:
(a) A government may operate the airport, as part of Public Service Department, with
or without commercial orientation
(b) It may create a special government agency to operate the airport with some
independence from the government (Autonomous airport authority ).
(c) It may divest itself entirely from the operation of the airport by transferring the
responsibility to a fully independent organization, which may be a private
corporation, through a management contract, a long term lease or concession
arrangement.
Airport Management as a career
Airports are service organisations, producing services rather than goods. They cater to
a variety of customers and they operate in a highly regulated environment. They
operate on a 24 hours a day basis, and they may be subjected to disruptions and crisis
such as congestion, aircraft accidents, bad weather conditions, equipment breakdowns
and security threats. As a result, airport management differs, in some respects, from the
management of other types of enterprises. The title of the top airport position can vary
from country to country or from one airport to the next: Airport Manager, Airport
General Manager, Airport Director, Executive Director, and airport Chief Executive
Officer. For the purpose of this manual we will use the generic term Airport Manager.
The job of the Airport Manager varies greatly, from the director of a large international
airport
Processing tens of millions of passengers to the manager of small, privately owned
general aviation airport. The former is high level executive managing a large staff and
budget having significant public relations functions ; the latter will combine many
responsibilities and will do most of the work himself. The airport manager is both a
property manager or landlord, catering to the needs of his land tenants and
concessionaries, and business persons, running an enterprise with many customers. The
key skill required for this job are:
a) Leadership
b) Vision
c) Understanding the business and the needs of his customers.
In all cases, the primary responsibility of an airport manager is to ensure the safe
secure, and efficient operation of his airport and all of its facilities.