Airport Experience® News - ACDBE 2023

DIREC TOR’ S CHA IR

have a vehicle that will bring passengers back and forth. That’s just one aspect. Right now we have under environmental review a new international terminal, a parking structure and a ground transportation center. Our tagline is “So Cal, So Easy,” and we want to make sure that we continue to meet that promise to our customers. WARD: What are you seeing this year in terms of passenger growth: ELKADI: Every month we’ve been anywhere from 7% or more above last year’s numbers. We’re also seeing our airline partners making a lot more seats available. We’re anticipating a very, very busy and exciting summer travel period. WARD: You mentioned a few projects in environmental review. Do you have any major capital projects underway? ELKADI: Our biggest capital project that we’re working on within the terminals is really enhancing our concession space. We just recently partnered with SSP America, who are working with us to enhance our overall concessions program. They’ve added a couple of locations and they’ve got more that they’re working towards in the future. Also, we have Brewery X, a Southern California brewery, opening in Terminal 2. It will feature a Top Golf swing suite that passengers can utilize, so we’ll have a great place to go eat, drink and enjoy the golf. WARD: Is that a SSP America concept or a direct lease? ELKADI: That was a direct negotiation. It’s a little different from the norm because we’re a 50% owner of the brewery in the airport. We’re splitting everything right down the middle with the brewery. We’re confident that Brewery X will be able to handle the operations, but our revenue management team [will be involved]. During COVID, everybody started to look at the concession space a little differently. We want to have skin in the game, and we’re so confident in this being such a hit with our customers that we want to be a part of it. It’s been exciting building the restaurant and working with [the Brewery X team], but at the end of the day we’re still airport operators, we’re not restaurateurs, and we recognize that. If you look at our partnership with SSP, there is no [minimum annual guarantee] involved – it’s strictly a percentage rent deal. We just want to do things differently if it makes sense, and the board has been extremely supportive of us.

Left: One key goal is to keep Ontario International as an easy-in, easy-out airport, an ongoing challenge as traffic continues to grow. Below: With passenger traffic bustling, Ontario International is adding new concessions to meet and exceed traveler expectations.

WARD: You have Hudson as your retail concessionaire. Do you have a MAG on that contract? ELKADI: No, it’s percentage rent as well. The contract was inherited from the previous ownership, but our partnership has been great. They’ve got the ink by Hudson [concept] and then they’re opening up two Evolve stores. WARD: You’ve added lounges as well, correct? ELKADI: Yes, we have two Aspire lounges, one in Terminal 2 and one in Terminal 4. Terminal 2 was our first and is a big hit with our international travelers. We have a direct flight on China Airlines to

Taipei, and the lounge is something those customers truly enjoy. The Terminal 4 lounge is a big hit with our business travelers. WARD: Are there any other developments or new initiatives that you’d like to talk about? ELKADI: One of the great things we did recently is launch this program called ONTPlus. It’s in partnership with TSA. People can go to our website and fill out a form. The receive a QR code on their phone – they can go through security and enjoy waiting for somebody or seeing somebody off, or enjoying any of the restaurants or just being in an airport.

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