International Airport Summit 2024

Speakers

#IARSummit
The Steigenberger Airport Hotel Amsterdam

13th — 14th November 2024

David Surley

David Surley

Senior Director Air Service Development & Marketing

Aarhus Airport

Aarhus Airport logo

David graduated at the Newcastle Business School in the United Kingdom, one of the world’s top academic institutions in travel and tourism management. His experience with major international airlines in marketing, sales and communications as well as in network planning and development, includes with British Airways, ANA (All Nippon Airways), the Star Alliance and Air Mauritius, before moving to the airport management side of the industry as a business, commercial and route development strategist over ten years ago.

David moved to Denmark in 2016, just ahead of Aarhus becoming European Capital of Culture, David is now a permanent Danish resident and lives close to the city of Aarhus, traveling regularly to represent the region at conferences and in airline planning discussions across Europe and beyond. When not on duty, he is a qualified yacht skipper and sailing enthusiast, also a keen runner and skier.

Panel Discussion

10.40 – 11.20 am

How do we deliver value in an increasingly expensive world?

What gives?

Airfares are becoming increasingly unaffordable for the average person. Did you know that the price of airfares shot up by 25% in the last year and were 15% higher than in 2019? Reasons for this are multi-faceted; airlines are experiencing higher operational costs, inflationary pressures, geopolitical tensions which are leading to longer flight paths and increased fuel costs. Subsequently, these factors are added onto the prices of plane tickets with passengers bearing the brunt of this.

Despite this, demand remains high and passengers are, paradoxically, willing to fork out money for a plane ticket. Naturally, everyone is asking: ‘when will the demand party end?’ However, in return for higher ticket costs, passengers are now expecting more for their experience because they are paying more – it’s only natural. So, how do airports and airlines move to ensure their loyal passengers continue to feel like they have value for their money? Join the panel session to discuss:

  • How are organisations redefining their value propositions to resonate with customers in an increasingly expensive world? What factors influence customers’ perceptions of value, and how can organisations adapt to meet evolving expectations?
  • Cost-effective ways to increase value for passengers without compromising quality and service levels
  • What role does innovation play in delivering value in cost-constrained environments? How are disruptive business models, technologies, and market entrants reshaping industries and challenging traditional cost structures?
David Surley with Aarhus Airport logo
David Surley

Senior Director Air Service Development & Marketing, Aarhus Airport

Shiv Kumar, Chief Marketing and Passenger Experience Officer - Manohar International Airport Goa with logo
Shiv Kumar

Chief Marketing and Passenger Experience Officer, Manohar International Airport Goa

Panel Discussion

4.20 pm

Collaborative partnerships:

Building essential partnerships to grow the industry

Effective and open collaboration between airports, airlines and other stakeholders is essential for ensuring seamless operations, maximising resources, and delivering exceptional passenger experiences. This session will tackle the challenges and explore best practices and opportunities in fostering productive partnerships. Discover strategies for enhancing governance structures and fostering meaningful engagement to drive mutual success and sustainability. Join this session to hear airports discuss:

  • The ways in which airports are partnering to improve passenger satisfaction and loyalty
  • The governance models and frameworks that are effective in promoting collaboration and decision-making
  • How airports and airlines collaborate during crisis situations, such as natural disasters, security incidents, or public health emergencies
Johanne Gallant with Fredericton International Airport YFC logo
Johanne Gallant

President & CEO,
Fredericton International Airport

Abhi Chacko with London Gatwick Airport logo
Abhi Chacko

Head of Innovation and Commercial Development,
London Gatwick Airport

Ekelem Airhihen with FAAN logo
Ekelem Airhihen

Deputy General Manager Planning
Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria

David Surley with Aarhus Airport logo
Moderator: David Surley

Senior Director Air Service Development & Marketing
Aarhus Airport

Speakers

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