This question seemed almost trivial before the pandemic, as forecasts were euphoric, driven by increased global trade and the development of Asian tourism, but still (too) little concerned with environmental issues. The 2020 Covid crisis temporarily put a sharp brake on airport activity, before seeing their health quickly recover and returning to levels of traffic, growth, and expectations that, while lower, remain highly ambitious.
Airports therefore belong to an infrastructure asset class that has proven to be quite resilient. However, are these global exchange hubs truly safe from all threats?
The overview we present through a series of thematic articles aims to analyze the diversity of situations, perceptions, and ambitions of these infrastructures around the world, where perspectives on passenger and cargo traffic are highly heterogeneous.
The much-discussed “post-pandemic world” has resulted in a situation still very similar to the previous one: for airports to grow, they must stimulate traffic by offering ever more services (or better quality services) at the same or even lower cost, as well as facilitating the creation of new routes for their preferred airlines. In the race for gigantism, some regions of the world are plunging headlong, while the old continent looks on with suspicion and sometimes a guilty conscience at these facilities inherited from a time when growth and carbon emissions seemed limitless.
Although their results are still excellent, the airport sector is preparing for a transformation. This raises the question of a profound revolution that could see these assets change their model, shifting from a flow-based logic to one of capacity-based remuneration. Make no mistake: traffic growth will inevitably slow down, whether by choice or constraint, as climate degradation increasingly mobilizes public opinion and decision-makers. This is the challenge: to keep essential facilities alive, anchored at the heart of the global exchange system, but now forced to adapt to an inescapable reality.
There is no shortage of ideas, as we will see in this global overview of airport platforms, nor of awareness of the need to move to a new model.
The revolution is underway, and it is a fascinating one.
Happy reading!
The Accuracy Infrastructure Team
Introduction
What is an airport? On the surface, this seems a simple question. Historically it was a place to start and finish a holiday or work trip, often in a slightly frustrating manner with queues, delays and lost baggage.
Fast forward to today, many airports are destinations in their own right and are far more than just transit hubs.
Airports are resilient economic engines, business ecosystems and critical nodes in the global connectivity network. Over the past decade, they have overcome unprecedented disruption from evolving security requirements and sustainability pressures to the seismic shifts brought by digital transformation, interconnections with mass transport (i.e. trains, and metros) and of course, the pandemic.
Together, these themes point to a new airport paradigm one where success is measured not only by throughput but by how well airports serve people, operate sustainably, and generate value for stakeholders. In the coming articles, we invite you to explore how airports can align People, Planet, and Profit to thrive in an era of change.
As we emerge from a post-pandemic world and look ahead, the question is not whether airports will adapt, but how they will redefine themselves as smart, environmentally responsible and customer-centric ecosystems at the heart of future mobility.
Growth alone is no longer the measure of success, and airports must balance three imperatives: People, Planet, and Profit.
This series examines these pillars in three separate articles under the titles of People, Planet and Profit:
People
Airports are no longer mere transit points; they are evolving into experiential destinations. From the rise of leisure travel, the decline of business trips and the ever growing segment of friends and family to the growing importance of seamless mobility and dwell-time economics; airports must reimagine how they serve passengers. How can they create value beyond connectivity and integrate into broader transport ecosystems?
Planet
Climate change is reshaping the aviation sector. Physical risks, regulatory pressures, and investor scrutiny demand urgent action. Airports must lead the transition by enabling sustainable aviation fuels and, among other initiatives, developing prospective hydrogen infrastructure, advancing electrification, and strengthening infrastructure resilience, while also unlocking green finance opportunities. Can airports transform from carbon-intensive hubs into energy-positive ecosystems?
Profit
The traditional volume-driven model is under pressure. Non-aeronautical revenues remain critical yet volatile, and airports must diversify through digitalization, real estate development, and multimodal integration.
Profitability is no longer just about passenger numbers – it’s about creating resilient, diversified models that deliver long-term value.
Together, these themes point to a new airport paradigm one where success is measured not only by throughput but by how well airports serve people, operate sustainably, and generate value for stakeholders. In the coming articles, we invite you to explore how airports can align People, Planet, and Profit to thrive in an era of change.
Nicolas Bourdon, Partner, Accuracy
Zaheer Minhas, Partner, Accuracy
Christy Howard, Partner, Accuracy
Joris Timmers, Partner, Accuracy
Julie Malzac, Director, Accuracy
Thierry de Séverac, Advisor, Accuracy