Aviation

Air transport:

Positive developments to Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur - Air transport has brought enormous and positive developments to Malaysia. Following international principles with a focus on cost efficiency will help air transport play its role as a catalyst for economic activity even amid the enormous crisis in the global economy.

Efficient air transport improves business competitiveness and supports tourism, said Director General and CEO of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Giovanni Bisignani.

Bisignani identified three priorities in his address to the Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MICCI).

Efficient infrastructure - “Malaysia’s bold move to reduce landing fees at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) by 50 per cent for two years will keep KLIA competitive, supporting Malaysian tourism and international business.

It demonstrates a clear understanding by the government and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad that competitive costs drive traffic and fuel economic activity. Other airports and governments should follow Malaysia’s example, said Bisignani.

Bisignani welcomed the decision to focus efforts on building a strong KLIA hub. In February the Malaysian Government abandoned plans for a second airport in favour of expanding KLIA. The priority must be on providing efficient infrastructure that delivers low costs for all airlines.

Cross-subsidisation is not acceptable. Common facilities and services, such as landing charges and security, must be borne equally and access to all facilities must be open to all airlines. These are United Nations principles agreed at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

“Now Malaysia must build these good decisions with a longer-term strategic plan focused on maximising the economic benefits from its air transport infrastructure investments,” Bisignani said.

Environment: IATA’s four pillar strategy of technology investment, efficient infrastructure, effective operations and positive economic measures is delivering results. In 2009 aviation’s carbon footprint will shrink by 4.5 per cent. Of this, 2.5 per cent derives from capacity reductions. The remaining 2 per cent is a direct result of efficiency gains with the Four Pillar Strategy.

“Each landing with a continuous descent approach has the potential to save between 160 kg and 480 kg of carbon through reduced fuel burn. That is good news for the environment and helps reduce the fuel bill,” said Bisignani.

While the industry struggles with technical achievements, many western governments pile environmentally-branded taxes on travellers. By 2012, the UK’s Air Passenger Duty will add GBP85 to the cost of every Malaysian vacation starting in the UK.

ETS proposals in Europe, the US and elsewhere could add billions more in cost. Each dollar added to the cost of travel to bail-out bankers puts Malaysian tourism jobs at risk. Malaysia must be a strong voice to fulfill the vision of Kyoto with a globally coordinated ICAO solution, said Bisignani.

Commercial freedoms - Airlines cannot take advantage of commercial freedom that other businesses take for granted. Markets are closed until governments negotiate them open, and foreign ownership restrictions have resulted in a hyper-fragmented industry of 3,200 players that is vulnerable to economic shocks.

Airlines facilitated the global village. Because of outdated rules, we are the last to be able to take advantage. This crisis must be an opportunity to modernise, he said.

“ASEAN has missed the December 2008 deadline to open markets between capital cities on a multilateral basis. Malaysia must be a strong voice encouraging ASEAN member states to fulfill their obligations under the ASEAN Roadmap for the Integration of the Air Travel Sector (RIATS) and to meet the 2010 milestone. A single market including ownership liberalisation by 2015 would be a major leadership step forward,” said Bisignani.

The IATA-led Agenda for Freedom initiative has brought together 14 governments and the European Commission in an effort to deliver change to outdated restrictions on ownership and market access that are unique to aviation.

Bisignani is visiting Kuala Lumpur in advance of the 65th IATA Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit which will take place in Kuala Lumpur from June 7-9, 2009. Over 700 aviation leaders from airlines, manufacturers and industry partners are expected to meet in Kuala Lumpur for this event.

“Our Kuala Lumpur Annual General Meeting will be one of the most important ever with critical discussions on key tools to help airlines survive this crisis and build a sustainable and efficient future while opening new commercial opportunities,” said Bisignani.

Kuala Lumpur

Anil Wijesinghe elected SLACA President

The Sri Lanka Airline Cargo Association (SLACA) elected Anil Wijesinghe (Nippon Cargo Airlines) President, Chamara Ranasinghe (Alitalia) Secretary and the Executive committee for the term 2009-2010 at their 21st Annual General Meeting held last month.

Sri Lanka in exports dropped 19 percent in December 2008. This was due to a sharp fall in its main product tea, as well as garments.

