IATA encouraged by South African tourism initiatives but urges review of airports and ATM

IATA Director General and CEO Giovanni Bisignani, praised (05-May-2011) South Africa for its "strategic focus on tourism as a key driver in the nation's New Growth Path plan" and urged the government to use "joined-up policy thinking" and take key measures to bolster its air transport sector to achieve the 235,000 new tourism jobs that the government is targeting by 2020. IATA urged a review of South Africa's economic regulation of air transport infrastructure. According to IATA, the regulatory process is allowing Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) to raise its charges by 129% for the 2010-2015 period and for Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) to raise its charges by 71% over the same period. IATA also took aim at the proposed inclusion of aviation in South Africa's carbon tax scheme. [more]