The Delegation Having Talks with Chiefs of Global Air Alliances on Airport Hub Operations
From May 8 to 12, CAAC Deputy Administrator Dong Zhiyi led a delegation to the Netherlands and UK and visited SkyTeam Alliance and Star Alliance. They held talks and exchanged opinions on hub airport operation, preparations for Beijing New Airport operation, and Beijing dual-airport operation in the future.
During the meeting, Dong Zhiyi introduced the construction and development orientation of Beijing New Airport, listened to opinions and suggestions from SkyTeam and Star alliances on Beijing New Airport Construction and Operation, and Beijing dual-airport operation, and exchanged relevant practices and experience with them.
In the Netherlands, the delegation exchanged opinions with SkyTeam on the planning, comprehensive transportation, innovative design and operational plan of Beijing New Airport, and listened to their introduction on Alliance operation, values, SkyPriority, and their major demand for future operation at Beijing New Airport. SkyTeam CEO Perry Cantarutti said that they have full confidence in the development of Beijing New Airport and are willing to assist member airlines to join the new airport. SkyTeam firmly believed that the cooperation between the two sides will be a great success. During his visit, Dong Zhiyi also met with Peter Elbers, President and CEO of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, and Dick Benschop, CEO of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, and visited KLM Royal Dutch Airlines’ hub control center and operation control center based at Schiphol Airport, and the airport’s new technologies and facilities such as self-service baggage check-in and new-type security screening lanes.
In London, the delegation listened to Star Alliance’s introduction on their experience of relocated operation at Heathrow Airport T2 in the project “Under One Roof”, and had exchanges upon such subjects as capacity enhancement, air charges, non-aviation business, airport expansion, routes network and air traffic control. During their visit in the UK, the delegation also visited Terminals 2 and 5 of Heathrow Airport and the hub control center of British Airways and got to know about self-service check-in, transfer procedure and apron operation, etc.
During the talks, Dong Zhiyi said that hub operation of aviation alliances is the key to the success of airport hub building. As for the dual-hub operation in Beijing, we shall conscientiously study the philosophies and demand of SkyTeam and Star Alliance, fully consider their opinions and suggestions, learn from the successful practices of advanced foreign airports, strive to build an efficient, convenient and comfortable new aviation hub based on the concepts of human-oriented sincere service so as to ensure successful operation of Beijing New Airport and dual-hub operation.
