Burke elected ACI Europe president

Aer Rianta Chief Executive John Burke has been elected President of ACI Europe until June 2004 having served as Vice-President for 2002-2003.

Mr Burke has been Chief Executive of Aer Rianta and a member of the ACI Europe Board since 1998.

He was elected at the group's 13th Annual Assembly in London today.

The ACI membership consists of 535 international airports and airport authorities, running almost 1,400 airports in 168 countries.

Established in 1991, ACI has been called the "voice of the world's airports" in interacting with other world aviation bodies.

Speaking after his election, Burke said : "The relationship between airlines and airports must be about long-term industry cooperation and not be jeopardised and dictated by short-term economic pressures."

"Having effective representation by a professional team in Brussels is paramount to the viability of Europe's airports," he concluded.