ACI Expands Associate Member Benefits; World Business Partners Membership Program Offers Reciprocal Benefits for both ACI-World and ACI-NA Associate Members.

WASHINGTON -- Airports Council International (ACI) director general, Robert J. Aaronson and ACI- North America president David Z. Plavin today announced that they concluded their collaborative efforts to provide a stronger set of worldwide business opportunities for associate members.

Effective Jan. 1, 2005, Associates enrolled under the ACI-NA Platinum, Diamond, Gold and Silver category levels (formerly known at the ACI-NA region as Board, Leadership, Patron and Sponsor levels respectively) will receive benefits similar to those offered to current World Business Partners. Reciprocally, World Business Partners with the majority of their business revenue generated in North America will receive additional benefits from the ACI-North America region relative to increased promotional opportunities, access to publications, member rates at world and regional conferences, and enhanced leadership opportunities.

"In reviewing our respective associate membership benefits, we saw this as an opportunity to provide our associate members access to increased benefits to them, thus enhancing the value they receive from our global organization," said David Z. Plavin, president ACI-NA North America. "As airports face tough and challenging times, it's important that they obtain the support they need from our associate members. This program has a positive impact on the business that needs to be done at airports, by ensuring that our associate members can make the right contacts at the world's airports," he added.

This consolidation will also allow World Business Partners to benefit from substantially reduced rates in membership to other ACI regions as well as a more efficient accounting process.

"As a leader in the ACI-NA Associates Program, we are pleased to have more access to vital resources and programs affecting the way we do business with airports," said Les Capetta, Senior Vice President, North American Business Development, HMSHost Corporation and Chair of ACI-NA's Associate Program. "Through the North American World Business Partners program's benefits and streamlined administration process, ACI has made it that much easier and efficient for all associate members to participate in activities aimed at fostering the growth of the airport industry as a whole," he added.

ACI-NA associate members represent the wide variety of private industry businesses who provide products, equipment, and services to ACI-NA member airports and the aviation industry. Since its inception in 1988 ACI-NA Associate membership has experienced a steady growth and increased membership participation. Currently, there are more than 330 firms participating. The ACI World Business Partners program currently includes 275 members.

Editors Note: ACI Chairman, Niels Boserup, President and CEO Copenhagen Airports will include remarks on the consolidation at ACI-NA's upcoming annual conference and exhibition scheduled for Sept. 19-22 in Houston, TX. For more information on the conference please visit http://www.aci-na.org/asp/meetingdetail.asp?art=429.

ACI-NA represents local, regional, state, and national governing bodies that own and operate commercial airports in the United States and Canada. ACI-NA Member airports enplane more than 98% of the domestic, and virtually all of the international airline passenger and cargo traffic in North America. ACI-NA Associates represent a wide variety of businesses that provide products and services to the air transportation industry.