AVIA3851
Airport Management 2
Presentation
by Dickson Chan (3132079)
Presentation Topic
On your recent appointment as manager of a regional airport,
one of the Shire councillors commented to you “nothing
seems to happen at the airport when it should. In fact, to be
honest, nothing seems to happen. I don’t understand it – we
spent a lot of money getting a Master Plan done”.
You take this comment to heart and prepare a proposal
designed to convince the Council that the airport needs a
Business Plan as well as a Master Plan.
2
Outline of the Presentation
- Master Plan & Business Plan
– What are the differences?
- A Need for a Business Plan?
– Some unique issues faced by Regional Airports
- What’s in a Business Plan?
– What information should they contain
- How can a Business Plan help airport management?
– What are the advantages in having one?
3
Business Plan & Master Plan
What is a Business Plan?
-
A Plan for any business (e.g. airports, airlines)
-
How the airport will carry out its business
-
Looks at what the airport will do in 3 to 5 years
-
A living / breathing document
-
Reflects the airport’s business environment
(Ashford & Moore, 1999, Airport Finance 2nd Edition)
4
Business Plan & Master Plan
What is a Master Plan?
-
A Document by airport managers
-
Informs others of the airport’s future
-
Outlines Airport’s future vision
-
List stages of future developments
-
A picture of the airport in 20-25 yrs time
(IATA ADRM, 2004)
5
Business Plan & Master Plan
Why do airports need two plans?
-
Master Plan alone is insufficient
-
Plans for different purposes and time-frame
-
Needed for Short-term and Long-term planning
-
Business Plan is linked to the Master Plan
6
A Need for a Business Plan?
Commercialisation of Airports
-
Public Utility vs Private Companies (Graham 2002)
-
Expected to make profit
-
Airports should be run like a business
“The philosophy of the airport is to run the facility like a business,
and develop both landside and aeronautical activities… that’s the
only way that we feel we can generate the revenue and put it back
into the airport to get things where they need to go and be an asset
to the community.”
(Quoted from Tim Whitman, Director of Winder-Barrow Airport, Atlanta / Georgia)
From “Two Plans of Attack”, Airport Business Jan 2006.
7
A Need for a Business Plan?
Ownership of Regional Airports
-
Privatisation of Airports in Australia
-
Owned by Local Governments / Councils
(e.g. Coffs Harbour City Council etc.)
-
Many Councils manage their regional airports
8
A Need for a Business Plan?
Unique Challenges for Regional Airports
-
Under-utilisation / very few traffic & demands
-
Significantly less income compared to capital city airports
-
Lack of funding for facilities and infrastructures
-
Not a lot of customers e.g. airlines and GA activities
-
Income generated mostly from aeronautical sources
9
A Need for a Business Plan?
Why do Airports need one?
-
The points mentioned previously
-
Identify where you are and where you’ve been
-
Increases competitive awareness
-
Explores alternative courses
-
Pro-active, not re-active
-
Measure Progress
10
What is in a Business Plan?
Preparing an Airport Business Plan
-
Statement of business aims and objectives
-
Market Analysis of demand / Identifying Trends
Assessment of competition
-
Evaluation of Strengths & Weaknesses (SWOT)
Determine services to be offered / sector of the market to attack
-
Statement of how it will market / sell its services
-
Determine the impact of proposed measures
-
Preparation of financial forecasts
-
Estimation of required resources / how they will be used
(Ashford & Moore, 1999, Airport Finance 2nd Edition)
11
What is in a Business Plan?
Structure of a regional airport business plan:
Case Study: Coffs Harbour Airport
-
Financial Objectives
-
Management Overview
Management Structure
Operating Strategy
-
Marketing Strategy
-
Financial Management Plan
-
Financial Strategy
Other necessary information
(Coffs Harbour City Council 2005 Regional Airport – Associated Policies)
12
How can a Business Plan help
airport management?
What are the advantages?
-
A Management Tool
-
A Strategic Direction
-
Identifying threats pro-actively
13
How can a Business Plan help
airport management?
A Management Tool
- Used to ensure continued success of Airport
- Important reference document
- Establishes clear understanding of business missions, plans & goals
- Detailed evaluation on financial matters e.g. financial modelling
- Measures Progress e.g. Are objectives met?
- Ensure actions are consistent with resources and constraints
14
How can a Business Plan help
airport management?
A Strategic Direction
- Presents a case of planned growth
- Identifying opportunities, objectives and strategies
- Establishing goals and objectives and strategies to reach them
- Ensure that the airport vision & master plan is realised
- Implement the operating / marketing strategies identified
in the business plan
15
How can a Business Plan help
airport management?
Identifying Possible Threats
- Business Plans must be flexible
- Consider what might happen (Edwards, 2005)
(e.g. Airline Collapse, Natural Disasters, competition from other forms of transport)
- Identify ways of how they may threaten the business
- Identify strategies to overcome these problems
16
Conclusion
- “Failing to Plan… is a Plan to Fail” !!
- Regional Airports need to have business plans in place
- Business Plans help ensure Visions & Master Plan are realised
- Business Plan is an integral part of the overall Corporate Plan.
- A continued process and requires frequent re-examination.
17
References
- Ashford, N & Moore, C A 1999, Airport Finance 2nd Edition, Loughborough Airport Consultancy,
Leics UK.
- Coffs Harbour City Business Units, Airport / Management, 2005, Regional Airport – Associated
Policies (Business Plan), Coffs Harbour City Council, Coffs Harbour.
- Edwards, B (Manager, Coffs Harbour Airport) 2006, [Phone conversation]. April 9th.
- Graham, A 2001, Managing Airports – An international perspective, Butterworth & Heinemann,
London.
- Hodges, M A, 2000, ‘Developing your airport’s flight plan – Business Planning’, Airport Business
Solutions, Tampa, Florida.
- Hodges, M A, 2000, Airport Business Plan Outline, viewed April 15th 2006,
<http://www.aaae.org/government/200_Regulatory_Affairs/300_General_Aviation_Office/300_Docume
nt_Library/BpOutline.pdf>
- International Air Transport Association (IATA) 2004, Airport Development Reference Manual
(ADRM) 9th Edition, Airport Development and Infrastructure Consultancy Services, Montreal.
18