November 04, 2024: Mr SGK Kishore, Executive Director and Chief Innovation Officer GMR Airports has been appointed as the new president of Airport Council International (ACI) Asia Pacific & Middle East ( ACI APAC & MID). He succeeds Mr Emmanuel Menanteau, Board Director of Cambodia Airports/Regional Director, VINCI Airports. The new President will assume the charges from 1st January 2025 for a two year term.
Commenting on his new role, Mr. SGK Kishore said, “I am deeply honoured to take on the role of President and to continue the remarkable work of my predecessor, Mr. Emmanuel Menanteau. As we look toward the future, our collective focus will be on driving environmental sustainability, innovation, and ensuring the economic resilience of airports as aviation industry in our region is set for next big phase of growth.”
Congratulating the new President and the newly elected members, Mr. Emmanuel Menanteau, said, “It has been an exceptional two years, during which we’ve made significant steps in advancing our key initiatives and strategic priorities, especially with regard to economic and environmental sustainability of airports. I am grateful to our Board for their support, which has allowed us to strengthen our advocacy across the region. As I hand over the leadership to Mr. Kishore, I am confident that under his guidance, ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East will continue to be a powerful advocate for our region’s airports. I also extend my sincere congratulations to all newly elected Board members.”
As President, Mr. SGK Kishore will be at the forefront of supporting and driving this growth. His leadership will focus on enhancing regional standards, fostering collaboration among members, and addressing challenges unique to this rapidly expanding aviation landscape. This appointment further reinforces India’s influence within ACI APAC & MID, supporting global partnerships that drive innovation, sustainability, and economic progress across member airports.
Indian aviation is one of the fastest growing aviation markets globally. It is currently, the third largest domestic market globally. With the increasing demand, government friendly policies, infrastructure development and cutting edge innovations, the future holds promise. The appointment of Mr. Kishore marks a significant milestone in the Indian aviation industry. It is also a testimony of the game changer that India has been in the aviation landscape and this representation in a prestigious world forum such as ACI APAC & MID is a welcome move. Not only does this reinforce India’s role as a key player in the sector but also will help in addressing challenges and opportunities while fostering collaboration with global players. This new development will reassess India in a renewed light and help India become a global player in such a prestigious world forum.
ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East (ACI APAC & MID) represents the interests of over 600 airports in 47 member countries/territories. The Asia-Pacific & Middle East region is projected to experience rapid growth in air travel, with passenger traffic estimated to grow from the current 3.4 billion to 9.7 billion by 2042—nearly half of global passenger traffic.
This region is not only the largest within Airport Council International (ACI) but also the fastest-growing globally, home to top 10 global fastest growing markets in Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions, underscoring the increasing demand for air travel.
ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East is head-quartered in Hong Kong and has a Middle East office in Riyadh (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia). ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East represents the collective interests of airport members to promote professional excellence in airport management and operations. ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East's mission is to advocate for policies and provide services that strengthen its members’ ability to serve their passengers, employees and stakeholders.