Lennart Johansson, Director Göteborg Convention Bureau, Göteborg & Co, Sweden; Pekka Hurtola, SVP, Corporate Development and Strategy, Finavia, Finland; Dr Chris Smith, Senior Advisor, Seabury Aviation & Aerospace Ltd, UK; and Fernando Vieira, Airport Director, Porto, Portugal.
The 8th ‘OPEN DAYS: European Week of Regions and Cities’ – organised by the EU Committee of the Regions and the European Commission Directorate-General for Regional Policy – took place from 4-7 October. The event is the EU’s largest forum on regional development. ACI EUROPE once again participated by organising a workshop on 6 October entitled: ‘Helping the regions out of the economic downturn: regional airports as strategic catalysts of wealth creation’.
The workshop was chaired by Dr Chris Smith, Senior Advisor, Seabury Aviation & Aerospace Ltd, UK, and addressed by Lennart Johansson, Director Göteborg Convention Bureau, Göteborg & Co, Sweden; Pekka Hurtola, SVP, Corporate Development and Strategy, Finavia, Finland; and Fernando Vieira, Airport Director, Porto, Portugal.
Regional airports, which form the core of ACI EUROPE’s membership, are natural counterparts to the larger hubs, providing them with a huge number of passengers. Their role as wealth creators and boosters of business efficiency and productivity throughout European regions is reaffirmed in a post-crisis period, through the provision of accessibility and enhanced social cohesion and development.
Dr. Chris Smith confirmed that the recovery is underway in Europe and underlined the link between air transport and airports with the economy and society in general. He also outlined the economic impact of regional airports, as well as their ownership.
Lennart Johansson explained Göteborg-Landvetter’s role in developing the region it serves by turning it into a tourist, meeting and event destination. He described the market trends, strategy plan, priorities, most wanted destinations and carriers and its route development fund. Johansson also referred to the economic impact of the airport and the growing importance of tourism in terms of regional domestic product.
Pekka Hurtola presented Finland, its regions and its airport network, underlining its position at the crossroads of intercontinental routes, and specifically towards Asia. He stressed that European regions need global reach and connectivity via aviation to ensure long-term economic success.
Fernando Vieira followed with an overview of the situation of the air transport industry, followed by facts and figures about Porto Airport. He also outlined the contribution of Porto Airport to the development of tourism in its region.
Dr. Chris Smith concluded by reemphasising that cooperation with regional airports is essential to help European regions out of the economic downturn.
