This week, Edgo CEO Omar M. Masri, a board member of Airport International Group (AIG), joined the jury panel for the Airport Innovation Days competition. This high-profile event brought together startups from Jordan, France, and Turkey, all focused on developing next-generation solutions for airports and mobility and is designed to showcase innovative ideas from forward-thinking startups, with the aim of shaping the airports of tomorrow.
The event highlighted solutions across four key areas to enhance sustainability and elevate the airport experience: Green Airport, concentrating on decarbonization; Passenger Experience, improving terminal interactions; Airport Operations, optimizing facility management; and an Open Category that welcomed unique, impactful concepts.
After each presentation, the jury asked the presenters a series of pertinent questions. Omar posed various challenging and strategic questions, demonstrating his deep commitment to fostering innovation in the airport sector. Following the presentations, he remarked, “When we first envisioned this competition, the goal was to foster innovation within the airport sector. My passion has always been, and continues to be, driven by nurturing fresh ideas that challenge the status quo. I am thrilled to see this competition come to fruition.”
Given the high quality and impactful presentations, the jury deliberated extensively evaluating each opportunity based on various metrics and criteria. The three winning teams impressed both the jury and audience with projects that aligned seamlessly with AIG’s vision for progressive airport solutions. Their presentations were well structured, insightful, and addressed current industry and global challenges.
Edgo is a founding shareholder of AIG, which was granted a 25 year, Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) concession for the Queen Alia International Airport in 2007. The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) has seen AIG invest over $1 billion for the construction of the terminal building which offers significantly enhanced passenger experiences through upgraded services. Earlier this year, the Government of Jordan approved the extension of AIG’s concession by seven years until the year 2039.