At Vancouver International (YVR) ...

... an ongoing emphasis on technology continues to reap benefits in efficiency and reducing costs to airlines while improving the passenger experience. Back in the mid-90s when AIRPORT BUSINESS did a cover story on YVR, that was the overriding message. It remains so today. I recall being impressed with Kevin Molloy back then – he had been brought on to head up I.T. for Vancouver and was the first management level person I had met at airports who was directing information technology. He talked then of having to convince his I.T. staff that it was OK to put away their screwdrivers and to quit focusing on fixing computer problems. Their new focus was to be on integrating I.T. into the management of the airport. Staff members were assigned to departments so they could get a handle on what challenges managers were facing in their operations, and in turn uncover how I.T. could play a role in tackling those challenges. Today, that approach seems only logical; back then, it was nothing short of revolutionary. While at YVR this week to get an update on Vancouver International for our annual August Canadian Issue of AIRPORT BUSINESS, Molloy related how technology has had an impact on operations, passenger flow, check-in, reducing costs to carriers, and enhancing the customer experience. He and Larry Berg, CEO at YVR, continue to emphasize that technology is often the answerto finding solutions to challenges facing airports – including reducing costs to airlines. This may be no more true, they say, then with processing international passengers – not only is YVR a major gateway between the Pacific Rim and North America, it will also be handling travelers to the 2010 Winter Olympic games to be held here. Interestingly, this week the Air Transport Research Society, in a study to measure the cost-competitiveness of 134 airports worldwide, reported that YVR remains the most efficient and cost-competitive airport in Canada and the ninth best in North America, despite a rising Canadian dollar that gives a competitive advantage to U.S. airports. No surprise here. Look for more details in our upcoming August issue. Thanks for reading. jfi