Key Highlights

• Strengthening international collaboration: Munich Airport welcomed a senior delegation from Chubu Centrair International Airport in Japan to reinforce their long-standing Sister Airport partnership and expand cooperation on innovation, operational excellence and future airport development.
• Focus on digitalisation and automation: Experts from both airports exchanged best practices on autonomous vehicle technologies, smart airside operations, digital passenger processes, capacity planning and infrastructure development.
• Advancing airside innovation: Munich Airport showcased its autonomous cargo transport trials, while Centrair shared progress on its Smart Ramp initiative, highlighting the growing role of automation in airport operations.
• Preparing for future passenger growth: Discussions covered terminal expansion, traffic management strategies and preparations for major international events, including the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.
• Enhancing commercial and operational performance: The partnership also explored commercial development, airport infrastructure projects and strategies to improve passenger experience while supporting long-term sustainable growth.

Munich Airport and Chubu Centrair Expand Strategic Sister Airport Partnership

Munich Airport received a high-level delegation from its sister airport, Chubu Centrair International Airport (Centrair) in Nagoya, Japan, for a multi-day exchange focused on innovation, operational excellence and strategic cooperation. The delegation, led by Centrair President & CEO Hironori Kagohashi, was welcomed by Munich Airport CEO Jost Lammers to further strengthen the longstanding relationship between the two international aviation hubs and deepen cooperation within the Sister Airport partnership.

“I was delighted to meet Hironori Kagohashi, President & CEO of our Sister Airport Chubu Centrair International Airport, in person for the first time,” said Jost Lammers, CEO of Munich Airport. “The exchange once again demonstrated the value of our long-standing partnership. By sharing experiences and learning from one another, we can jointly develop innovative solutions, enhance operational excellence and continuously elevate the travel experience for our passengers. The partnership between Centrair and Munich Airport is a strong example of how airports can create value through international cooperation and prepare airports for the future,” added Lammers. 

The Munich Airport Academy hosted a comprehensive workshop program that brought together experts from both organizations to discuss key developments in airport operations, passenger experience and commercial management.

Topics discussed included long-term capacity planning, Munich Airport’s planned extension of the T-shaped pier at Terminal 2, and strategies for managing seasonal traffic peaks and demand generated by major events. Particular attention was given to preparations for the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, which are expected to create significant additional passenger flows in the region.

In the area of airside innovation, Munich Airport presented insights from its autonomous cargo transport testing activities, while Centrair shared experiences from its Smart Ramp initiative and the deployment of autonomous vehicle technologies.

The exchange also focused on automated passenger processes and Fast Travel solutions, with experts comparing approaches to improving efficiency, throughput and the overall passenger journey. Discussions highlighted how digitalization and automation can help airports manage growing demand while enhancing customer satisfaction.

A further session examined commercial strategy, including advertising, media and parking business models at Munich Airport as well as commercial concepts associated with the airport’s infrastructure expansion projects.

About the Sister Airport Partnership

The Sister Airports are an international network consisting of six airport hubs: Denver International Airport, Chubu Centrair International Airport (Nagoya), Airport of Thailand (Bangkok), Singapore Changi Airport, Beijing Capital International Airport and Airports Company South Africa.