IATA urges Asia Pacific aviation leaders to focus on airport and ATM infrastructure

IATA urged (09-Nov-2012) Asia Pacific aviation leaders to focus on airport and ATM infrastructure as the region's demand for connectivity continues to grow. IATA director general and CEO Tony Tyler said "ensuring the timely development of sufficient and cost-efficient infrastructure capacity is a priority for the continued successful growth of air transport in Asia-Pacific." He noted aviation is "a vital part of Asia's economy, supporting 24 million jobs and nearly half-a-trillion dollars of GDP. Connectivity, facilitated by aviation, is a critical link to markets and a generator of wealth - both material and of the human spirit". Mr Tyler outlined the following areas for development:

• Airports: IATA advocated for a "prudent approach" to private investment in the development of airport infrastructure to support demand growth in the Asia Pacific region. The comments come amid an emerging trend for governments in Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines to consider the participation of private investors as they plan for the development of airport infrastructure. Mr Tyler said that there have been "enough mistakes made" when engaging the private sector in airport development and these should not be repeated;
• Air traffic management: IATA urged cross-border regional thinking for the development of Asia Pacific's ATM infrastructure. Mr Tyler said the Asia Pacific is "not immune to air traffic congestion issues, and these will grow acute if they are not well-managed with a regional perspective". IATA's 'Seamless Asian Sky' initiative is helping to harmonise procedures and interoperable technology between states. Mr Tyler urged the industry to take on a leadership role in the further development of a regional approach to ATM in Asia Pacific;
• Performance: IATA's latest estimate for global airline net profit is USD4.1 billion in 2012, on expected revenues of USD636 billion. IATA reported the industry's net margin will decline from 1.4% in 2011 to 0.6% in 2012. Asia Pacific airlines are expected to deliver a combined profit of USD2.3 billion in 2012, in line with the industry trend, the figure is less than half of the USD5.3 billion profit the region posted in 2011. [more - original PR]