Fighting for viability

In the last two years, the Airports Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (AATT) has been concentrating its efforts on devising and implementing strategies to move the 1.6 billion dollar Piarco International Airport from its position of economic instability into a financial success story and a model in efficient airport management. In addition, it has been improving its operational framework in order to reclaim the esteem held for Trinidad and Tobago in the international aviation world. The challenge has not been an easy one but one which the Board and Management of the AATT consider themselves more than capable of meeting.

The AATT has had to redesign its organisational structure and internal processes to bring about greater efficiency, commercial viability and a clear customer focus. It has also been concerned with meeting and maintaining international standards of aviation safety and security; the requirements for which have been heightened tremendously since 9/11. One of the areas in which there is now greater efficiency has to do with our  fiscal monitoring policies. During the period 2002-2003, tighter monetary controls over our cash collection procedures in the departure tax and receivables areas; and greater monitoring of expenditure in general have yielded the expectant positive results. Our rigid financial control policy has allowed us to comfortably move  to a position of meeting our short-term obligations.

Our efforts have yielded an enhanced revenue stream from aircraft movement; with Continental Airlines in December adding Piarco to its route, the number of airlines (excluding charters) now operating out of Piarco has increased to 40. The number of airlines at the end of  2001 was 37. The modern and spacious customer car parking facility at Piarco International Airport has also been a significant source of available cash for the AATT. In 2003 car park revenues almost tripled  and will increase further when the expansion of the facility is completed. The Authority is also proud of the progress it continues to make in the area of new business. The development of the South Terminal (the old Airport Terminal Building) has begun. An area of the facility has been refurbished and modernised and is presently being used as a helicopter  passenger terminal.

Two of the country’s foremost helicopter service providers now operate out of the South Terminal: Bristow Caribbean Ltd and Hummingbird Helicopter Services Ltd. The overall objective will be to develop the South Terminal into an Aviation Business Complex to which the Authority is seeking a developer to finance, design, build, operate and transfer. Several new concessions at Piarco International including a :  Mobile Centre operated by TSTT, an outlet of York Garments, three new auto rental agencies and the Bureau of Standards has setup a quality control post and a few of our existing concessionaires have expanded their operations. A major development being undertaken by the AATT in collaboration with Tobago House of Assembly is the modification and expansion of the Crown Point International Airport Terminal, which began in February.

The new Terminal has been designed to accommodate three wide-bodied aircraft at any one time and facilitate passengers from its three loading bridges. When finished, the Terminal will comfortably receive 400 domestic and 850 International passengers at peak. The Authority has been successful in re-establishing itself with several international aviation bodies. In 2003, ICAO and its affiliate AVSEC re-certified and re-established Piarco as the centre for Aviation Security Training in the region. Also that same year, the AATT  collaborated with IATA/ATDI on an international certified operations training programme for the region. Of further interest is the fact that the AATT has been asked and has accepted the invitation to host the ACI/LAC 2004 annual meeting in November.

The Board and Management of the AATT recognise that achieving sustained profitability will not be an easy task. A situation that is compounded by the continuing slump in air travel worldwide; the increasing requirement for state of the art airport security equipment, modern safety procedures and the need for additional security personnel: all  involving high cost and all of which the AATT has had to meet — as it did its part towards restoring confidence in the international aviation industry post 9/11. The AATT has therefore  aggressively begun pursuing new market  and business opportunities. One such opportunity lies in the international marketing and promotion of  Piarco International Airport as a transit hub for destinations to the Americas. This thrust has already begun yielding the desired results with Continental Airlines, adding Piarco to its route. Crown Point International Airport, meanwhile, is being heavily marketed to leisure travellers. Article courtesy the Airports Authority of Trinidad and Tobago.