Michael Kerkloh, the president and chief executive of Munich Airport (FMG) is the newly elected president of Airport Council International (ACI) Europe, the umbrella organization of Europe's international airports.
Kerkloh has served on the board of ACI Europe for many years, most recently as the organisation's first vice president. ACI Europe represents the interests of more than 500 airports in 45 European countries.
Said Dr Kerkloh, speaking in Paris shortly after his election: "European airports face major challenges today. These include the escalating capacity crunch at the big European hubs, the steadily rising costs for aviation security, the structural transformation within the airline industry, and the need to cut emissions.
"These issues are at the top of the agenda, and cross-border cooperation among airports will play a key role in addressing them."
Dr Kerkloh recently completed a four-year term as the president of the German Airports Association (ADV) and is a member of the executive committee of the German Aviation Industry Association (BDL).
He has been in charge at Munich Airport since September 2002, serving as FMG’s president and chief executive as well as the company’s labour director.
Under his leadership, Bavaria's gateway to the world has moved up to join the ranks of Europe's top air transportation hubs, with annual traffic exceeding 42m passengers in the most recent operating year.
