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Press release
- 15.02.2005
- 8th Hamburg Aviation Conference - New Directions in the Travel Market
More than two hundred internationally recognised scientists and respected senior management figures from the aviation industry will meet at the 8th Hamburg Aviation Conference to discuss current developments in global aviation. The conference takes place from 16th to 18th February, 2005.
The focus will be on the growing global leisure travel market and its effects on the aviation industry as a whole. “The positive development of this market, driven by low-cost operators, is intensifying the competitiveness of all players,” explains Werner Hauschild, Chairman of the Board at Hamburg Airport. “Added to this are the numerous newly launched airlines and an increased pressure on profit margins.” These factors, along with the development of new distribution models in the travel sector, are producing a realignment in terms of market power and already indicate a significant change for the industry as a whole in Europe, North America and Asia. Mr Hauschild also points to the conditions imposed by regulatory frameworks, such as the Value Added Tax liability incurred on cross-border flights, which pose significant challenges for airports. Market players gain nothing by hesitantly waiting to see what the coming restructuring will bring. Rather, they need to engage in focused creation and development of new concepts and made-to-measure products. “The changes affect airports’ non-aviation operations. The experts are predicting growth. But without forward-looking planning to generate more income per passenger, airports will not see any financial benefit from this growth," says Mr Hauschild.
Hamburg Airport's farsighted planning is underlined by the HAM 21 expansion programme, most of which will be completed by May 2005. The Airport can count on an increase in non-aviation profits as a result of the expanded shopping area in the new terminal.
More and more consumers are using the internet to book individually structured flight and accommodation packages with up-to-the-minute prices. The charter airlines are coming increasingly under pressure now that the low-cost operators have discovered the popular holiday destinations. Growing numbers of tour operators are working together with low-cost airlines, calling the future of the package tour, so popular in Germany, into question. Does so-called "dynamic packaging" in fact offer consumers better value for money? The cheap flight south often leads to higher costs than the customer was hoping for. What role is the travel agent left with? What is the future of the competent travel expert advising would-be travellers?
One of the central themes of the 8th Hamburg Aviation Conference will therefore be the question, “What direction is travel distribution going to take?" Will sales continue to take place in the classical way, or will the internet increasingly take over? Whatever happens, the entire aviation industry has to adapt to today's new tourists: in contrast to business customers, they are innovative, they are flexible and they are price-sensitive.
A further focus will be the global development of the travel market. Whilst within the EU low-cost carriers are primarily challenging the charter airlines, the different market structure in has led to a totally different situation. Here, it is the traditional legacy airlines that are under threat from the low-cost operators, which are steadily gaining market share.
Of the conference itself, Hauschild comments: “The Hamburg Aviation Conference has established itself as an important and respected event in the aviation expert's calendar. We are very pleased to be able to continue providing new ideas and scientific impulse with our conference programme. I am certain that this aviation summit will successfully demonstrate once again that Hamburg is one of the world’s key locations in this industry.
The Hamburg Aviation Conference is jointly organised by Hamburg Airport and the Department of the Economy & Labour of the Free & Hanseatic City of Hamburg.
