Innovative technologies, programs and infrastructure were front and centre at the Australian airport industry’s night of nights, the Australian Airport Association (AAA) National Airport Industry Awards.
The awards recognised outstanding projects that have improved capacity and efficiency, enhanced the passenger experience and made a difference to airports’ local communities.
AAA Chief Executive Officer, Caroline Wilkie, said the high calibre of entries reflected the significant efforts of Australian airports to continue to enhance their offering to the travelling public.
“We have seen some exceptional entries in the awards, with many airports introducing significant initiatives or projects over the course of the last year,” Ms Wilkie said.
“It is great to see so many airports investing to create an easy, seamless and memorable experience for their passengers, while also improving efficiency for airlines.”
Sydney Airport took out the capital city airport of the year for the second consecutive year, while Newcastle Airport won the major airport category after completing its terminal redevelopment in 2017 and securing international services in early 2018.
Whitsunday Coast Airport was named large regional airport of the year after facilitating a 33 per cent rise in passenger numbers in the 2017 financial year.
Kangaroo Island Airport won small regional airport of the year after the completion of its upgrade project, while Bairnsdale Airport was named small regional aerodrome of the year after upgrades to the airport led to the attraction of fly in, fly out services for a nearby oil rig.
Several innovation and excellence awards were also presented during the night, showcasing a range of projects from across the industry. They included a check-in reconfiguration that doubled capacity, a wombat conservation program, a partnership to deliver refuelling services to the oil and gas industry, and the facilitation of increased passenger traffic during the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
2018 National Airport Industry Awards winners
Airport of the year winners
Capital City Airport: Sydney Airport
Major Airport: Newcastle Airport
Large Regional Airport: Whitsunday Coast Airport
Small Regional Airport: Kangaroo Island Airport
Small Regional Aerodrome: Bairnsdale Airport
Innovation and excellence award winners
Commercial (major airport): Cairns Airport
Commercial (regional airport): Broome International Airport
Customer experience: Gold Coast Airport
Environmental management: Camden Airport
Infrastructure development (major airport): Hobart Airport
Infrastructure development (regional airport): Busselton-Margaret River Airport
Non-aeronautical development: Launceston Airport
Operations: Perth Airport
Technology: Sydney Airport
Corporate project of the year winners
Corporate Project: Airbiz (Sydney Airport T1 International transformation)
Small Regional Airport Corporate Project: BMD Group (Kangaroo Island Airport upgrade)
Outstanding contribution
Julieanne Alroe, former Brisbane Airport Chief Executive Officer
