Airports Council International

Airports Council International (ACI), based in Geneva, Switzerland, is a non profit organisation, whose prime purpose is to advance the interests of airports and to promote professional excellence in airport management and operations. By fostering cooperation amongst airports, world aviation organisations and business partners, ACI seeks to providing the travelling public a safe, secure, efficient and environmentally responsible air transport system.

ACI has 580 members operating over 1640 airports in 175 countries and territories. In 2006, ACI members handled over 95% of the world's 4.4 billion passengers, 81.8 million metric tonnes of freight, and 71.6 million aircraft movements.

History

Before the establishment of ACI, the world’s airports were represented on the international scene by the Airport Associations Coordinating Council (AACC), created in 1970 by three international airport associations: the Airport Operators Council International (AOCI); the International Civil Airports Association (ICAA); and the Western European Airports Association (WEAA). Up until then, the three associations had collaborated on an informal ad hoc basis and had presented the interests of their memberships to other international organisations separately.

As time passed, however, the growing importance of external factors on airport operation created the need for a formal relationship with governments, airlines, manufacturers and other parties concerned. This led to the establishment of AACC, with a view to formulating unified airport industry policies, furthering collaboration between its constituent associations, and representing them collectively with worldwide aviation organisations and other relevant bodies. After WEAA was dissolved in 1985, AACC became a bipartite body.

The decision to create ACI, which incorporated AOCI and ICAA and succeeded AACC, was taken in 1989. The Constitution of ACI was approved by AOCI and ICAA memberships in the autumn of 1990 and came into effect on 1 January 1991.

Regional associations

ACI comprises five regions, each operating as an independent trade group under a collective affiliation through the ACI brand. Accordingly, the Geneva-based "ACI" is an umbrella organisation uniting the five regional associations.

The five regions of ACI are:

* ACI North America (based in Washington, D.C.), which represents most commercial airports in the United States and Canada
* ACI Europe (based in Brussels, Belgium)
* ACI Latin America-Caribbean (based in Mérida, Mexico)
* ACI Asia-Pacific (based in Hong Kong), emcompassing mainland Asia, Australasia, the island nations in the Pacific Ocean, several North American airports and the Middle East region.
* ACI Africa (based in Casablanca, Morocco)

ACI also has a dedicated bureau at the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in Montreal, Quebec, Canada).

Organisational goals

* Maximise the contributions of airports to maintaining and developing a safe, secure, environmentally compatible and efficient air transport system.
* Achieve cooperation among all segments of the aviation industry and their stakeholders as well as with governments and international organisations.
* Influence international and national legislation, rules, policies, standards and practices based on established policies representing airports’ interests and priorities.
* Advance the development of the aviation system by enhancing public awareness of the economic and social importance of airport development.
* Maximise cooperation and mutual assistance among airports.
* Provide members with industry knowledge, advice and assistance, and foster professional excellence in airport management and operations.
* Build ACI’s worldwide organisational capacity and resources to serve all members effectively and efficiently.

External links

* [http://www.aci.aero Official website]