FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 30 May 2005 (Tokyo) "Air transport is quickly changing to a low cost industry. Value for money, a spirit of continuous improvement and dedication to customer satisfaction is critical throughout the value chain. AirServices Australia, Singapore's Changi Airport and Brisbane Airport Corporation were the industry's best examples of this in 2004. It is a pleasure to present them Eagle Awards for their achievements," said Giovanni Bisignani, Director General and CEO of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Air Navigation Service Provider: AirServices Australia

"A five year pricing agreement with Airservices Australia embraces strong commitments to improved performance, better cost efficiency and continuous improvement," said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA Director General and CEO. "As such this agreement is an excellent model which all other providers should seek to emulate and makes AirServices Australia a deserving winner of its second Eagle Award."

Airservices Australia, IATA and airlines agreed a five-year pricing agreement after a comprehensive and very open consultation process with full transparency of information. It covered all business and operational issues and requirements including future investment, revised cost allocation methodology and the financial consequences of inadequate Government funding of community service obligations. The Australian Competition Commission, the regulator, accepted the agreement.

Airports: Singapore-Changi and Brisbane
"Changi and Brisbane operate in different environments with different business models but both demonstrate the spirit of partnership that our industry needs," said Bisignani.
This is the fourth Eagle Award for Changi Airport, operated by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. Recently Changi airport has taken a number of initiatives to further reduce costs to airline operators and promote growth. Changi continuously also ranks among the best performers in the IATA-ACI AETRA awards for customer satisfaction.

Brisbane is a much smaller, privatised airport. It has achieved strong growth in a de-regulated environment by offering a good consultation process, customer satisfaction and low charges in comparison to other airports in its country.

"We salute the efforts of the three Eagle Award winners and welcome them to the exclusive group of partners who have contributed significantly to the industry's development. Collectively, the Eagle Award winners set the benchmarks for performance, cost efficiency and continuous improvements for others to achieve," said Bisignani.

Notes:

The Eagle Awards were presented at IATA's 61st Annual General Meeting and World Air Summit in Tokyo on 30 May by Sir Michael Hogkinson on behalf of the independent Eagle Award Panel.

Eagle Award Winners are:

2005

Airport

  • Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore
  • Brisbane International Airport

Air Navigation Service Provider

  • AirServices Australia

2004

Airport

  • San Francisco International Airport

2003

Airport

  • Athens International Airport
  • Melbourne Airport
  • Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore

Air Navigation Service Provider

  • Airways Corporation of New Zealand
  • Estonian Air Navigation Services
  • The General Civil Aviation Authority of the United Arab Emirates

2002

Airport

  • The State of Hawaii Airports System
  • Airport Authority of Hong Kong
  • Cyprus Airports
  • Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore

2001

Airport

  • Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore

Air Navigation Service Provider

  • NAVCANADA

2000

Airport

  • Manchester Airport plc

Air Navigation Service Provider

  • DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung

1999

Airport

  • Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
; Air Navigation Service Provider
  • AirServices Australia

1998

Airport

  • UK BAA plc

Air Navigation Service Provider

  • Irish Aviation Authortiy