AACO: Tyler sets region 1001 Arabian Nights target for aviation performance

Speaking at the AACO Annual General Meeting in Jeddah today, Tyler said that while AACO was celebrating its golden anniversary and that some of the carriers in the supper-connectors in the Gulf – were enjoying “golden times”, there are many others in the Middle East and North African region that was not enjoying the same success.
Using the voyage of Sinbad from the tales of the Arabian Nights as an example, he outlined some key short-term objectives for aviation in the Middle East.
“As a region, the Middle East is leading the world with passenger demand expected to expand 4.6% annually for the next two decades. It will become a market of 383 million passengers,” he said. “This will increase the Middle East’s importance in aviation affairs. Such rapid growth will require cooperation and visionary planning to manage
Aviation in the Middle East is on an exciting voyage of its own. And it is one that, like Sinbad’s, is not without uncertainty and difficulties. Let’s focus our efforts so that the next 1001 Arabian nights put in place the foundations for the next chapter of glorious aviation growth in the Middle East,” said Tyler.
The IATA chief called for specific actions to be taken over five key areas areas over the next ‘1001 Nights’ – a deadline of September 2018. They were security, safety, air traffic management, regulatory and sustainability.
Detailing each of the four areas, Tyler called for:
Security:
• More airports in this region working with the industry on the Smart Security program to improve the efficiency, effectiveness and experience of passenger security
• Passengers benefitting from the information that they provide with more efficient facilitation, especially at border control
• More relevant information on conflict zones being shared by governments with airlines

Safety:
• As with security, the top priority should be an accident-free 1001 nights.
• A key and concrete step for this region would be to increase the level of compliance with ICAO standards and recommended practices.
• At present the average rate of IOSA compliance for the region is 68%. The goal should be for 80% of audited Arab states to match today’s 68% benchmark by the end of 2018.

Air Traffic Management:
• ATM is an issue of pressing concern. Capacity has not kept pace with the growth in demand, which is leading to significant delays.
• Nobody is challenging sovereignty. States need to work together so that aircraft can get from A to B as efficiently as possible.
• The specific achievements which would be most useful by the middle of 2018 would be for the airspace over the Saudi Empty Quarter to be opened up, and for traffic flow in the Muscat FIR to improve.
• Air navigation service providers should establish a mechanism to measure ATM system performance against user expectations.
Regulatory change

• The opportunity for the next 33 months is to achieve a consistent, coherent regional approach to regulation following principles that ensure fair and responsible treatment.
• For example, a focus by Middle Eastern governments on the provision of information, as opposed to regulation, would ensure people have the ability to make well-informed travel choices.
• We should also press governments to recognize that airlines operate in a competitive market where keeping customers loyal is business-critical and good service is essential.
Sustainability
• In September next year the International Civil Aviation Organization will make a decision on a global market-based measure which will make aviation carbon-neutral growth a reality.
• There is lot of difficult work ahead. Failure could lead to an untenable patchwork of regulation, taxes, charges and further onerous measures. To get the best result from governments, the industry must remain united.
• Looking ahead 33 months I hope that we have a solid agreement at ICAO and that preparations are well underway to be ready for carbon-neutral growth in 2020.