Foreword

And that statistic translates into billions of individual, deeply personal reasons for travel. Those of us who spend most of our working lives inside the airports we manage, witness the entire spectrum of human emotions under our ceilings on a daily basis.

The people who work at airports have a collective set of technical and social skills which makes them unique, but this is underpinned with uncommon passion. While technological development has contributed greatly to our industry, it is the human spirit which is most evident to me at all airports.

Airports have become the crossroads of global convergence. They are now so much more than infrastructure, businesses, or gateways. They reflect, and project, the vibrancy and character of nations, cities and communities, and contribute economically and socially to human progress. The unique ability which airports have to bring people of all backgrounds together for a common purpose is what keeps this industry vital, and so it is only fitting that we officially mark this day as International Airports Day.

Today is a day to reflect with optimism on the opportunities that lie ahead, so that we may continue to make our world a smaller, but happier place.