Add to Favorite
Magazine 
Magazine
GATE ONE closes on a highGATE ONE closes on a high
John Rimmer
An intriguing session on the Chinese and Indian markets closed the second GATE ONE conference in Singapore today
Airport privatisation and the potential of Asia's two biggest emerging markets were among the key issues at the second GATE ONE conference, which closed in Singapore today. Senior executives from key airports, retailers and airlines addressed delegates at the event, which followed the TFWA Asia Pacific exhibition.Yesterday's keynote speaker, Hong Kong International airport (HKIA) CEO David Pang, gave a fascinating presentation about how HKIA has been transformed from an infrastructure business to an experience business. He explained how the airport is seeking to segment its market and introduce greater product differentiation through the creation of retail and leisure concepts such as SkyMart and SkyPlaza.
Other highlights of day one included presentations from Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation managing director Peter Harbison, Dufry Group COO Eurasia and Asia René Riedi, Nuance Watson (HK) managing director Alessandra Piovesana, and Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore commercial director Peck Hoon Lim, who explained the thinking behind Singapore Changi's new low-cost terminal, set to open next year.
Day two opened with an upbeat assessment of the burgeoning Asian low-cost market, given by Tiger Airways CEO Tony Davis. Other senior speakers included Macquarie Airports CEO Kerrie Mather, who explained the criteria Macquarie uses when deciding whether to invest in an airport.
The conference ended with a fascinating assessment of the potential of travel markets in China and India, delivered by HSBC managing director and head of transport and logistics sector investment banking in Asia Allen Chien and KPMG India associate director Anindya Roychowdhury. Chien revealed how HSBC contributed to some of China's existing airport privatisations, including Meilan airport in Hainan, run by Copenhagen Airports. He also listed the airports most likely to be privatised over the next two years, including Shanghai and Guangzhou, expected in 2006, and Xian Dalian, expected in 2007. Chien explained how privatisation could radically improve standards of travel retailing in China, provided it was accompanied by changes to management, expertise and mentality.
In a lively and witty presentation Roychowdhury gave his views on the long delayed privatisation of Indian aiports, citing the recent Naresh Chandra committee report, which described India's international airports as "sub-standard", and passenger amenities as "an embarrassment". He argued that there is huge potential for revenue growth in Indian airports, depending on the ability of private investors to deliver financing.A full report on GATE ONE and TFWA Asia Pacific will appear in DFNI June 1.
Delicious
Digg
StumbleUpon
FacebookRelated Stories
Articles bearing the symbol 
require subscription.