Partnerships key to securing aviation’s benefits, IATA says

 

“Airlines will transport 3.8 billion passengers and 53 million tonnes of air cargo this year. In doing so, they will support some [US] $2.4 trillion in economic activity and some 58 million jobs,” said Tony Tyler, IATA’s director-general and chief executive officer. “In Asia-Pacific, the corresponding numbers are over $700 billion in GDP and 33 million jobs. 

“By 2034, global demand will reach 7 billion passengers, but that demand can only be accommo|dated through a working-together approach by all aviation stake|holders including governments.” 

Tyler made his remarks at the Singapore Airshow Aviation Leadership Summit hosted by |the Singaporean government, Experia Events and IATA. He cited the collaborative event as an example of the working-together approach. 

“It’s great that we are looking |at the challenges of future |growth together with all stakeholders.”

Tyler identified three examples where partnerships are vital to meeting forecast demand for connectivity: safety, sustainability, and infrastructure development.

“Safety is our highest priority, and we are seeing steady progress through our partnership approach involving airlines, airports, air-navigation service providers, manufacturers, governments and other stakeholders. 

“If we look at jet aircraft, in 2015 we had one major accident for every 3.1 million flights. That’s a significant improvement on the five-year average [2010-14] of one accident for every 2.2 million flights. Yet the last two years have also seen events that can only be classified as ‘unthinkable’, including the disappearance of an aircraft, the downing of an aircraft by a missile, and the deliberate destruction of an aircraft by a suicidal pilot. 

“We must add to that the loss of an aircraft in what is suspected of being an act of terrorism.

“There are no simple solutions to the issues raised by these terrible tragedies. But we must honour those who lost their lives, and their friends and loved ones, by rededicating ourselves to making flying even safer. Working with our partners in government and industry will drive improvements based on global standards and best practices.”

On environmental sustainability, Tyler said the aviation industry had adopted a four-pillar strategy based on technology, operations, infrastructure, and market-based measures to address its carbon-dioxide emissions. 

On infrastructure development, Tyler predicted that 3.2 billion new travellers would take to the air in less than two decades. “Of these, 1.8 billion – 56 per cent – will be in Asia-Pacific, the vast majority on routes linked to China. If we can |realise that growth potential, then jobs and economic activity will follow.” 

“By 2034, aviation in the region could be supporting over 70 million jobs and some $1.3 trillion in economic activity. But that’s dependent on the industry having sufficient infrastructure.” 

Tyler said many governments in the Asia-Pacific region valued highly the economic contribution of connectivity enabled by aviation and work to sustain it. However, he cautioned that “it will be a challenge to keep up infrastructure development in line with growing demand – and to ensure that the skies can still operate efficiently as the industry grows”. 

“The [Persian] Gulf hubs already face a similar challenge where much more coordination in airspace |management is needed. Europe probably faces the greatest risk. |Air traffic management is an expensive and disjointed mess as a result of governments’ protection of narrow domestic interests at the expense of continental success. Moreover, a Eurocontrol study estimates that Europeanairports could also face a capacity crunch – with a 12-per-cent shortfall against demand by 2035.”