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Brisbane Airport has taken out the 2019 capital city airport of the year award at the Australian Airports Association (AAA) national conference.
It was a case of double celebrations for Brisbane Airport, which was also recognised for its community engagement work on the new runway due to open in 2020 with an innovation and excellent award.
The awards were announced at the AAA national conference dinner held on the Gold Coast on Wednesday evening.
Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) chief executive Gert-Jan de Graaff said the capital city airport of the year award was “unexpected and humbling”.
“The projects considered in BAC’s nomination for the AAA’s capital city airport of the year Award included the corporation’s existing runway renaming project, emission reduction strategy, the Dryandra Road underpass, Brisbane’s new runway community engagement program, Skygate Home and Life Centre development, and our in terminal customer experience program, so virtually every part of the business contributed to winning this award,” de Graaff said in a statement.
“These national awards are a well-deserved honour for every BAC team member, as well as our business partners, whose hard work, dedication and expertise continue to contribute to our success.
AAA chief executive Caroline Wilkie said there were “exciting things happening at Brisbane Airport”.
“With a new runway to open next year and so many fantastic customer experience initiatives in place, Brisbane Airport was a most worthy winner,” Wilkie said in a statement.
“The team has really put the community at the heart of everything they do so that all Brisbane residents can share in the benefits of the airport’s plans for growth.”
Others to be recognised included Melbourne Avalon Airport, which received the major airport of the year award, and Dubbo City Regional Airport, which was named large regional airport of the year.
Meanwhile, Bendigo Airport received the small regional airport of the year award, while West Sale Airport took out the small regional aerodrome of the year award.
Among the innovation and excellence awards, Karratha Airport received a community engagement (regional airport) award for its work building out a inter-regional flight network in partnership with the corporate sector that connected towns in the Pilbara Kimberley region without regular public transport services.
Melbourne Airport received two innovation and excellence awards. The first was in the infrastructure development (major development) category for its rapid quick set concrete used in taxiway replacement works.
The second was in the operations category for conducting the first domestic CT scanning trial in Australia that processed 60,000 passengers in six weeks.
Wilkie paid tribute to the airports’ work in improving the passenger experience through technical excellence and innovation.
“Every year the standard rises even higher as airports find new ways to work smarter, faster and always with the passenger in focus,” Wilkie said.
“We have seen airports once again improve how passengers access the airport, enjoy their time before their flight and move quickly through airport processes as a result of some innovative projects this year.”
Finally, NT Airports chief executive Ian Kew was recognised with an outstanding contribution award for his significant contribution to the airport industry as a whole.
Wilkie said Kew’s work in supporting the growth of aviation and tourism in the Northern Territory had delivered real benefits to people living and working in Australia’s Top End.
“Ian has led from the front in making sure the airport is at the heart of the community and an active contributor to the economic and cultural success of the Territory,” Wilkie said.
“He has developed a strong sense of partnership between NT Airports and its communities to create new opportunities for the region.
“Ian’s also been an active contributor to the wider airport industry through his work on the AAA Board over a seven-year period.”
Kate
says:It’s a pity BAC don’t put as much time and money into the automatic check in machines that breakdown every 5 mins. And hold up passengers constantly.
Clearly doesn’t make money like the car park and shops so they can’t be bothered investing in better infrastructure. Sad.
Makes the airline staff job so much harder than it needs to be. Shame on you BAC.