Industry leaders gathered in Bahrain for the opening of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) World Passenger Symposium (WPS) 2022 were told by Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah that a focus on the passenger experience is crucial to the recovery of the global aviation industry.
The event was hosted by Gulf Air and will continue until November 3.
“With their routines having been disrupted for an extended period of time, it can be difficult for some passengers to return to regular air travel. Encouraging them to fly again requires a concerted effort by the global aviation industry, including airports, airlines, travel agents, regulators, and governments,” Al Binfalah said.
“The launch of our new Passenger Terminal makes Bahrain International Airport (BIA) the most modern and passenger friendly boutique airport in the region, making the passenger experience central to our recovery strategy.”
“And we have seen the results; like the rest of the world, we were badly affected, losing more than 75% of our usual traffic in 2020. Last year saw marginal improvements, but 2022 is exceeding expectations with approximately 6.5 million passengers expected to travel through BIA by the end of the year and 9 million by the end of next year, signaling an almost complete recovery,” he added.
BAC CEO was one of three panelists that took part in the inaugural session. The other two were Gulf Air CEO Captain Waleed Abdulhameed Al Alawi and IATA Director General Willie Walsh.
The discussion revolved around the aviation industry’s post-pandemic state, the opportunities and challenges it offers, and its future.
This year’s WPS under the theme “Unlocking Value Creation by Putting the Customer First”, combines the former Digital, Data and Retailing Symposium, the Global Airport and Passenger Symposium and the Accessibility Symposium into a single event to reflect the importance and connectedness of all three elements to the customer experience.
The event features plenary sessions spotlighting the challenges and opportunities shaping the aviation industry and providing a platform for the exchange of ideas and best practices. In addition, there are three knowledge tracks that address the end-to-end customer journey, covering everything from shopping and purchasing air travel products to destination arrivals.
