Korea hosts big airport convention

More than 800 aviation representatives, government officials, business heads and academic leaders are gathering at COEX in Seoul from Monday to Wednesday as the Airports Council International’s Asia-Pacific/World Annual General Assembly is hosted for the first time in Korea.

The ACI, founded in 1991, is the only worldwide association of airports. It has 591 members that operate 1,861 airports in 177 countries. It promotes and supports excellence in airport management around the world.

Dubbed the “Olympics” of the airport industry, this year’s World Annual General Assembly opens jointly with the Asia-Pacific General Assembly, inviting some 800 guests from 72 countries.

The host this year is Incheon International Airport, the main gateway to Korea that opened in 2001. Since 2005, the airport hasn’t failed to win an award in the Airport Service Quality (ASQ) survey, an annual evaluation organized by the ACI. The award ceremony for last year’s evaluation, in which Incheon won “Best Airport in Asia-Pacific” and “Best Airport for 25 to 40 million passengers” categories, will be held on Tuesday.

Under the theme of “Serving the customer and the community,” experts from all five ACI geographical regions will discuss topics in the aviation industry.

The event also features an exhibition in which more than 60 companies will showcase their latest infrastructure developments, technologies, products and services.

Industry insiders said hosting ACI’s World Annual General Assembly and Asia-Pacific General Assembly shows Korea’s elevated status in the aviation industry. The country has been a board member of the International Civil Aviation Organization, an agency under the United Nations that governs aviation policies, for 14 years.

Incheon International Airport Corporation said that it plans to raise its brand value by hosting this event.

BY JOO KYUNG-DON [kjoo@joongang.co.kr]