Over the course of the year, readers of ACI Insights will have the opportunity to meet each WGB member, beginning with: Martin Eurnekian, CEO of Corporación América Airports and Chair of ACI World. Martin was elected by the ACI World General Assembly in Hong Kong on 4 April 2019 and will end his term on 31 December 2021.
Martin has more than 17 years of experience in managing diverse businesses in seven different countries, primarily Latin America, as well as Europe. He has led the processes associated with evaluating, acquiring and constructing (or re-modeling) many of the Company’s airports. He is Past President of ACI Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), member of the Americas Society & Council of the Americas, member of the World Economic Forum, and Former Chairman of the WEF Aviation, Travel & Tourism Committee. Martin holds an Engineering degree in Information Technology from Universidad de Belgrano, Argentina.
What word describes you the best?
I believe that the word “future” is the one that best represents me because it encompasses concepts that I deepen in my day-to-day work: to strive for innovation and the development of the sector, connecting Argentina with the world and always thinking of new ideas so that our business is sustainable and our passengers’ experience is better and better.
What do you see as the major concerns and interests for airports in your region?
One of the key interests for airports in our region is the growth of the airline industry in the Latin America region, whose potential is increasing in every country. In order to keep up with this constant growth, it is necessary for industry players to be competitive in terms of infrastructure, providing facilities that improve aeronautical efficiency and that are both user and environmentally friendly.
In this sense, the presence of airports in Argentina is highly valued by the community due to the economic and cultural contribution that shortening distances makes possible within our country. Given Argentina’s huge land area, the fastest way to connect the regions is by air and airports are fundamental for this link to take place.
What would you like to accomplish during your term on the ACI World Governing Board?
It is in the spirit of collaboration that I intend to strengthen our work with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and other aviation stakeholders towards the future of global aviation, promoting the interconnection of cultures and the exponential growth of the global market.
Furthermore, I understand sustainability as a pillar of such growth. From Aeropuertos Argentina 2000, the company I lead in Argentina, I spearhead a strong sustainability strategy. An example of this was the inauguration of the country’s first eco- airport, whose new terminal has international LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification and is already a milestone in the local airport market that is in line with global trends.
In this sense, once I leave office, I want all to be able to say that we worked as a team with the entire sector in order to reduce the carbon footprint of our business, and to work so that climate change has the least possible impact on what we do.
What do you see as the biggest challenge to the airport industry and how can it be overcome?
The biggest challenge for the aeronautical industry is the increase in passenger demand. In order to face this challenge, it is necessary to have investments that expand the operational capacities of airports and provide more, and better services to the client.
The situation in Argentina regarding this growth is quite particular, since the country is going through a unique transformation in the history of national aviation, with airlines that bet on our skies, improving the connectivity of the region with modern fleets and new routes. This is why, as the main airport concessionaire, we want to meet the challenges of this development, accompanying airlines on the path of sustainability with renovated airports serving the existing and future needs of the industry.
What’s next for aviation?
By 2020, approximately one million commercial flights are expected to operate using a more environmentally friendly alternative fuel blend. The future of commercial aviation lies in caring for renewable energy and ecosystems in different regions of the world, with eco-friendly aircraft and terminals.
At Aeropuertos Argentina 2000, we are committed to providing the necessary infrastructure for this change to be favourable, with modern technology and agile procedures that improve efficiency, reduce delays, and save tonnes of carbon dioxide. The company’s sustainability policy aims to strengthen our commitment to caring for the environment, which is why we are building sustainable terminals in different parts of the country in view of obtaining international certifications such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). In addition, we have focused on optimizing the management of the airport user experience, with new and better high-quality services.
The ACI World Governing Board (WGB) consists of 28 representatives nominated by the regional ACI Boards, plus the Immediate Past Chair of the Board. The number of regional representatives is calculated based on each region’s share of passenger and cargo traffic.
The ACI WGB meets twice a year for strategic discussions on key subjects for airport operators that reflect the concerns and interests of ACI members. They also determine ACI’s worldwide policies, report to the General Assembly, approve the budget, worldwide programme of activities, policy statements and participation in the work of other world bodies, among other duties.
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