ABERDEEN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE Minutes of meeting held at Aberdeen International Airport Limited on Friday 5 February 2016. Present: Dr P Smart Mrs C Benzie Mr E Anderson Mr I Armstrong Mr A Thomas Cllr M Roy Cllr J Cox Cllr N McGregor Cllr G Samarai Mr M Wilson Mr J Bream Mr J Millar Cllr G Blackett Chairman Aberdeen International Airport Limited NESTRANS SCDI Helicopter Operators Aberdeen City Council Aberdeen City Council Dyce & Stoneywood Community Council Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce NATS Attending: Miss M Mackenzie Mr S Mills Minutes Aberdeen International Airport Limited 1. APOLOGIES Apologies were extended on behalf of P Stuart, G Hance, J Wood, G Davidson and B Harrison who is being represented at the meeting by M Wilson. The Chairman advised that this meeting has been rescheduled from December 2015. As AIAL were awaiting the decision of the AGS Board regarding the terminal transformation project in January, it was agreed to hold back the meeting until now. The Chairman welcomed Councillor Geva Blackett to the meeting and C Benzie introduced Steven Mills who has taken up the post of PA/Communications Coordinator at AIAL. Introductions were made round the table for the benefit of new members. The Chairman advised that there were 2 leavers from the Committee, R Collier, who has retired from Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce and L Rose, Airport Chaplain, who has also retired. C Benzie advised that the local minister from Dyce, Rev Mason Marchant has agreed to provide a pastoral presence at the Airport.He is keen to get involved and will join the Consultative Committee following the retirement of L Rose.
2. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING 4 SEPTEMBER 2015 M Roy stated that he was at the meeting however this was not noted in the minutes; he requested that this be recorded. The Minutes were approved by the Committee. 3. MATTERS ARISING C Benzie provided an update on the fly parking situation around the airport campus. There has been great progress made within the ABZ site, where double yellow lines have been put on the roads and APCOA have been placing cones at the Kirkhill site as a preventative measure. It was agreed that C Benzie, J Samarai and N McGregor to meet to discuss the next steps. C Benzie advised that AIAL will be happy to contribute towards the cost of fencing at the Kirkhill site. J Wood had enquired why the contact number for the airport was 0844 and not an 01224 number. C Benzie advised that this had been a BAA corporate decision which all 7 airports had subscribed to. It is still the case that all calls are directed to Glasgow, the 0844 number is a legacy and K Douglas, Terminal Operations Manager, is looking into the feasibility of changing the number but there is no guarantee. The 0844 rates of 7p per minute are published on the website. J Wood had also requested information regarding the drop off point. C Benzie stated that the drop off zone has been in operation for a year resulting in greatly reduced waiting, congestion and abandoned vehicles. The charge has enabled AIAL to finance with the Community Fund which was previously financed by Heathrow. The Community Fund is managed by a panel consisting of members from the business community, AVCO, an MSP and AIAL employees who meet quarterly. Details of how to apply for funding are on the AIAL website. C Benzie acknowledged that there is more work to do regarding the bus area as there is not enough capacity at peak times. 4. MANAGING DIRECTOR S REPORT The Managing Director s Quarterly Report was issued to all members providing an update on operational performance, route development, highlights for the last quarter, six star overview, customer service standards, projects, airport updates and the community fund.
C Benzie delivered a presentation which she has been sharing with staff during a series of MD roadshows. This covered the performance of the airport during 2015, and the strategic focus and challenges ahead for 2016, particularly in light of the continuing low oil price which is significantly adversely impacting on passenger numbers. C Benzie also provided an overview of the Terminal Transformation project. Q&As are available on the website. G Blackett enquired if there was representation from Visit Scotland on the Consultative Committee and was advised that there was not. C Benzie is meeting with Visit Aberdeen shortly, G Blackett to talk with C Benzie separately. E Anderson to speak to Nestrans regarding passengers numbers, particularly BA, with an element of caution and request that they speak with C Benzie. C Benzie stated that whilst people focus on new services the challenge is maintaining existing services in a difficult market which is essential for the region. 5. QUARTERLY NOISE REPORT C Benzie advised that the Airport had reached an impasse with the residents of Cordyce View with daily complaints received, primarily about the Bond operation. A recent meeting had been held with the residents at which J Samarai and N McGregor were present. The airport, along with Bond and NATS, are continuing to try to mitigate the noise in that area where operationally feasible. An offer of a noise barrier was refused as they said it would spoil their view. All complaints are now being responded to by the Operations Director and M McDonald MSP is visiting the airport next week to discuss the situation. M Wilson enquired where Bond were ground running and was advised that it was not always possible to do so from the southern end owing to amount of spots and the wind direction. NATS are working to try to route away the helicopters where possible. P Smart enquired if they had proposed any particular mitigation, but C Benzie said that they had not asked for anything particular, other than a ceasing of operations close to their houses. M Wilson enquired if the houses had triple glazing. C Benzie advised that the insulation scheme was on the website. 6. CHAIRMAN S QUARTERLY REPORT P Smart advised that he chaired a meeting of the UKACCS working group at Gatwick on 19 November and provided an update to the group, a copy of the key outcomes of this meeting were distributed in advance.
7. CURRENT CONSULTATIONS Deferral of Additional Runway at London Heathrow P Smart referred to the letter to the Secretary of State for Transport regarding the deferred decision on an additional runway and the response from the Department of Transport detailing the government s decision. It is a case of waiting for a decision. 8. SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT S PROPOSALS IN RELATION TO AIR PASSENGER DUTY DEVOLUTION C Benzie advised that this was discussed at the AOA Board last week. N Sturgeon, First Minister, has said that the Scottish Government will reduce APD by 50% but it sounds that it will be a phased approach, whereas the preferred option for operators would be to reduce it in one go. The Welsh Government are lobbying for the same powers and it is expected that should Scotland or Wales make a change, then the rest of the UK would quickly follow suit. P Smart to liaise with J Bream with regard to sending a further letter following the Chamber event on behalf of Aberdeen International Airport Consultative Committee and Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce. 9. ANNUAL REPORT P Smart advised that the report is in preparation and he will ensure that it is circulated within the month. 10. BA SLOTS P Smart highlighted an article from the Times regarding the deployment by BA of some of their slots at Heathrow. It was his personal opinion that BA would be better advised to show their commitment to UK peripheral regions rather than start new services to European destinations. 11. FLYING AGAINST THE ELEMENTS There is a picture of Aberdeen International Airport in the Art Gallery archive which was commissioned by Dan Air in 1987 to mark the 50 th anniversary of the opening of the airport. It had been donated for permanent display either at the Art Gallery or at the airport. P Smart to contact the Art Gallery to discuss the possibility of display at the airport. 12. SECRETARIAL ARRANGEMENTS C Benzie advised that Steven Mills would now undertake this task as part of his new role.
13. AIACC WEBSITE P Smart advised that UKACCs maintain the website however it has been frozen since 2014. C Benzie has offered a link from the airport s platform. P Smart to discuss with J Stewart, E-Commerce Manager, and S Mills. 14. UKACC ANNUAL MEETING The annual meeting will be held at Belfast International Airport on 8/9 June 2016 which P Smart will attend. He will circulate a copy of the agenda at the next AICC meeting in June. 15. AOCB. C Benzie advised that there is a policy being circulated for consultation on the handling of disruptive passengers at airports which will could prove onerous for airports C Benzie advised that HMRC had carried out an audit on airport retailers across the UK and have found that the current tax free prices have been shared equitably with passengers travelling in and out with the EU and no tax liability is due. Therefore, recent press allegations regarding retailers not passing on the savings to the passengers are unfounded. The airport team are working with the Chamber of Commerce to produce a survey on which leisure destinations people would wish to have from Aberdeen. This will be done face to face and also on the website to get as wide a spread as possible. C Benzie asked that members encourage family, friends and neighbours to complete the survey which will provide up to date demand data from our passengers, which will be used to prepare business cases being presented at the Routes Conference in Krakow in April. P Smart thanked C Benzie for the in depth information provided in her presentation. 13. DATE OF NEXT MEETING It was agreed that the next meeting will be held on Friday 3 June 2016.