DEAR ACI MEMBERS AND COLLEAGUES,
We are very proud to announce that Aeroporto di Palermo are honoured and privileged to host the 13th Airports Council International Europe Regional Airports’ Conference & Exhibition (ACI EUROPE RACE) which is taking place in late March 2022.
As you know, this event was supposed to take place in 2020 and we all know the reasons why it was postponed.
We have all suffered, along with our staff, from the effects of the pandemic in terms of our airports, our passengers, families and the global community.
But now it is time to come out of the darkness and build back better and greener (as the title of the conference claims) but let me also say also: together!
We missed, for quite a long time, the opportunity to meet in person and we, in Palermo, are very pleased to host an event that will probably be, for many, the first time attending an industry event in person and, for sure, the very first ACI EUROPE RACE in person.
Although the pandemic is not yet absent from our lives, we all now have a much better set of procedures and tools (of course the vaccines, tests etc.), for guaranteeing safety for all participants and letting them enjoy, once more, spending time with their friends and colleagues.
We will, as per usual at ACI events, learn from each other’s experiences and hopefully also enjoy a treasure chest of history, architecture, food and arts in the city of Palermo.
The conference will take place in the heart of the city in the most important historical and artistic location of this old Mediterranean capital. You will enjoy the historical centre of Palermo while walking (if you so wish) in its streets on your way to the Teatro Massimo or the Royal Palace (The 11th Century treasure – Normans Palace) where most of the conference will take place.
We believe that during the pandemic regional airports played an even more important role than before as they have become central to the new intense development of the movement of people due to the dominance of domestic travel over international travel. Most of the time, notwithstanding the challenging times, regional airports have succeeded in reshaping their businesses and operations while also looking at future developments. We have learnt new lessons and addressed many new questions which have arisen.
The ACI RACE event in Palermo is a great opportunity for us all to share what we have learnt during the pandemic and try to cope with the new questions that have arisen about opportunities in the future.
We look forward to meeting and welcoming you to Palermo and sharing with you this next ACI RACE event.
Natale Chieppa
Managing Director
Giovanni Battista Scalia
Chief Executive Officer
