Summary:
- Vantage Airport Group controls a portfolio of small- and medium-sized airports across the North Atlantic;
- Last year Vantage's airports served more than 56 million passengers, travelling on 135 different airlines
- Among the pioneers of the airport privatisation process, in its 23 year history, it has worked with 31 airports, transitioning 20 from public to private management;
- With partner RXR Realty, Vantage was recently selected by JetBlue Airways to lead proposed multi-billion-dollar terminal expansion at New York's John F Kennedy International Airport.
While its name may not be widely recognised with travellers, Vantage was actually one of the first companies to be involved in the global trend of airport privatisation, investment, and management. It was formed in 1994 as Vancouver Airport Services (YVRAS) to market the expertise and airport management techniques honed at Vancouver International Airport.
In its 23 year history, it has worked with 31 airports, transitioning 20 from public to private management and built up strong experience in delivering capital infrastructure and of operating airports around the world. During that time it has managed USD2.5 billion in airport development and construction projects, with a further USD4.75 billion underway, and has led USD6 billion in airport financing.
The Vantage network now spreads from LaGuardia Central Terminal B in New York, NY and Midway International Airport in Chicago, IL in the United States of America (USA) and Fort St. John, B.C.; Kamloops, B.C.; Hamilton, Ontario; and Moncton, New Brunswick in Canada via Nassau, The Bahamas; Montego Bay, Jamaica in the Caribbean to Larnaka and Pafos, Cyprus in Europe's Mediterranean Sea.
Its portfolio was expanded just last month after its JFK Millennium Partners venture, with partner RXR Realty, was selected by US carrier JetBlue Airways to lead the airline's proposed multi-billion-dollar terminal expansion at New York's John F Kennedy International Airport. The project includes new facilities capable of accommodating larger aircraft and providing improved passenger experience.
This adds to its involvement in the operation and redevelopment of LaGuardia's Central Terminal B. Through LaGuardia Gateway Partners and in collaboration with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, it is lending its expertise in airport development, operations and design to what is the largest-ever public-private-partnership in US transportation infrastructure.
The Blue Swan Daily caught up with Jeremy Pennington, director, air service development at Vantage Airport Group, at the recent AIRLINE Total Networking air service development forum in London to find out more about the group's recent successes, future strategy and how it brings a global perspective to air service development.
"There are lots of opportunities globally when it comes to aircraft infrastructure and development … Right now North America and in particular the United States of America (USA) is a key focal market for us," he explained.