By Mohammad Shoeb
DOHA: The Middle East region is leading the world in terms of passenger demand growth, which is expected to expand at the rate of 4.6 percent annually for over the next two decades, a top official of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said yesterday.
“The region will become a market of 383 million passengers,” said Tony Tyler, Director General and CEO of IATA.
Tyler, while speaking at the Arab Air Carriers Organisation’s (AACO) Annual General Meeting at Jeddha, added: “This (growth) will increase the Middle East’s importance in aviation affairs. Such rapid growth will require cooperation and visionary planning to manage (the industry).”
The AACO’s AGM was organised with a theme: ‘1001 Nights to Transform Air Transport in the Middle East’. “‘My favourite of the 1001 Nights’ tales is the voyage of Sinbad. Aviation in the Middle East is on an exciting voyage of its own. And it is one that, like Sinbad’s, is not without uncertainty and difficulties. Let’s focus our efforts so that the next 1001 Arabian nights put in place the foundations for the next chapter of glorious aviation growth in the Middle East,” said Tyler.
He called for specific actions to be taken in several important areas, including security, safety, air traffic management among others, over the next ‘1001 Nights’ (to September 2018). He noted that more airports in this region should be working with the industry on the ‘Smart Security’ programme to improve the efficiency, effectiveness and experience of passenger security.
He said passengers benefitting from the information that they provide with more efficient facilitation, especially at border control and more relevant information on conflict zones being shared by governments with airlines
On safety issues, Tyler said that with security, the top priority should be an accident-free 1001 nights. “A key and concrete step for this region would be to increase the level of compliance with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards and its recommended practices.”
He also highlighted that at present the average rate of compliance for the region is 68 percent. The goal should be for 80 percent of audited Arab states to match today’s 68 percent benchmark by the end of 2018.
On Air Traffic Management (ATM) system, he stressed that it is an issue of pressing concern, and capacity has not kept pace with the growth in demand, which is leading to significant delays.
“Nobody is challenging sovereignty. States need to work together so that aircraft can get from A to B as efficiently as possible. The specific achievements which would be most useful by the middle of 2018 would be for the airspace over the Saudi Empty Quarter to be opened up, and for traffic flow in the Muscat FIR to improve,” he added.
“Air navigation service providers should establish a mechanism to measure ATM system performance against user expectations.”
Suggesting for a change in regulatory framework, he said that the opportunity for the next 33 months is to achieve a consistent, coherent regional approach to regulation following principles that ensure fair and responsible treatment. “We should also press governments to recognise that airlines operate in a competitive market where keeping customers loyal is business-critical and good service is essential,” Tyler said.
The Peninsula
By Mohammad Shoeb
DOHA: The Middle East region is leading the world in terms of passenger demand growth, which is expected to expand at the rate of 4.6 percent annually for over the next two decades, a top official of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said yesterday.
“The region will become a market of 383 million passengers,” said Tony Tyler, Director General and CEO of IATA.
Tyler, while speaking at the Arab Air Carriers Organisation’s (AACO) Annual General Meeting at Jeddha, added: “This (growth) will increase the Middle East’s importance in aviation affairs. Such rapid growth will require cooperation and visionary planning to manage (the industry).”
The AACO’s AGM was organised with a theme: ‘1001 Nights to Transform Air Transport in the Middle East’. “‘My favourite of the 1001 Nights’ tales is the voyage of Sinbad. Aviation in the Middle East is on an exciting voyage of its own. And it is one that, like Sinbad’s, is not without uncertainty and difficulties. Let’s focus our efforts so that the next 1001 Arabian nights put in place the foundations for the next chapter of glorious aviation growth in the Middle East,” said Tyler.
He called for specific actions to be taken in several important areas, including security, safety, air traffic management among others, over the next ‘1001 Nights’ (to September 2018). He noted that more airports in this region should be working with the industry on the ‘Smart Security’ programme to improve the efficiency, effectiveness and experience of passenger security.
He said passengers benefitting from the information that they provide with more efficient facilitation, especially at border control and more relevant information on conflict zones being shared by governments with airlines
On safety issues, Tyler said that with security, the top priority should be an accident-free 1001 nights. “A key and concrete step for this region would be to increase the level of compliance with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards and its recommended practices.”
He also highlighted that at present the average rate of compliance for the region is 68 percent. The goal should be for 80 percent of audited Arab states to match today’s 68 percent benchmark by the end of 2018.
On Air Traffic Management (ATM) system, he stressed that it is an issue of pressing concern, and capacity has not kept pace with the growth in demand, which is leading to significant delays.
“Nobody is challenging sovereignty. States need to work together so that aircraft can get from A to B as efficiently as possible. The specific achievements which would be most useful by the middle of 2018 would be for the airspace over the Saudi Empty Quarter to be opened up, and for traffic flow in the Muscat FIR to improve,” he added.
“Air navigation service providers should establish a mechanism to measure ATM system performance against user expectations.”
Suggesting for a change in regulatory framework, he said that the opportunity for the next 33 months is to achieve a consistent, coherent regional approach to regulation following principles that ensure fair and responsible treatment. “We should also press governments to recognise that airlines operate in a competitive market where keeping customers loyal is business-critical and good service is essential,” Tyler said.
The Peninsula
