BARIG Full Board Finally on Site Again
At the end of the year 2021, which has been marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, BARIG member airlines and partners finally had the possibility to meet in person again and to exchange information directly.
In the course of the BARIG Full Board on November 16, 2021, which had been conducted according to “2G+ regulation” (meaning fully vaccinated or recovered and additionally tested) for the benefit of all participants, all attendees gladly took the opportunity to personally deepen existing business relations within the community as well as to make important new contacts.
With around 80 participants, the event was well-attended and offered a versatile program, including interesting presentations, stimulating conversations, and several networking breaks. A particular focus was put on the round table discussions, which were held for the first time this year. In three exciting panel discussions, experts from various fields of the industry shared their specialist knowledge with the BARIG community. They presented topics and challenges that will play an important role for the airlines not only now, but in the future as well:
Post-COVID Business Management and Opportunities – doing it differently
Society, the economy, and especially the travel and hospitality industry, have suffered tremendously during the COVID-19 crisis. After the immense collapse in 2020, the aviation labor world is now gradually recovering, albeit slowly for the time being. However, several new challenges and changes, such as short-time work, working from home, restructuring and new work processes, continue to determine everyday business activities. What this means for companies in the aviation industry and what solutions are available with the help of innovative, digital processes was discussed by:
- Christian Warneck, Vice President Safe Travel Ecosystem, Amadeus
- Katja H. Brecke, Salary Partner, Arnecke Sibeth Dabelstein
- Arzu Güven, Managing Director, Crowe Frankfurt
- Siiri Palisaar, Senior Director Sales Steering, Lufthansa City Center International
Air Cargo and Logistics Challenges – doing it digitally
Air freight continues to play an essential role for the German economy. This has been particularly evident in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, during which air freight, and the logistics sector as a whole, has become increasingly important. Even though cargo business is currently growing steadily, certain freight and logistics processes urgently need to be digitized and designed more efficiently in order to secure the future of Germany’s position within the aviation industry. Innovative technologies and intermodal connectivity within supply chains offer great potential here. Experienced managers focused on these challenges:
- Max Conrady, Vice President Cargo Development, Fraport AG
- Fabian Heilmann, VP Air Logistics Import Gateways Europe, Kühne+Nagel
- Patrik Tschirch, Managing Director / CEO, LUG
- Henning Dieter, CEO Germany & Austria, Swissport
- Thomas Greger, Deputy Head of the Main Customs Office Frankfurt
Climate Protection in Aviation – doing it efficiently
In order to achieve the ambitious EU target of climate-neutral growth from 2050 onwards, the aviation industry is investing in numerous environmentally friendly technologies and alternative fuels. However, the measures demanded by the EU Commission in the new “Fit for 55” package pose enormous challenges for airlines as well as for the entire industry. In order to avoid competitive disadvantages and their consequences such as carbon leakage and to really contribute to an efficient reduction of CO2 emissions, significantly more support is needed at the political and international level. This was intensively debated by:
- Christine Kranich, Salary Partner, Arnecke Sibeth Dabelstein
- Dr. Christiane Voigt, Head of Department Cloud Physics, DLR
- Siiri Palisaar, Senior Director Sales Steering, Lufthansa City Center International
- Dr. Wolfgang Völl, Partner, Mazars
- Michael Urbaner, Senior Account Director, SITA
- Hans-Ingo Biehl, Executive Director, VDR
Here are some impressions of the BARIG Full Board III/2021:
