WORLD BUSINESS PARTNERS

The latest global news from ACI’s World Business Partners.

Amadeus completes acquisition of ICM

Amadeus has completed the acquisition of ICM Airport Technics (ICM), a global leader in passenger automation and self-service bag drop solutions for airports and airlines, for an undisclosed sum.

Thanks to this deal, Amadeus is now able to design, configure, implement, operate and support all airport systems needed to manage passengers and their baggage from end-to-end.

Importantly, the addition of ICM’s leading portfolio of solutions strengthens Amadeus’ ability to re-imagine check-in, boarding and security in ways that significantly enhance the traveller experience, improve efficiency of operations and reduce costs.

ICM serves a range of world-class airports and airlines, principally in Asia-Pacific and Europe. Since 2009, the group has processed more than 77 million bags worldwide and is a global leader in providing airports and airlines with either retro-fitted or replacement type Auto Bag Drop (ABD) units.

Amadeus’ executive vice president for airport IT, Bruno Spada, says: “Airports are investing in open self-service solutions to address capacity challenges and take the friction out of the airport experience for passengers. By combining Amadeus’ and ICM’s software and hardware capabilities, and by using the power of biometrics, this deal will ensure that together we can deliver better journeys for passengers in the future.”

With the deal now complete, approximately 150 ICM employees will join Amadeus. The group will also formally become part of Amadeus’ Airport IT division, largely operating as a self-contained business. This will allow Amadeus to take advantage of all possible synergies with ICM, while also exploring and continue developing each unit’s capabilities.

ICM will retain a local presence close to its customers via offices in both Sydney and Melbourne. ICM’s CEO, Richard Dinkelmann (pictured above), will now report directly to Spada. 

Upgrade BRU’s baggage handling system

Vanderlande has been awarded the contract to execute a significant upgrade to the baggage handling system (BHS) at Brussels Airport.

The proposed operational improvements will allow the airport to handle an expected growth in annual passenger numbers from 25 to 40 million within the next 25 years.

To continue to deliver excellent and compliant airport operations and aeronautical infrastructure on a daily basis, Brussels Airport is rolling out a large-scale investment programme.

This includes the replacement of the existing conventional BHS with Vanderlande’s TUBTRAX technology, an upgrade to the high-level controls, and the integration of new hold baggage screening (HBS) machines to comply with the latest EU Standard 3 regulations.

The new BHS system will connect the existing check-in and transfer areas with the new HBS systems and the existing sorters, make-up carousels and the sortation area in Pier A.

According to Vanderlande, by transporting one item of baggage per tote, TUBTRAX ensures complete track and trace of each piece of luggage at any time, regardless of its location in the system.

On this project, Vanderlande will co-operate closely with ENGIE Fabricom Airport Solutions, a key supplier in respect to BHS-related activities at Brussels Airport.

Vanderlande’s executive vice president for airports, Andrew Manship, says: “Brussels Airport has a clear vision on its future and we look forward to playing a vital role in support of this.” 

Sweet Maple lands at SFO’s Terminal 2

SSP America has followed the opening of The Manufactory Food Hall in SFO’s International Terminal earlier this year by unveiling Sweet Maple in Terminal 2.

Serving San Francisco’s Lower Pacific Heights community since 2010, Sweet Maple serves classic American dishes with a touch of Asian influence and is ranked among the top breakfast and brunch destinations in the city.

Indeed, it is so popular with locals and food tourists alike that its Millionaire’s Bacon has become one of the city’s most Instagrammed dishes and earned Sweet Maple – and owner and former scientist Steven Choi – a cult following across the globe.

Other popular dishes include Corn Flake crusted ‘Crunch’ French Toast, Frisco Burgers, Stonepot Rice and Sweet Maple’s signature Mimosas, Bloody Marys and freshly pulled coffees.

“We are delighted to bring one of San Francisco’s favourite breakfast and brunch spots to SFO,” enthuses SSP America’s vice president for business development, Paul Loupakos.

“For Terminal 2, Sweet Maple brings a leading, Bay Area community restaurateur who has put Sweet Maple on the culinary world map. Visitors and locals alike seek out Sweet Maple for its memorable food and warm hospitality. Now passengers can visit Sweet Maple and enjoy the famous Millionaire’s Bacon whenever they fly through SFO.”

New concessions software solution for Kempegowda

Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport has chosen GrayMatter’s Airport Analytics (AA+) solution to better manage its concession-based commercial business, provide a better passenger experience and help improve non-aeronautical revenues.

The solution effectively delivers data-driven business insights around performance of F&B outlets, retail stores, duty-free shops, product categories, products as well as around customer preferences.

The scope of the engagement includes real-time, non-intrusive extraction of sales data from POS terminals at the airport stores using Store Sense, GrayMatter’s proprietary IoT device.

Data extracted from Store Sense interfaces with operator BIAL’s billing system and is further used for income computation that forms the basis for invoicing concessionaires.

Information can also be analysed to enable decision making and reporting using state-of-the-art data warehousing, dashboarding and visualisation techniques.

Kempegowda’s chief commercial officer, Kenneth Guldbjerg, said: “We work with partners such as GrayMatter to offer our passengers a technologically-superior and seamless airport experience.

“I look forward to the envisaged outcomes of this implementation, including the expected transparency that it will lend to retail revenue reporting.”

Vikas Gupta, CEO of GrayMatter, said: “I am proud to have our home airport as one of our esteemed customers.” 

African expansion for Aelia

New Aelia Duty Free and RELAY shops have opened at Libreville Leon Mba International Airport in Gabon.

Their opening marks the first phase of a partnership between Lagardère Travel Retail and the airport to operate more than 600sqm of retail and F&B outlets at the African gateway.

The Aelia Duty Free store offers a broad range of local brands and products in addition to the wide range of international brands.

“We are very pleased with these openings, that demonstrate our ability to bring the best international operational standards to Africa, while developing a very strong and successful local offer,” says Lagardère Travel Retail’s managing director for Africa, Bruno Bouchacourt.

“This is yet another important milestone in Lagardère Travel Retail’s journey towards new successes in Africa.”

Libreville Leon Mba International Airport is the only international airport in Gabon and, as such, a key location for air traffic between Western Africa and Europe.

The airport is currently served by 14 scheduled airlines that between them fly to 23 destinations in 15 countries.