INTERNATIONAL. We are delighted to bring you a special publication dubbed International Airports Day – The Moodie Davitt Report’s own celebration of the fascinating world of airports, those great crossroads of humanity that also serve as ampitheatres of commerce and culture.
In association with Dubai Airports, operator of the world’s busiest international airport, Dubai International, The Moodie Davitt Report is proud to unveil this charity* publication. We’ve also created a special make-over of our home page to mark the occasion.
Why 17 December? Because on that day in 1903 – 115 years ago today – Wilbur and Orville Wright made their inaugural flight at Kitty Hawk in the USA with their first powered aircraft. The Wright brothers had invented the first successful airplane and the aviation sector has never looked back since.
The special pictorial edition of The Moodie Davitt e-Zine honours the wonderful world of airports and all they stand for and contribute to mankind.
Airports Council International Director General Angela Gittens has provided the foreword while Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths has also written an editorial leader.
“Airports have become the crossroads of global convergence,” writes Griffiths. “They are now so much more than infrastructure, businesses, or gateways. They reflect, and project, the vibrancy and character of nations, cities and communities, and contribute economically and socially to human progress.
“The unique ability which airports have to bring people of all backgrounds together for a common purpose is what keeps this industry vital, and so it is only fitting that we officially mark this day as International Airports Day.”
Angela Gittens writes: “Airports have evolved into vibrant, innovative and competitive businesses focused on meeting the needs and expectations of billions of travellers in partnership with a variety of commercial partners. Today’s airports are engines of growth – they’re big employers, sources of diverse economic activity, and providers of wider catalytic economic benefits across the globe. Of the 10 million people that aviation directly employs globally, six million are situated at airports.”
“This project serves as a unique celebration of airports worldwide,” adds The Moodie Davitt Report Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie, who conceived the project. “We’ve received some amazingly evocative contributions from airports, big and small, around the globe and the finished product is a celebration of what airports contribute to our world.
“I have always been fascinated by what airports do but more importantly by what they represent – a constantly evolving melting pot of nationalities and cultures; a fusion of business and pleasure; a whirring blend of emotions from the joy you see in arrivals to the sadness one so often witnesses in departures.
“We plan to mark this landmark day every year in the same way and in fact grow it so that International Airports Day actually becomes an established landmark in the aviation calendar. We’re thrilled that Dubai Airports, operator of the world’s busiest international airport, shares our vision.”
Footnote: Any airports that did not submit photos for inclusion can still do so by e-mailing Martin Moodie at Martin@MoodieDavittReport.com
*Charity focus: The Moodie Davitt Report is donating all advertising sales in the publication to our nominated 2019 charity, Friends International.
Friends International will be the beneficiary of The Moodie Davitt Report ‘Duty Calls’ Charity Dinner in Singapore on 11 May (the eve of the TFWA Asia Pacific show) and other fundraising activities planned throughout 2019.
Note to airports: Any airport yet to contribute can still be included in this publication if they act quickly. Please send a SINGLE great image (hi-resolution please as each will be full-screen) that encapsulates something unique, memorable or indicative about your airport, together with very short explanatory text, to Martin Moodie at Martin@MoodieDavittReport.com. Airports can also send videos (with similar or different subject matter).
