Airport Development Group picks Infor for systems overhaul

Airport Development Group has selected Infor to support a transition of its enterprise systems across its aviation, hotels, infrastructure and property operations.

The project forms part of a broader programme to modernise core systems and align operational and reporting functions across the business.

Airport Development Group manages Darwin International Airport, Alice Springs Airport and Tennant Creek Airport. Over time, it identified a need to update systems to better connect key business processes and reduce reliance on manual workarounds.

Infor CloudSuite Public Sector has been chosen for the work. The platform is intended to streamline business processes, improve visibility across operations and strengthen reporting in a heavily regulated sector.

The rollout will take place in stages, with an initial go-live expected from December 2026. Airport Development Group is also considering extending the platform into other parts of the business.

The project reflects the group's activities beyond airport management. Alongside its aviation assets, it has investments in tourism, hospitality and commercial property, creating a more complex operating environment for finance, reporting and internal coordination.

Backed by joint owners IFM Investors and Palisade Investment Partners, Airport Development Group oversees assets approaching AUD $3 billion in value. It has operated in the Northern Territory for more than 25 years and contributes about AUD $667 million a year to the local economy.

Infor, which is owned by Koch, supplies business software to organisations in sectors including government and other regulated industries. More than 60,000 organisations in over 175 countries use its products, according to the company.

Systems transition

For Airport Development Group, the decision points to a need for tighter integration across a business spanning transport infrastructure and commercial operations. Airport operators face reporting, governance and operational demands that often cut across finance, assets, property management and customer-facing activities.

The choice of a public sector-focused product also suggests an emphasis on controls and reporting as the company updates its internal systems. In regulated infrastructure businesses, management teams often seek to replace patchwork processes that build up over time as operations expand into adjacent sectors.

Tony Edmondstone, chief executive officer of Airport Development Group, outlined the rationale for the move.

"Infor provides the capability to support the next phase of our systems transition," Edmondstone said. "As the operational landscape continues to evolve, it is important that our internal systems can support the breadth of our activities across aviation, hotels, infrastructure, and property. The platform will assist in improving integration across our business and enhancing the way we capture and report operational data."

Infor described the agreement as part of Airport Development Group's effort to gain a more connected view of operations, with governance and reporting central to the project.

"We're pleased to work with ADG as they progress their systems transition," said Aidan Brecknell, Vice President & Managing Director, Infor ANZ. "Infor CloudSuite Public Sector will provide a more integrated view of operations, helping support governance, reporting and operational visibility across the organisation."

Airport Development Group operates under Australia's airport privatisation framework through long-term leases. Its portfolio and ownership structure place it among the more significant privately run infrastructure groups in the Northern Territory.

The company's expansion into hotels, property and tourism has broadened its business model beyond airport operations. That diversification can create additional revenue streams, but it also adds complexity to internal systems, particularly where separate business units need consistent reporting and shared operational data.

The staged implementation, with the first go-live expected from December 2026, indicates a phased approach rather than a single cutover. Such transitions are commonly used to reduce disruption in businesses where day-to-day operations span critical infrastructure and customer services.