Aviation and the economy: How airports can strengthen their partnerships with express airlines for the greater economic good

The aviation sector is crucial to the global economy, and this makes the collaborative relationship between airports and airlines all the more critical for wider economic development. This paper examines, through a FedEx Express perspective, why partnerships between airports and airlines need to be strengthened, and how this can be achieved, with a primary focus on the express business and the unique customer demands that FedEx experiences. It will look at the importance of these long-term airport–airline relationships for the benefit of economic growth and how they can facilitate trade, investment and overall competitiveness. It also provides advice for airports seeking to better align themselves with the needs of an express airline; outlines best practice for understanding the challenges experienced by FedEx; and recommends how, as a result, airports can position themselves more competitively. Enabling airports to gain a more comprehensive view of these partnerships and the need for the right delivery systems and regulatory environment will cultivate the future development of the aviation sector and encourage economic growth.