Page 12 - AAA SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015 Online Magazine

INTERVIEW AAPA

Future is Bright

Asia Pacific travel demand projected to grow at 5% to 6% annually over the next two decades
By Jay Menon

ThE ASSOCIATION OF ASIA PACIFIC body is closely involved in a wide range Excerpts from the interview:
Airlines 59th Assembly of Presidents will of industry activities relating to safety
be held in Bali, Indonesia on November performance improvement, including the AAA: This year’s annual AAPA Assembly
12-13, hosted by Garuda Indonesia as exchange of information on safety related of Presidents is being held in Bali. As we
AAPA Chairman for 2015. incidents, best practices, and prioritising know, safety records in the region is a
The annual AAPA Assembly of areas requiring specific attention. concern and especially Indonesia has a
Presidents is the major event on the very poor airline safety records. So how
AAPA calendar which sees the chief does the airline body plan to review this?
executives of member airlines and
other senior members of industry hERDMAN: We continue to track the
stakeholders gathered together for a day industry safety performance, with a
of networking, brainstorming on industry particular focus on the Asia Pacific
issues, and high-level discussions. The region, using a variety of data sources.
primary purpose of AAPA is to serve as The industry continues to maintain a
a common forum for the articulation of trend of continuous improvements in
views on matters and issues of common overall safety performance, through
interest to the Asia Pacific aviation cross-industry collaboration involving
industry; to foster close cooperation airlines, manufacturers, airports,
with other relevant stakeholders; and air navigation service providers, and
to encourage the successful evolution regulatory authorities. AAPA is closely
of the travel and tourism industry as a involved in a wide range of industry
key contributor to economic, social and activities relating to safety performance
cultural development. Ahead of the Bali improvement, including the exchange of
conference, Andrew Herdman, Director information on safety related incidents,
General of AAPA tells Jay Menon of Asian best practices, and prioritising areas
Airlines and Airports that the airline Andrew Herdman, Director General of AAPA requiring specific attention. The aviation
12 ASIAN AIRLINES & AIRPORTS SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2015 WWW.ASIANAIRLINES-AIRPORTS.COM