COVID-19 Carpe Diem Strategy – Airports

Airports have a well-established operation, maintenance, asset inspection, asset rehabilitation and renewal programmes of works.

Airports often have major capital upgrading works planned or in progress. Airports have a range of complex aviation operational requirements they also must comply with.

Airports have operational areas that are very constrained around the ability to complete work whilst the airport is in daily operation.

Airport programme managers, engineers and planners know the complex operating conditions and the amount of liaison and planning that goes into minimising the disruption caused by major works.

This post provides some ideas to think about when applying a Carpe Diem Strategy to Airports

My base assumption is that following COVID-19 lockdowns there will be a period of partial lockdown, and then a full resumption of community use of the Airports.

The assumption is that there will initially be a period of lesser airport usage, and this provides a unique opportunity to complete necessary works, whilst minimising disruption.

Think about pulling forward works to achieve this if it is an option, particularly in the runways and other controlled operational areas. This is a unique opportunity that is unlikely to be replicated.

Here in New Zealand, the four-week community lockdown provides the opportunity for:

• Planning
• Engineering design
• Consultation with the airlines and other airport users
• Proposal review and approval
• Contract development and letting
• Pre-construction mobilisation

to occur in preparation for any works that you want to achieve in the following partial lockdown periods.

Can I encourage you to seize the day and use this unique opportunity to get ahead of work and prepare for the welcome resumption of full airport usage?

Today in New Zealand it has been interesting to observe that Auckland International Airport Limited (a public listed company and New Zealand’s largest airport) has postponed all of its planned new capital works programmes and cancelled deployment of contractors to the projects.

This is due to future income stream uncertainty, and the decision may carry the risk of the contractors being unavailable when required for works in the future.

At the same time, Auckland International Airport Limited has seized the day and is completing urgently needed main runway maintenance and road maintenance repairs whilst the airport is effectively closed. This is just the sort of response that a Carpe Diem Strategy anticipates.

If you are an airport owner or operator, and you are thinking about implementing a Carpe Diem Strategy please do not forget your various contractors and service providers.

They need work and income as much as anyone else over the next few months. 

If there is no work provided this increases with the risk that they will not be available when you need them going forward. 

Please communicate with them, share your plans, indicate what work will be required and when so that they can plan to assist you as required.