Southampton International Airport was announced last night as the ERA Airport of the Year 2004/5…
Southampton International Airport was announced last night as the ERA Airport of the Year 2004/5 . The presentation was made during a celebratory Awards Dinner, part of the annual ERA General Assembly which took place this week at the EventHotel Pyramide Congress Centre, Vienna, Austria.
The ERA Airport of the Year Award, now in its third year, recognises the best overall achievement by an ERA member airport, in particular regarding its support and assistance to intra-European airline operations. In the financial year 2003/4, Southampton Airport handled 1.4 million passengers, an increase of 72%, while more than £9 million (€13.2 million) has been invested in new and improved services for both passengers and airlines. Aeronautical charges have not been increased since 2001.
The judges, which comprised a panel of senior aviation executives from Finland, Austria and Switzerland, were also struck by Southampton’s strong promotional activities to its airline and passenger markets, and for being proactive in both raising and dealing with environmental issues. Significant efforts in political and industry lobbying, high share of non-aviation revenue, usage of modern communication systems and low departure delays were all factors which led Southampton to clinch the prize.
SITA, the global applications provider to the aviation industry, has sponsored the ERA Airport of the Year Award since its inception in 2002.
Dean Bibb, Regional Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Northern Europe, SITA INC, who presented the award to David Cumming, Managing Director of Southampton International Airport, said: “Together with ERA, we recognize the importance of cultivating best practice within the industry, encouraging airports to showcase their strengths and successes. We are delighted to be associated with this award and congratulate the winner, Southampton International Airport, on their outstanding achievements over the last year.”
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