1. Air Transport Infrastructure Russia & CIS
Lessons learned from 14 Feasibility Studies or Master Plans on Russian Airports

2. Lessons learned from 14 Feasibility Studies or Master Plans
In the last 3 years I was asked to work out 14 Feasibility Studies or Master Plans on Russian Airports; some as the main contractor, some as a subcontractor for a big German Airport Company.

3. Lessons learned from 14 Feasibility Studies or Master Plans
The experience of these Studies or Master Plans can be grouped into 6 areas
Infrastructure optimization
Organizational structure (staff)
Operational optimization
Economic optimization
Increasing the number of flights re. passengers
Attracting Investors

4. Lessons learned from 14 Feasibility Studies or Master Plans
Infrastructure optimization
The layout and the design of the Russian airports lay mostly decades in the past, esp. at smaller airports. The buildings etc. are mostly in a bad condition. This results in higher maintenance and operational cost.
Helpful:
Upgrade the design and layout to nowadays needs
Improve the building to offer the passengers a
more comfortable and efficient service to receive
higher revenues
Be prepared for the future and maybe competition
with a nearby airport

5. Lessons learned from 14 Feasibility Studies or Master Plans
Organizational structure (staff)
The organizational structure, the number of staff, the education and training of the staff and the shift roster are mostly not adapted to the actual situation at the reviewed airport. A passenger and revenue orientated airport organization is better prepared for the future.
Main topics:
number of staff according the operational needs
organizational chart according the core business of
an airport
Staff roster and shift schedule according the
needs of the flight schedule

6. Lessons learned from 14 Feasibility Studies or Master Plans
Operational Optimization
The operational optimization should be done hand in hand with the organizational optimization. The operation should be focused on the customers: airlines and their passengers or cargo
Main topics:
training of the staff
plan the operation: seasonal, monthly, weekly to
daily
using good and reliable equipment
using available IT software as a support
focus on the demands and wishes of the airlines
listen to the needs of the airlines and their
passengers

7. Lessons learned from 14 Feasibility Studies or Master Plans
Economic Optimization
The pre-condition for the economic success of an airport is based on the optimization of the infrastructure, equipment and staff. If this is fulfilled the airport will have, besides other positive effects, economic success because:
the airlines welcome an efficient and optimum service
and are willing to pay handsome fees
the passengers like to be earlier at the airport and
spend additional money while waiting for the flight
retail companies are interested to rent space for a
shop, kiosk, restaurant etc. and willing to pay
reasonable fees at good airports
a service oriented airport is attractive for airlines to fly in

8. Lessons learned from 14 Feasibility Studies or Master Plans
Increasing the number of flights re. passengers
The core business of an airport is to serve airlines and their passengers or cargo. One way of increasing the revenue is to attract new airlines or more flights from the existing airlines. But to interest airlines, some basic requirements should be done ahead of that.
the airport must be attractive to the airline in every way
the airport should cooperate with the regional industry
(for business connection) and with the local
Government (for business and leisure connections)
the airport should cooperate with the regional leisure
industry and tourist offices
offer incentives to the airlines to introduce new flights

9. Lessons learned from 14 Feasibility Studies or Master Plans
Attracting investors
There is no question, winning an investor is a very easy way of getting financial support for improvement or amortization.
But there are not only advantages having an investor aboard
Any investor want to gain money, not to loose it
The airport should make himself attractive and interesting
Investors want to know where to spent the invest; so a
Master Plan and a Business Plan are essential to have
before facing investors
the existing and expecting air traffic figures are
essential to have
most of the investors want to be involved in decisions

10. Lessons learned from 14 Feasibility Studies or Master Plans
Conclusion
Well experienced and educated Airport Management is the
enabler for leading an airport to success
Improved airports have a better chance in increasing traffic and
revenue
Trained and motivated staff is a main criterion for an efficient
and successful airport
Airport Manager or the respective Government should be
realistic with their vision for their airport
Beside some ferw airports in Russia, it will be difficult at the
moment to find an investor for improvements
An unclear ownership is a big issue at many Russian airports

11. Lessons learned from 14 Feasibility Studies or Master Plans
Thank you for your attention!
If you want to contact me, please feel free to do so:
Johannes M. Ehmanns
Erlenweg 10
51147 Koeln
Germany
Tel.:
Fax:
Homepage:
Russian mobile phone number: