Milbank Global Project, Energy and Infrastructure Finance partner Allan Marks moderated two panels and led a Fireside Chat at the virtual P3 Airport Summit.
Allan moderated the panel “What’s Next? Airport Modernization and Expansion Projects in a Post-Pandemic World” on September 23, 2020. Allan and the other speakers on the panel – from Carlyle, CCR Airports, KKR, MUFG and Fitch Ratings – explored the following topics:
- How airport facilities and revenue models are changing in unexpected ways due to the COVID-19 pandemic
- Challenges facing airports and their plans to modernize facilities
- Role of technology and innovation in creating new ways of enhancing airport operations, efficiency and safety
- Diverging trends in passenger service, cargo operations and landside transportation connectivity
Allan also moderated the panel “Structuring Retail Concessions in Airport P3s” on September 25, 2020, with senior executives from BWI Marshall and Des Moines airports, the Chicago Department of Aviation (which oversees the concessions at O’Hare and Midway airports), and Aero Service Group covering a range of timely topics, including:
- Contrasting short-term and long-term impacts of the pandemic and economic slowdown on food and beverage and retail operations
- Alternative approaches to share risks and rewards available to airport owners and their private concession partners
- Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) requirements and opportunities, and how airports can advance broader goals of diversity and inclusion, social justice and sustainability
Allan led a Fireside Chat with the CEO of disruptive airport food and beverage purveyor OTG on “Reinventing the Terminal Experience” on September 23, 2020. They discussed the following topics:
- How innovation and new technology tools will allow airports to reimagine terminal use and design to enhance the passenger experience while traveling
- How airport concessions, partnerships, and branding add value and create identity for airport owners and airlines
- How flexibility in the layout and operation of food and beverage and grab-and-go concessions in terminals makes it possible to adapt to volatility and uncertainty in airport traffic and airline economics
The virtual summit took place September 23-25, 2020. Airport and industry leaders explored current market challenges, procurement, and project development opportunities for airport owners, operators, airlines and their industry partners, developers, concessionaires, investors and financiers.
