New Sydney Airport chief Geoff Culbert taps into technology

Sydney Airport’s new CEO says he will look to technology to improve the travel experience at the nation’s busiest airport.

New Sydney Airport chief executive Geoff Culbert. Picture: Renee Nowytarger.

Sydney Airport’s new chief executive, Geoff Culbert, says he will look to technology to improve the travel experience at the nation’s busiest airport.

said the airport was focused on helping to further put Sydney “on the global stage”.

“I look forward to continuing to deliver innovative and technology-driven solutions to optimise the efficiency of Sydney Airport and the customer experience,” Mr Culbert said.

Sydney, which has foreshadowed reporting record passenger numbers for 2017, has been investing in a slew of technologies.

These have included allowing passengers to get flight information from Facebook Messenger and Twitter and rolling out in-terminal Google Maps and Baidu Maps (an app that is widely used in China), as well as having displays in the terminal car parks about the time it is set to take to drive to various parts of Sydney. The airport also plans more use of biometrics in passenger processing.

“I’m excited to be on board at Sydney Airport and look forward to working closely with our customers, stakeholders, and government to continue to drive tourism, trade and economic growth, while improving the overall experience at Sydney Airport,” Mr Culbert said.

“Sydney Airport is focused on contributing to the growth of the Australian economy and further positioning Sydney on the global stage by capturing the enormous potential of the global market.”

In a statement to the ASX, Sydney Airport said Kerrie Mather’s retirement as head of the airport took effect yesterday, although she will “support Mr Culbert’s transition into the role” until January 31.

Mr Culbert, who was General Electric’s Australian head, was announced in September after a global search. Ms Mather had announced her resignation at the end of March.

Mr Culbert takes the role at a crucial time. The Productivity Commission is expected to this year review the regulation of airport services, with airlines escalating the battle against airport charges and the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission having signalled it considers that the existing system of monitoring is insufficient.

Last month, Ms Mather indicated that the airport was “on the way to record passenger numbers in 2017”, with total passenger growth at 4.5 per cent for November compared to the same month in the year prior. Last month, Qantas announced its new three-weekly Sydney-Osaka service, a new route for the airport.

The airport is to release its full-year results next month.