1 BMT Transport Solutions GmbH - GANET concept presentation - September 2006 General Aviation Destination Marketing Network(GANET): A concept for discussion BMT Transport Solutions GmbH Detlev Fischer Advice for business development - traffic forecasts & insights for strategic decisions

2 BMT Transport Solutions GmbH - GANET concept presentation - September 2006 "GANET is a planned Internet portal representing a network of regional airports and providing better access to information relevant for private and business users of General Aviation. GANET will strengthen the interface between regional airports and the tourist and business destinations around it; support airport marketing; and provide a platform for services relevant to general aviation." What is GANET?

3 BMT Transport Solutions GmbH - GANET concept presentation - September 2006 Share of General Aviation traffic in Northern Germany: Hobby: 67%, Training: 16,5% Business 16,5% Number of pilots in Northern Germany: The decrease in the number of GA pilots has stopped Flight associations are still losing members, but the average number of persons per flight has increased from 2 to 2,5 - 3 persons The General Aviation Market As part of the project SEAPLANE, BMT Transporet Solutions and UNICONSULT carried out a small market study into General Aviation's (GA) potential, looking at GA pilots' requirements especially when travelling abroad The focus was on pilots in Northern Germany (35 pilots replied) One result: The GA market is limited - no growth in numbers of pilots and population in general Can/will other factors lead to an increase of GA Tourism or GA Business? Some quantitative results and trends:

4 BMT Transport Solutions GmbH - GANET concept presentation - September 2006 General Aviation: Basic motivation for flying Main result of pilot requirements survey: Flying and everything around flying is more important than the destination and its attractions

5 BMT Transport Solutions GmbH - GANET concept presentation - September 2006 General Aviation: Importance of attractions Of all attractions, Places with flight-historical interest top the list. Historic sites, Nature and meetings are also often mentioned. Family-related tourism, attractions for kids, and wellness are considered rather unimportant

6 BMT Transport Solutions GmbH - GANET concept presentation - September 2006 General Aviation: Factors influencing airport choice Good information about the airport is the most important factor for airport choice – followed by credit card acceprance and safe A/C parking Some survey respondents suggested a central GA information portal

7 BMT Transport Solutions GmbH - GANET concept presentation - September 2006 Rationale for a GANET portal Online information about airports and especially the destination is today is often patchy and considered not too reliable – a good entry point is missing Small Airports may find the cost and complexity of providing up-to-date information on their own web site too high – a portal offers economies of scale, be a cheaper and more convenient than maintaining own website Some portals exist, they are mainly focused on airport technical information (e.g., – see screenshot).

8 BMT Transport Solutions GmbH - GANET concept presentation - September 2006 Destination Features Attractions Services Events… GANET portal: interfacing airport and destination Member airport GANET Portal Contextual Information (services at or near AP) Transport Technical information Summary Information on destination Individual airport page

9 BMT Transport Solutions GmbH - GANET concept presentation - September 2006 Clickable map Structured information about the AP and the destination, incl. the interface (local travel, taxis, rental, accommodation etc.) GANET portal: web traffic sources, and features GANET home: entry point for GA tourism and business services Search for (attractions + other criteria) Member airport pages 1-n Structured information about the AP and the destination, incl. the interface (local travel, taxis, rental, accommodation etc.) Marketing and information regarding GA business services (link to technical pilot information, promote GA flight capacity, events, venues, etc.) Marketing and information regarding regional tourism service providers near Airports (links to attractions, public transport, car hire, accomodation…) Traffic from search engines (ca 75% low to medium relevance) Traffic from General Aviation-related portals (ca. 10%, high relevance) Traffic from travel- related general portals (ca. 5%, good relevance) Traffic from regional and municipal public destination marketing organisations (ca 5%. medium relevance) Other links (ca 5% medium relevance)

10 BMT Transport Solutions GmbH - GANET concept presentation - September 2006 GANET portal: basic information on airport page Where and how far is the nearest town? (map) How do I get there? Are there regular bus services, taxis, bicycles for rent? Is it safe to leave the plane at the airport (and at what cost)? What kind of accommodation exists near the airport? Is there a restaurant or shop at the airport? What kind of things can I do at the destination (just annotated links to service provider information on other sites – requires periodic link validation) Link to external airport technical information (e.g. Link to regional or municipal destination marketing site Syndicated information (e.g., event calendar) Destination AP Attraction 1 Attraction 2

11 BMT Transport Solutions GmbH - GANET concept presentation - September 2006 Critical success factors for the GANET portal GANET needs many airports (+20). Total European coverage is not vital if some larger destination regions or countries are well-represented. Data provided have to be correct and up- to date. (Wrong information is worse than no information) All airports should must regularly update GANET information (or the regions, or someone else nominated by airports) An easy-to-use web interface must be provided to enter and maintain information The GANET portal will also need a (part- time) editor to validate information, market and further develop GANET, and provide support to APs The GANET portal needs sufficient traffic to 'make a difference'

12 BMT Transport Solutions GmbH - GANET concept presentation - September 2006 Approach towards GANET implementation A group of airports is needed to form the nucleus of a GA destination marketing network and promote the concept to other airports Airport feedback will show whether there is real interest The motive for GANET: Participating airports should see their offers as complimentary, want to market themselves better, and think of developing new services or attractions For an efficient operation, the organisation behind GANET should have a light footprint and may be hosted by an existing organisation (BMT would be prepared to assume this role) Regions may (partly) reimburse GANET airport fees as the portal brings more tourists Additional funding from EU structural funds for priority areas may help mitigate the cost of setting up and running GANET Planned aircraft hotel at Kristiansand airport

13 BMT Transport Solutions GmbH - GANET concept presentation - September 2006 GANET: the way forward Use exisiting contacts and networks to inform APs (and regional owners) about the concept and win commitment by as many as possible (Avinor, European Airlink Association, AOPA, others?) Member Airports must regularly update GANET information (or nominate someone to do the job), to maintain an overall quality level Online and print publications will be used to inform about GANET, raise interest by APs so they want to be part of it A slim organisation (first a hosted function, run e.g. by multi-client project) is needed to maintain and market GANET Member APs identify local commercial partners (service offers and advertising) to contribute to GANET running cost. (European Airlink Assoc. research indicates that many private service providers are prepared to pay up to €100 per year for exposure on the site) Find at least 20 GA APs for launch (€1000 each) Design Top level and AP page structure AP feedback - Implement GANET design in Typo3 Build slim organisation - Market GANET portal to more APs Agree on GANET portal concept -- committed APs market to other APs

14 BMT Transport Solutions GmbH - GANET concept presentation - September 2006 GANET: the financial side (estimate) 20 launch APs: contribute €1000 each (one-off) All member APs: €200 for each consecutive year (discount possible) 10 new member APs: pay €800 on entry € €8.000 Estimate year 1: €5.000 Estimate year 2: 30 partners, €200 p.A. 10 new Partner APs €800 each Third party revenues from AP pages remain with partner AP to offset GANET costs Third party revenues on toplevel pages go to GANET office GANET design: € Costs Revenues Implementation: € GANET office (maintenance & marketing incl. consumables) year 1: € YEAR 2 YEAR 1 GANET office (maintenance & marketing incl. consumables) year 2: ca €14.000

15 BMT Transport Solutions GmbH - GANET concept presentation - September 2006 Stay in touch with BMT! BMT Transport Solutions GmbH Detlev Fischer Phone: Fax: