Page 38 - AAA NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2015 Online Magazine

COLUMN TONY TYLER

Asia’s Aviation

Infrastructure Challenge

The Asian travel experience is certainly among the most pleasant in the world. But it will not
stay that way without continuous hard work, strategic investment and regional cooperation

BY 2034, 7.3 BILLION AIRLINE PASSENGERS Historically, the Asia-Pacific region has would also help. In the first instance that
globally are expected to take to the skies. shown leadership on infrastructure. It is means giving airlines more options to plan
That is more than double the 3.5 billion home to several of the world’s best and their flight routes in light of prevailing weather
passengers that will travel by air in 2015. biggest airports. The Asian travel experience and traffic conditions. If that is combined
Building the infrastructure to meet this is certainly among the most pleasant in the with “flow management” techniques, there
growing demand for people and businesses world. But it will not stay that way without would be a further efficiency dividend from
to connect by air is a global challenge. But continuous hard work, strategic investment greater predictability.
the pressure is most intense in the fast and regional cooperation. This will be a big undertaking and we
growing Asia-Pacific region, where airports Singapore, Hong Kong and Seoul are will not have a solution overnight. But I
and skies will need to be able to handle 2.5 legendary for great passenger experiences. am confident that with the continued and
billion more passengers than they do today. But there are some regional bottlenecks to concerted focus on efficiency, it will not be
The center of gravity for global aviation is sort out. Asia’s increasingly crowded skies too long before the bottlenecks in China’s
moving east. By 2030, the Asia-Pacific region also need attention. Some $3 billion is airspace are freed up.
will have surpassed both North America and being invested across the region to improve In the meantime, the question that
Europe in terms of passenger numbers. And air traffic capacity and management. The all governments in the region should be
by 2034, one in every five air travelers will be Seamless Asian Sky project will be key to considering is how to link their economies
traveling to, from, or within China. getting the most out of these ambitious to each other even more efficiently through
The industry’s growth holds big economic spending plans. Depending on how you aviation. There is no off-the-shelf solution,
promise. We are already seeing it today. The define “Asia-Pacific”, there are up to 41 but there are some strategies which have
industry supports over 24 million jobs across air navigation service providers, mostly been proven effective.
the Asia-Pacific region, with a total economic nationally based. Many journeys require The first is for governments to
impact exceeding $500 billion. Every new airlines to fly through airspace managed by understand the importance of air connectivity
traveler brings an economic opportunity and multiple providers. The Seamless Asian Sky built on global standards and to include it as
any curb on growth because of infrastructure project has the common-sense aim of using a priority in their economic strategies. This is
constraints is a lost opportunity. joined-up thinking to make it as safe and happening in some parts of the Asia-Pacific
All the region’s aviation infrastructure efficient as possible to fly across the region region, but this is not universal.
will come under increasing demand as the and into adjacent airspace as well. A second strategy is to work in
Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ There is one market in Asia that towers partnership. The better the understanding
single aviation market policy comes to above all others in scale. Nearly 70,000 between governments and industry, the more
fruition. Every market that has liberalized flights a week operate to, from or within effective infrastructure investments will be.
has seen an economic boost as people’s mainland China. That is about 10% of the This will help ensure that infrastructure
needs for connectivity were fulfilled. global total. Although much progress has capacity is able to meet growing demand.
There is no reason to believe that the been made to improve the efficiency of And it will help to build up cutting edge
ASEAN experience will be any different. And China’s air traffic management, flight delays global-standard processes that deliver both
the biggest economic benefits will accrue to in China are still a major issue. The cost efficiency and convenience.
those that are most prepared. of the frustration to both passengers and The Asia-Pacific region has great
Forward-thinking policies to free up airlines airlines is real in terms of lost productivity. potential. A strategic policy approach and
to pursue business where demand exists are Without compromising on safety, true partnerships are the way to ensure the
only part of the path to success. Cost-efficient urgent solutions for China delays are region derives the full benefits of expected
infrastructure must be available to accommodate both needed and possible. Much more traffic growth.
demand. And, of course, the fiscal regime capacity could be made available through
must support business growth. Ill-conceived better sharing of airspace between Tony Tyler is director general and CEO of the
taxes will quickly short-circuit the benefits of civilian and military operations and by International Air Transport Association, the
healthy, connected and growing economies for opening domestic routes to international global airline trade association, and former
governments, consumers and businesses alike. operations. Flexibility and predictability CEO of Cathay Pacific Airways
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