This is expected to prevail throughout a greater part of 2009. The challenges are many and as an Association, SLACA can take up issues that will have a positive impact on the industry in the future.

This year under the leadership of its president Anil Wijesinghe and the new office-bearers of the executive committee, SLACA is committed to face the challenges in the ever changing environment and serve the Sri Lanka air cargo industry by driving many an initiative beneficial to all airlines and to the entire industry.

The Association was set up in 1988 and has been involved in the freight industry representing all Cargo Airlines in Sri Lanka. Fellow members represent online and offline carriers. The Association is involved in many Industrial, Social, Charity and Educational programs/ events conducted on behalf of its members.

SLACA represents the airline cargo industry and plays a key role with the relevant authorities whilst contributing and securing many benefits for its membership.

The newly elected committee of SLACA Emirates Sky Cargo (Asst. Social Co-ordinator) Sudath Pathmasiri, Emirates Sky Cargo (Treasurer) Chaminda Perera, Qatar Airways (Asst. Secretary) Soekarno Ousmand, Korean Air Cargo (Vice President - Industrial) Sanjiva Sahabandu, Nippon Cargo Airlines (President) Anil Wijesinghe, Etihad Crystal Cargo (Vice President - Social) Nilan Gunatilaka, Alitalia (Secretary) Chamara Ranasinghe, Cathay Pacific (Social Co-ordinator), Kapila Shanthappriya, Saudi Arabian Airlines (Asst. Treasurer) Jayadeva Abayakoon.

Qatar Airways:

Two new city offices in Germany

Qatar Airways wrapped up its successful participation at the world’s largest travel fair ITB Berlin with two office openings in Germany.

Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Airways Akbar Al Baker inaugurated the new sales and reservations offices in the city centres of Berlin and Munich and hosted a large number of high-profile guests from the travel trade, corporates, media and other business partners.

The launch of the two new city ticketing offices in Germany mark another milestone for Qatar Airways in the German market, where the airline flies 24 times a week to Berlin, Munich and Frankfurt.

Qatar’s Ambassador to Germany Saleh Mohamed Al-Nesef was the guest of honour for the opening in Berlin with Qatar Airways’ CEO Akbar Al Baker, Senior Manager Europe Paul Johannes and Regional Manager Central and Eastern Europe Raymond van der Veer.

The events followed the success of Qatar Airways’ presence at ITB Berlin, which included a press conference highlighting the carrier’s expansion plans to fly to Sydney and Melbourne in Australia; Goa and Amritsar in India; and two new destinations in Europe.

Al Baker said he delighted to offer another facility for the airline’s customers that will make it more convenient to book flights in a more relaxed and stress-free atmosphere: “The opening of two new offices in Berlin and Munich reaffirms Qatar Airways’ commitment to this important market - an area of strategic focus for us. It will enable us to provide clients with the strengths of our global network, and offer excellent levels of hospitality that we are so renowned for worldwide.”

The carrier’s new office in Berlin at the world-famous Potsdamer Platz, and in Munich’s city centre, where the airline has a prime location, has created job opportunities for the German public and has contributed to fostering relations between the two countries.

Berlin/Munich, GERMANY

Emirates unveils E-Zone

Emirates unveiled its unique technology and entertainment corner called e-zone, located in the Business Class Lounge at Terminal 3 of the Dubai International Airport.

e-zone features exciting and exclusive technologies developed in association with Microsoft Gulf at the ‘Dubai Innovation Lab’, including gaming from Xbox 360 and the latest Microsoft Surface computers which will begin selling in some European and Middle Eastern countries. Surface will now be available in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Qatar, Spain, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates and the U.K.

“e-zone is an extremely innovative concept,” said Vice President, IT Strategy and Architecture Emirates Neetan Chopra. Emirates has always been at the forefront of technology advancements for the airline and travel industry. We have invested heavily to ensure our passengers have access to the latest technologies for entertainment and for keeping in touch with their offices or loved ones while travelling.

e-zone is suitable for all ages and features several different technologies including the latest Microsoft Surface computers. Microsoft Surface is capable of recognising objects placed on it, digital cameras, wireless phones, even “tagged” glasses - are recognised and treated as objects of communication with the user.

“Innovation has been a cornerstone of Microsoft’s success across all our businesses,” Director, Enterprise & Partner Group, Microsoft Gulf Ihab Foudeh said.