Fukuoka Airport is the first airport in Japan to offer night-time wedding shoots to couples

“We are the first airport in Japan to offer this and it was so popular that we even have couples flying in from other Japanese cities to take part. Such activities remind local residents of the romance of travel, so that when borders reopen, FUK will be well poised to capture the post-pandemic recovery,” said Teo Chin Leong, FUK’s Chief Commercial Officer (Aero) and Executive Officer and Division Head of Traffic Development Division. 

In addition to wedding photos, FUK also launched the Fukuoka Airport Open Top Bus tour last year, allowing the public in Fukuoka to tour the airport’s airside, and take photos of aircraft on the tarmac, as well as planes landing and taking off. FUK is the first airport in Japan to offer such tours using open-top buses. Similar to the wedding photos event, the tour was well received and saw take up rates of more than 80 percent.

Fukuoka Airport’s open-top bus tours at the airside

Chin Leong added, “Through these activities, we create opportunities for non-passengers to soak up the charm of the airport and at the same time, deepen our engagement with the local community, which will no doubt go a long way in building brand love.”

Over in Brazil, RIOgaleao, the airport operator of Tom Jobim International Airport in Rio de Janeiro, inked a three-year partnership with organiser Stock Car Pro Series and hosted the Stock Car race at the airport’s runway in April this year. It was a highly-anticipated event that returned to the city after a 10-year hiatus. 

The Stock Car race that took place at Tom Jobim International Airport was a highly anticipated event that helped the airport maintain top-of-mind recall. 

Jimmy Oh, CAI’s General Manager, Brazil, said, “The event required extensive preparation of the airside, and CAI is proud that the management at our affiliate airport pulled this off successfully, earning praise from the local community. The event was a huge success – not only did it generate buzz among the local community, it also helped Tom Jobim International Airport maintain top-of-mind recall.”  

Over in the Philippines, when gatherings and live shows were restricted in the nation’s capital at the height of the pandemic, the popular television variety show Wowowin faced the prospect of having to suspend their daily show. Clark International Airport (CRK) offered their new Terminal 2 as a venue for the show to continue, as it was situated outside the National Capitol Region and was subjected to a less stringent lockdown. Hosted by game show host Willie Revillame and Kris Aquino, the show was recorded live and aired on national television, providing entertainment and lifting of spirits at a time when the pandemic cast a pall over residents’ mental well-being.

Philippines' popular television variety programme held their daily show at Clark International Airport.

CRK’s Departure Hall, which boasts of a high ceiling made of glulam (laminated timbre that is three times stronger than steel), was also used as the runway for segments of the Ms. Universe Philippines preliminary competition.

Andrew Tan, CAI’s Director and Head of Airport Operations, said, “In many countries, airports can be a cause of friction in the community if operations are not as smooth, or if socio-environmental factors such as road congestion and aircraft noise become too overwhelming for nearby residents. Large-scale events, when executed well, can definitely turn the airport into a national icon that the locals will be proud of.” 

Changi Airports International (CAI), the consultancy and investment arm of Changi Airport Group, has been consulting for airports worldwide, including those mentioned above. As a leading airport investor, manager and consultant in the global aviation market, CAI has extensive experience in over 20 countries and more than 60 airports. To find out more about CAI's consultancy services, email: consulting@cai.sg