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The Airport Executive Leadership Program: Giving Airport Leaders a Look at the Next Generation in Aviation

The John Molson Executive Centre (JMEC) collaborates with Airports Council International (ACI) to offer a program that provides airport leaders with the tools needed to excel in an ever-changing industry.
April 15, 2019
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The prospect of growth in aviation is expected, and airports, for the most part, have done a good job of planning decades ahead to ensure they can handle increased volumes of people over time. However, analysts say that the industry is expected to double in size over the next 20 years, a level of growth that could not have been anticipated until merely a few years ago. In addition, the trends that occur within airports are changing in terms of traveler independence, interaction with airport services, and expectations.

Airport leaders need to be prepared to handle the challenges that will inevitably present themselves as the next generation of aviation emerges. 

As such, airport leaders need to be prepared to handle the challenges that will inevitably present themselves as the next generation of aviation emerges. The skills airport leaders will need to succeed in such a rapidly changing environment are precisely the skills the Airport Executive Leadership Program (AELP) aims to present, whether to experienced or emerging leaders, as the industry prepares for extreme growth and the introduction of increasingly advanced technology and innovation.

The AELP covers real issues and concerns as presented by airport CEOs – primarily the 28 who sit on ACI’s board of governors. These CEOs represent the needs of different airports worldwide, which allows the program to introduce a variety of methods that represent real industry practice, which leaders can then implement in their own airports. It is crucial that airport leaders understand concepts rather than memorize individual solutions because of the constantly adapting environment in which airports function. By introducing concepts in this way, leaders are able to apply knowledge to a variety of situations, even when presented with challenges they have never experienced before. With significant input from real industry players, the AELP is able to remain ahead of the curve in terms of addressing the trends and needs airports are currently experiencing, and those they expect to see in the near future.

JMEC has been working in partnership with ACI to deliver the AELP for the past thirteen years.
The key strength of this program is that we continually innovate and we’re continually analyzing the environment to see what’s changing.

Currently, one of the major concerns for airports is infrastructure needs. Due to the expected volume of growth predicted in the next 20 years, airport leaders need to look at long term issues in order to deal with infrastructure issues both now, and in the future as expansion becomes necessary. In addition, airports need to continually adapt their service offerings to new trends in customer experience. An example is in the commercial concession offerings. As travelers’ shopping habits evolve from “bricks and mortar” shops to savvy online consumers, airports are faced with the challenge of innovating and must adapt their business model to match the needs of their customers.

Kevin Caron, Director, Capacity Building Programmes, ACI

Kevin Caron, Director, Capacity Building Programmes at ACI completed the course in 2010 as a precursor to working with it. He notes that a major benefit of the program is its ability to stay consistently up to date as an ever-changing entity. “The course I attended in 2010 has changed in several ways from the course that was delivered this year… and I think that’s the key strength of this program is that we continually innovate and we’re continually analyzing the environment to see what’s changing.” In order to address emerging challenges, the AELP introduced a module on stakeholder management for the 2018 session, as well as increased the focus on innovation. Over the years topics like cultural awareness and using social media for communications were phased out, which ultimately allows for more focus to be given to the topics that are most pertinent in the industry at any given time.

In a globalized world, collaborating with other leaders in the industry is necessary to keeping up with trends and advancements.

In addition to adaptable course content, the AELP offers an experiential learning environment, which provides real-life, industry-relevant examples and projects that promote the development of the skills airport leaders require in their daily work environment. “What differentiates this [program] is that it provides leadership training and really puts it in the airport environment.” Caron says. The collaboration between JMEC and ACI allows for each organization to pull on its strengths in order to offer a program that provides participants with both theoretical concepts and hands-on exercises delivered by individuals who bring both academic expertise and industry experience to the classroom.

In a globalized world, collaborating with other leaders in the industry is necessary to keeping up with trends and advancements. Participants in the AELP are introduced to global industry leaders, which provides them with a valuable network of individuals with whom they can associate and discuss. “A lot of these participants, including myself with the class I took, stay in contact with each other and sort of just bounce ideas off each other,” Caron says. “Airports are unique in that there is competition, but we’re more than happy to share ideas with each other.”

Learn more about the Airport Executive Leadership Program

 

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