How West African Airports and Beyond Leverage Peer Assessments to Manage Operational Vulnerabilities During Recovery

Recovery for the airport sector is well underway—albeit not without its challenges. The large drops in passenger and aircraft movements due to the pandemic have brought massive financial losses to airports. What’s more, the overall reduction in airport activities and across the industry, has in many cases been translated into a reduced demand of staffing levels for many aviation stakeholders.

It is perhaps more important than ever, that airports manage any gaps or vulnerabilities in their safety and security operations that may have been exacerbated by the pandemic. As traffic begins to pick up gradually or intermittently, airports must ensure the operational readiness of their infrastructure, systems, and human performance.

APEX programs resume in-person peer reviews

In this regard ACI is please to report that the Airport Excellence (APEX) program is in full gear. Following the launch of our virtual and hybrid reviews that began in 2020—including the launch of the virtual APEX on Wildlife trafficking prevention—we have resumed our in-person reviews since September 2021.

The program provides comprehensive onsite airport reviews led by industry peers and experts to optimize airport operations, regulatory compliance, and aviation standards worldwide. APEX is based on ICAO standards, international regulations, and ACI best practices and offers extensive assessments on three priority areas: security, safety, and environment. The program is available to airports around the world and each review is tailored to the individual needs of airports and the APEX Reports proposed effective and targeted solutions.

ACI-ICAO-African Development Bank collaboration in West Africa

While all airports have felt repercussions from the pandemic, some regions have been disproportionally affected. African airports for instance have a lower return on invested capital than the world average. This is partly due to the composition of the airports in Africa, since most of them (92%) handle fewer than 1 million passengers per year and most of them operate at a loss because of the high fixed cost and the low volume of traffic. The pandemic has only widened the discrepancy.

Africa has always adapted to new circumstances and evolved to fulfil the needs of the communities they serve. However, the African airport industry cannot sustain its positive contribution to the local and global economy without being adequately equipped and supported.

As such, the APEX program’s immediate priority since resuming in-person reviews has been to meet our commitment with ICAO and the African Development Bank to deliver free reviews for 10 West African airports. This particular APEX collaboration, which begun in 2019, seeks to enhanced aerodrome safety to meet the ICAO Global Aviation Safety Plan objectives to help selected airports achieve certification.

Thus far, five assessments have been completed and this year will see the program hosted at Malabo International Airport and Lomé–Tokoin Airport to name a few. The feedback has been positive and ACI World will keep supporting African airports alongside our partners.

The success of the program would not be possible without the contributions and expertise of our Partners. Over the years we have increased international cooperation in all regions, conducting over 150 reviews, and bringing together over 125 Safety Partners around the world who have donated the time and expertise of over 400 safety assessors. In Africa, we have over 20 partners who provide ACI the support needed to appropriately conduct the reviews.