Bahrain Airport Company CEO offers insight on the future of airports at 1st Future Aviation Forum
High tech airports with biometrics solutions and shorter queuing and waiting times are quickly becoming the global standard as passenger demand and expectations continue to evolve, Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah told attendees at the inaugural Future Aviation Forum. The event, which took place in Riyadh from 9 to 10 May, brought together global aviation leaders to help shape the evolution of international air travel, drive forward solutions in a post-pandemic world, and ensure that the sector thrives in the years to come.
Mr. Al Binfalah praised the Saudi Aviation Strategy launched by the Ministry of Transport and Logistic Services, which targets 250 direct destinations to and from the Kingdom's airports and triples air traffic, wishing them success.
Mr. Al Binfalah said: “The aviation industry has evolved significantly in response to the pandemic and will continue to be shaped by passengers’ changing expectations. Airports are complex ecosystems bringing together diverse stakeholders, both public and private, with different views on technology and innovation. This is evidenced by the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) 2021 Global Passenger Survey, which delivered two main conclusions: Passengers want to use biometric solutions if it expedites travel processes, and they want to spend less time queuing. In a post-pandemic world, airports will become increasingly focused on making as much as they can touch-free and streamlining the passenger experience. We have an opportunity to learn from the disruption caused by COVID-19 by streamlining processes and protocols on the regional and global levels.”
Mr. Al Binfalah participated in the session ‘Destination: Airports Reimagined’, which spotlighted how COVID-19 has changed the role of airports and how personalization, new technology, and sustainability are being incorporated.
He added: “Tackling climate change is a global challenge that requires cooperation and joint responsibility. Airports have long taken a leadership role in addressing, minimizing, and mitigating the environmental impacts of aviation. Airports Council International (ACI) and the airport operators under its umbrella, including BAC, are working to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. ACI’s long-term carbon goal relates to the emissions under the direct control of airport operators and will be a crucial component of the aviation industry’s contribution to this global effort. This initiative is in line with the Kingdom of Bahrain’s commitment to bringing national carbon emissions to net-zero by 2060.”
More than 120 speakers, over 2,000 attendees, and representatives from every continent attended the event. Delegates were invited to attend 40 sessions, focusing on three core thematic pillars: passenger experience, sustainability, and business recovery post-Covid.
