ACI renews enhanced long-term partnership with Amadeus
- Partnership includes ASQ awards and Customer Experience Accreditation programme
- Award categories amended to reflect the effect of COVID-19 on customer experience
Montreal, Canada, 2021-Jan-20 — /Travel PR News/ — Airports Council International (ACI) World and Amadeus have today (January 19, 2021) announced a new enhanced long-term strategic partnership to deliver ACI’s world-renowned Airport Service Quality (ASQ) awards and the Customer Experience Accreditation programme.
This renewed partnership comes at a time when it has never been more important for airports to listen to the voice of their customers as they prioritize the changing needs of passengers. This is fitting as Amadeus supports airports with their operations to improve the travel experience for passengers all over the world.
The annual ASQ Awards recognize and reward the best airports in the world and, this year, they also provide an opportunity to celebrate the commitment of airports to listening to passengers and adapting processes and procedures to meet changing expectations of customer experience in response to COVID-19. ACI’s Customer Experience Accreditation programme allows airport management to achieve the highest level of customer experience at their airport.
“ACI’s Airport Service Quality programme is a vital tool for airports as they adapt their processes to ensure health and safety measures and the customer experience continue to meet the changing needs of passengers and lead a recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,” ACI World Director General Luis Felipe de Oliveira said. “Our renewed and enhanced partnership with Amadeus will allow us to recognize and celebrate those airports that best listen to their customers and respond in a way that meets their changing expectations in improving the passenger experience and provide a hygienic and safe airport environment. Partnerships like this one with Amadeus who support airports with their operations to improve the travel experience for passengers all over the world, bring the industry together and are important to move aviation forward during the recovery process and beyond.”
Bruno Spada, EVP Airport IT, Amadeus said: “Airports across the world are adapting the passenger experience to provide a safer, smoother and more streamlined airport journey, from check-in to boarding. New technologies like biometric digital identity and contactless self-service will be integral to helping our industry to rebuild air travel so that it’s better for passengers and stakeholders alike. That’s why we have committed to expanding our partnership with ACI. The Airport Service Quality Awards shine an important light on industry best practice with the Customer Experience Accreditation programme offering a structured path for management teams seeking to hone the knowledge and skills that will be so vital as travel recovers. Amadeus is proud to be working with ACI on these important initiatives.”
To reflect the changing needs and expectations of passengers, ACI has introduced a new award – called the Hygiene Award – which will be based on the score of three new safety and hygiene questions that were added to the tablet version of the ASQ Departure Survey last year. Additionally, ACI has amended some categories and temporarily removed some awards adapting the program to the new reality, matching the needs of our members.
ACI has introduced a new form of recognition – separate from the ASQ Awards – called the Voice of the Customer, which recognizes airports demonstrating significant efforts in gathering passenger feedback to help them better understand their customers during the pandemic.
Notes for editors
- More information about the ASQ programme.
- ACI has temporarily removed the following awards: Most Improved, Best Airport Customer Service, Best Airport Environment and Ambiance, Best Airport Infrastructure and Facilitation, and the Arrivals Award. The Best Airports by Region and Size will remain. More information about the ASQ Awards.
- Airports Council International (ACI), the trade association of the world’s airports, was founded in 1991 with the objective of fostering cooperation among its member airports and other partners in world aviation, including the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Air Transport Association and the Civil Air Navigation Services Organization. In representing the best interests of airports during key phases of policy development, ACI makes a significant contribution toward ensuring a global air transport system that is safe, secure, customer-centric and environmentally sustainable. As of January 2020, ACI serves 668 members, operating 1979 airports in 176 countries.
- Travel powers progress. Amadeus powers travel. Amadeus’ solutions connect travellers to the journeys they want through travel agents, search engines, tour operators, airlines, airports, hotels, cars and railways.
We have developed our technology in partnership with the travel industry for over 30 years. We combine a deep understanding of how people travel with the ability to design and deliver the most complex, trusted, critical systems our customers need. We help connect over 1.6 billion people a year to local travel providers in over 190 countries.
We are one company, with a global mindset and a local presence wherever our customers need us.
Our purpose is to shape the future of travel. We are passionate in our pursuit of better technology that makes better journeys.
Amadeus is an IBEX 35 company, listed on the Spanish Stock Exchange under AMS.MC. The company is also part of the EuroStoxx50 and has been recognized by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the last eight years.
To find out more about Amadeus, visit www.amadeus.com.
Media Contacts:
Anita Berthier
Director, Communications
ACI World
Telephone: +1 514 373 1254
Email: mediarelations@aci.aero
Jennifer Fernandez
Corporate Communications
Amadeus
Telephone: +34 699 854 493
Email: jennifer.fernandez@amadeus.com
Source: ACI World
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