Taking place at the Sandton Convention Centre from 19-21 October, Africa's first airport facilities exhibition, the Airport Industry Showcase, is set to play a major role in the development of airports on the African continent.
Officially endorsed by ACSA (Airports Company South Africa), the event will showcase the full spectrum of materials, services and technologies critical for the efficient and profitable management and development of African airports and the creation of a viable and vibrant airline industry on the continent. Africa currently accounts for only 3% of global air traffic and, with aviation being cited as one of the key pathways to economic development in Africa, the development of airports, facilitated by the showcase, could mean real progress for the African continent as a whole.
According to Andreas Jager, area manager SADC, Airport Consulting Vienna, "An airport is the powerhouse of a whole region and the resulting aviation industry is the key driver of international development". The ongoing upgrades of aviation services within South Africa demonstrates that the local industry is on the right track, but the development of these services in the rest of Africa is virtually non-existent, leaving much room for progress.
Charmaine Lodewyk, group executive of Communications and Brand Management, explained that ACSA also regards the new exhibition as an essential component in enhancing and developing an efficient airport infrastructure, as well as playing an important role in the growth of aviation as a whole across the African continent. A speedy upgrade of aviation services will serve governments and businesses alike, whilst the effect that these upgrades will have on major income earners such as tourism, trade and industry will benefit citizens as a whole.
From a visitor point of view, the Airports Industry Showcase has been designed with African government officials and key buyers from companies involved in airport management and supply in mind. There is little information available to aviation businesses and those concerned with the aviation industry with regard to the development and expansion of aviation services across the African continent. The industry needs a platform like the Airports Industry Showcase to raise awareness and improve information dissemination on economic aviation issues. The Showcase will cover sectors including: airport terminal buildings; apron, hangars, runways and air traffic control; air cargo; technology; passenger services; security and retail amongst others.
Exhibitors, on the other hand, will be enabled to get involved in and take advantage of the considerable opportunities that now exist in airports across Africa - the construction of airport buildings, aircraft and maintenance hangars, taxiways, parking, loading and apron areas, as well as the development of fuel storage facilities, upgrading of existing runways and the building of additional runways to handle larger and heavier aircraft. The construction of airport hotels for travellers and residential accommodation for airport staff is also seen as a primary requirement at present and the majority of airport terminals across Africa also need much improved passenger facilities including shopping malls, restaurants and catering facilities for resident and visiting airlines.
For more information contact Exhibitions for Africa, 011 886 3734, www.airportshowcase.com
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