ACI Airport Exchange Forum and Exhibition 2017 concludes

Muscat: The ACI Airport Exchange Forum and Exhibition 2017, hosted by the Sultanate of Oman at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, concluded on Thursday.
The forum and exhibition was attended by more than 1,500 visitors from 48 countries around the world, as well as 120 speakers from several international airports and 50 local and international exhibitors who participated in the exhibition and reviewed the latest technologies in civil aviation industry, airport management and related sectors.
The second day of the forum began with an extensive panel discussion attended by international experts from Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, GMR, the operator of Delhi International Airport in India, Hyderabad International Airport, Goa International Airport and other international airports, as well as IGA, the developer of Istanbul International Airport, and the Bahrain Airport Company.
The panelists shared their experiences in deploying the latest technologies and systems to reduce waiting times at airports and enhance passenger satisfaction.
Oman Airports Management Company (OAMC), the host company of this edition of the forum, organised a special ceremony to hand over the forum to the Norwegian Oslo Airport Company, which is set to host the next edition of the ACI Airport Exchange Forum and Exhibition in 2018.
The delegations in the forum and the exhibition also visited the new Muscat International Airport, where they were briefed by OAMC officialson the state of the art facilities, modern equipment and advanced technologies used in the new complex.
The delegation also participated in the airport's operational experiences that simulates the passenger's journey from check in to departure.
Commenting on the successful conclusion of the forum, the CEO of OAMC, Aiman bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Hosni stressed the positive outcomes of the forum.
He said that the Sultanate’s airports are moving in the right direction towards international levels of best practice, which aligns with the 2020 OAMC strategy ‘Growing gateways to beauty and opportunity’ to deliver the best possible experience for airport users.
Highlighting the recommendations made by the forum, Aiman Al Hosni noted that many of the world’s leading experts in the airport management sector participated in the variouspanel discussions held during the course of the two day forum.
From these discussions, a number of key recommendations and outcomes were derived.
The most significant of these recommendations was to increasethe use of smart technology solutions to streamline operational efficiency of the new Muscat International Airport. This includes deploying ‘big data’ which allows for an enhanced passenger experience to be delivered by the numerousservice providers at the new airport.
In terms of operational efficiency, the forum participants noted the importance of maintaining open channels of communication and cooperation between the different bodies operating within airports to streamline operations.
In order to minimise inefficiencies, the participants highlighted the need for thorough operational planning and clearly defined roles and responsibilities for all concerned bodies.
Concerning security and crisis management, ACI Airport Exchange Forum 2017 recommended maintaining high levels of cooperation between companies managing airports and the concerned security bodies to enhance security levels for all airport users.
The focus on airport security globallyis particularly relevant given the current security situation in regards toterrorism, migrants and organised crime
Within the framework of airports development, the forum made many recommendations on the need to link investment in the infrastructure development of the civil aviation sector, specifically airports, with parallel investment in human capacity. By investing in professional development, airport facilities canbe managed in accordance with the highest levels ofinternational standards and practices.
In conclusion, Sheikh Aiman Al Hosni noted, “I would like to thank all those who contributed to the success of this first international forum in the Sultanate and its accompanying exhibition. I would like to congratulate the Airports Council International, which provided all facilities to achieve the stated objectives of the forum. And I would thank the local authorities concerned with the civil aviation sector, who did not spare any effort to make the forum a resounding success. And not to forget all the employees of OAMC, who worked hard in preparation for this major international event. On behalf of the Board of Directors I would like to extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to all of them.”