The Airport Facilities Council of the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) has named its second annual Airport Facilities Management Excellence Award winners. Representatives from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, San Diego International Airport, and others were recognized during IFMA’s World Workplace 2008 Conference & Expo in Dallas, TX.
Airport facility personnel work behind the scenes to improve passenger comfort by ensuring that everyday activities—such as airfield operation and airport renovation and maintenance—go smoothly and efficiently. In an effort to recognize their hard work and encourage excellence in airport facilities across the globe, the council sought to highlight worthy facility management teams.
“The people at these airports work every day to make sure the travel and working experiences of others are the best they can possibly be. Their contributions often go completely unnoticed—unless something goes wrong,” said Wayne S. Harvey, CFM, LEED-AP, president of the Airport Facilities Council. “The intent of these awards is to recognize them for all the times things go right and provide examples for others to learn from.”
A panel of IFMA Airport Facilities Council judges used a points system to determine award winners in categories based on the airport’s number of annual passengers. Award submissions were evaluated using five criteria: leadership, innovation, sustainability, customer service, and operational efficiency. The competition was open to all airports regardless of their membership in IFMA or the Airport Facilities Council.
The Seattle-Tacoma International Airport received first place in the Greater than 30 Million Annual Passengers Served category, with the Greater Toronto Airports Authority—which manages Toronto Pearson Airport—receiving second place.
The Salt Lake City Department of Airports—which oversees three airports throughout Utah—won first place in the 20-30 Million Annual Passengers Served category.
The San Diego International Airport received first place in the 10-20 Million Annual Passengers Served category, and for the second year in a row, Oregon’s Eugene Airport won first place in the Less than One Million Annual Passengers Served category.
Formed in 2003, the Airport Facilities Council seeks to address the challenges of managing airports in a global economy, with a focus on benchmarking, security practices, business development, and emergency/disaster planning.
