There is no shortage of airline and airport awards in the aviation industry, but perhaps the most meaningful are those from a respected industry body based on consumer or stakeholder inputs. This month, the Airports Council International – North America announced the first annual AirportNEXT awards winners, recognizing airport performance across sixteen categories.
What is the AirportNEXT program?
The Airports Council International—North America (ACI-NA) is the trade association representing commercial service airports in the United States and Canada. Last week, at the 2024 ACI-NA Annual Conference and Exhibition in Grand Rapids, Michigan, it announced the launch of the AirportNEXT program and the winners of the inaugural AirportNEXT awards.
Photo: Greenville Spartanburg International Airport
AirportNEXT Solutions Inc. developed the AirportNEXT program in partnership with ACI-NA. It is a new tool for airports to assess and improve stakeholder alignment and support based on a survey of key stakeholders. During the past six months, 24 airports across the US and Canada participated in a pilot project to validate the program and create the initial database of stakeholder sentiment.
Map: ACI-NA
The program aims to validate and expand the database of stakeholder sentiments regarding airport operations and effectiveness. The first awards are based on extensive analysis and feedback about infrastructure and facilities and stakeholder alignment. To make its 2024 awards, the program received more than 200,000 data points about airports in several critical areas.
Minneapolis-St Paul among the winners
Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport (MSP) was one of the 24 pilot airports and was awarded the top ranking in the Services category. The category measured stakeholder perception about accessibility services, information services, retail facilities, post-security food and beverage facilities, and other infrastructure and facilities amenities.
Photo: MAC
The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) owns and operates one of the US’s largest airport systems, including MSP and six general aviation airports. CEO and executive director Brian Ryks said MAC is pleased to earn this recognition for its outstanding services, and it means so much more coming straight from our MSP stakeholders. He added:
“Our purpose at MAC is to provide exceptional airport experiences so Minnesota thrives, and it is great to hear from the people we most frequently engage with about how we are accomplishing that.”
Photo: Jacob Boomsma | Shutterstock
The awards celebrate the achievements of airports that have excelled in various operational and stakeholder engagements. There were 16 individual award categories, starting with:
AirportNEXT Overall Award Winners:
- Tier 1 Airports (Below 850,000 passengers): Fredericton International
- Tier 2 Airports (850,000 – 4 million): Greenville-Spartanburg International
- Tier 3 Airports (4 million – 16 million): Edmonton International
- Tier 4 Airports (More than 16 million): Dallas Love Field
Infrastructure and Facilities by Category:
- Border: Vancouver International
- Security: Dallas Love Field
- Services: Minneapolis-St Paul International
- Technology Services: Fredericton International
- Terminal: Fredericton International
- Transportation Access: Milwaukee Mitchell International
Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock
Stakeholder Alignment
- Airlines: Greenville-Spartanburg International
- Community: Edmonton International
- Economic Development and Tourism: Greenville-Spartanburg International
- Government: Dallas Love Field
- Sustainability: Edmonton International
- Workforce and Culture: Edmonton International
With the pilot program and inaugural awards done and dusted, ACI-NA president and CEO Kevin M. Burke said that each of the winners had demonstrated leadership, vision and collaboration with their stakeholders in key areas to improve the passenger experience. He also commented that the council is looking forward to growing the AirportNEXT program for next year.