Created in 1991, the Airports Council International (ACI) is the international association of the world's airports. It is a non-profit organisation, the prime purpose of which is to foster co-operation among its member airports and with other partners in world aviation, including governmental, airline and aircraft manufacturing organisations.
Through this co-operation, ACI makes a significant contribution to providing the travelling and shipping public with an air transport system that is safe, secure, efficient and environmentally compatible. ACI has 575 members operating over 1,630 airports in 179 countries and territories. In 2008, ACI members handled 4.9 billion passengers, 86 million metric tonnes of cargo and 77 million aircraft movements.
Company Vision
Airports are an invaluable asset for the communities they serve, helping them to develop their full economic potential and ensure stable growth, bolstering long-term business development and employment. As stewards of this community resource, airport operators need an organisation that can help them add value to their business.
In 1991 airport operators around the world created Airports Council International - the first worldwide association to represent their common interests and foster cooperation with partners throughout the air transport industry. Through ACI, the airport community now speaks with a single voice on key issues and concerns and, despite regional diversity, can move forward as a united industry.
ACI pursues airports interests in discussions with international organisations. The most important relationship is with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), where international standards for air transport are debated and developed. ACI defends airports positions and develops standards and recommended practices in the areas of safety, security and environment initiatives. It also advances and protects airport interests in important policy changes on airport charges and regulation, strengthening the hand of airports in dealing with airlines.
At the same time, ACI provides the platform for pursuing a constructive and cooperative relationship with the airline associations, governments and regulators. On critical industry issues - liberalisation, ownership, capacity planning, regulatory restrictions, and environmental action - ACI defends airports views and strengthens their ability to shape the future of our industry, backing up individual airport actions.
ACI offers its members numerous training opportunities, a customer service benchmarking programme, detailed industry statistical analyses and practical publications.
A Timeline of ACI
1948: Establishment of the Airport Operators Council (later Airport Operators Council International
AOCI), based in Washington D.C.
1950: Establishment of the Western European Airports Association WEAA, based in Zurich.
1962: Establishment of the International Civil Airports Association ICAA, based in Paris.
1970: Establishment of the Airport Associations Coordinating Council (AACC) to represent collectively AOCI, ICAA and WEAA with ICAO, IATA and other worldwide aviation organizations.
1971: ICAO grants AACC observer status.
1972: Opening of AACC permanent secretariat in Geneva.
1974: United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN/ECOSOC) grants AACC consultative status.
1985: Dissolution of WEAA. Member airports join ICAA and/or AOCI.
1991: Establishment of the Airports Council International (ACI), integrating AOCI and ICAA
and succeeding AACC. Structured in six geographical regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin
America/Caribbean, North America, and the Pacific, ACI establishes its headquarters in
Geneva and regional offices in Cairo, New Delhi, Brussels, Caracas, Washington D.C.,
and Honolulu.
1991: Establishment of ACI World Standing Committees. Regional Committees on same subjects
and others also set up.
1991: Appointment of Oris W. Dunham as the Director General of ACI.
1993: Establishment of the ACI Fund for Developing Nations' Airports, based in Geneva.
1994: Establishment of the ACI World Business Partner programme.
Relocation of ACI Pacific Regional Office from Honolulu to Vancouver.
Opening of the ACI Liaison Office with ICAO in Montreal.
1997: Appointment of Jonathan Howe as the Director General of ACI.
2002: Appointment of Robert J. Aaronson as the Director General of ACI.
Relocation of ACI Africa Regional Office from Cairo to Tunis.
2004: Relocation of ACI LAC Regional Office from Caracas to Merida, and ACI Pacific Regional offices from
Vancouver to Hong Kong.
2006: Transitional merge of ACI Pacific and ACI Asia Regions; centrally managed from Hong Kong.
2007: Relocation of ACI Africa Regional Office from Tunis to Morocco.
2008: ACI Asia-Pacific Region officially merged.
2008: Appointment of Angela Gittens as the new Director General of ACI World.
2008: Relocation of ACI World from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 (Ancienne Aerogare) at Geneva International
Airport.
2009: Relocation of ACI LAC Regional Office from Merida to Sao Paulo.
