Aviation
Lanka one of the safest places now - PM
The Prime Minister addressing the International Flight Services
Association |
Addressing the International Flight Services Association ( IFSA) Asia
Pacific Conference commenced on June 07, Prime Minister D. M Jayaratne
said 'you are in one of the safest countries in the world today as this
is a country where terrorism has been completely eradicated and total
peace has been gained'.
He said the Government has now embarked on a massive economic
development which will derive benefits cutting across all communities
and peripherals. The confidence that people have explicitly expressed is
evident in the landslide mandate given to us in both Presidential and
Parliamentary elections'.
'This is a prestigious Conference and we , being the Government arm
for the promotion of Conferences and Exhibitions under the Economic
Development Ministry, provided all the support to the host Sarath
Fernando, CEO of SriLankan Catering Services and his team, not only to
bring the conference into Sri Lanka but also to make it a success by
adding value with a flavour of Sri Lankan Culture' Sri Lanka Convention
Bureau GM Vipula Wanigasekera.
International Flight Services Association caters to the needs and
interests of airline and railway personnel, thus enhancing and advancing
the art of the in flight and railway onboard services.
The Association has created a global forum in this field providing a
variety of services from research to development of this industry. The
conference which is attended by top professionals in the Air line and
relevant industries, will continue until June 9 with educational
sessions, competitions, panel discussions, apart from other formal
activities.
Bronczek is new IATA Chairman - KLMs Hartman to follow in 2011
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that
FedEx Express President and CEO David Bronczek started a one-year term
as the Chairman of the IATA Board of Governors.
FedEx Express President and CEO David Bronczek |
Bronczek succeeds Cathay Pacific Airways CEO Tony Tyler, who served
as Chairman from June 2009.
Bronczek takes on the IATA Chairman duties as the air transport
industry rebuilds in the aftermath of the global financial crisis. IATA
has a crucial role to play.
Along with improving safety and effectively managing the industrys
settlement systems, IATA must play a role in laying the foundation for
sustainable profitability.
We must further reduce costs and improve efficiencies. And we need to
continue to lead the industry on climate change. I look forward to
supporting the immediate challenge of getting a globally inclusive
solution for aviation on climate change at COP-16 and to helping
Giovanni define longer-term goals. These are my priorities, Bronczek
said.
A 34-year veteran of the cargo and air transport industry, Bronczek
has been FedEx Express CEO since 2000.
FedEx is the worlds largest express transportation company and
Bronczek also serves on the strategic management committee for FedEx
Corp.
I will also bring a cargo perspective to my duties as chairman. I
will place a special emphasis on IATAs two flagship cargo programs of
Cargo 2000 and Simplifying the Business. "We must improve quality
through the Cargo 2000 program and focus our efforts on achieving the
cost savings that IATA e-freight can deliver to the cargo value chain as
part of Simplifying the Business", Bronczek said.
IATAs Director General and CEO Giovanni Bisignani said, "First, we
must thank Tony Tyler for a job well done. His leadership over the past
year helped us navigate through one of the most challenging years in
aviation history.
On top of dealing with the financial crises, under Tonys leadership
IATA was also able to achieve an industry-wide consensus on concrete
targets on climate change.
And Tony played an instrumental role in developing our industrys
united strategy and targets on climate change. I look forward to working
closely with David in the coming year to meet our growing challenges
with continued strong industry leadership as we approach COP-16,
Bisignani said.
IATA also announced that the Board of Governors agreed to appoint KLM
CEO Peter Hartman, to serve as Chairman following Bronczeks term.
The announcements were made as the 66th IATA Annual General Meeting
and World Air Transport Summit concluded in Berlin today.
The 600 industry leaders gathered for the event discussed the
industry's most important issues, with executive briefing sessions on
the environment and ways to manage through the crisis. Berlin
IATA unhappy with new German departure tax
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reacted sharply to
the announcement made by the German government of a EUR 1 billion annual
burden on aviation with a new departure tax in Germany.
IATAs Director General and CEO Giovanni Bisignani |
The tax is branded as an environmental initiative.
This is the worst kind of short-sighted policy irresponsibility. Its
a cash-grab by a cash-strapped government. Painting it green adds insult
to injury. There will be no environmental benefit from the economic
damage caused, IATAs Director General and CEO Giovanni Bisignani.
His remarks were made in front of industry leaders gathered as the
66th IATA Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit drew to
a close.
Bisignani highlighted three major concerns with the German proposal.
The proposal should be axed. It is the wrong measure at the wrong time;
and it ignores the lessons learned from the failure of a similar tax in
the Netherlands, Bisignani said.
Climate change is a global issue.
The solution requires a global approach, not uncoordinated regional
taxes. What will this do for the environment? Absolutely nothing. If the
Chancellor is serious about aviation and climate change, the focus
should be on finding a globally coordinated solution at the
International Civil Aviation Organization in advance of the climate
talks in Cancun, Bisignani said.
Airlines have an important role in driving economic growth,
particularly as we struggle to recover from the recession.
This is not the time to burden the aviation industry with more taxes.
European GDP growth is expected to be 0.9 percent this year the lowest
among the worlds major regions. Operating in this environment, Europes
airlines will be the only region in the red with losses of $2.8 billion.
This tax is a body blow to the weak economy and a fragile industry.
And it is a kick in the teeth to travellers at a time when they can
least afford it, Bisignani said.
Even as a cash-grab, the proposed tax makes no sense. The Dutch
government tried to raise EUR 300 million with a similar tax. It cost
the Dutch economy EUR 1.2 billion in lost business. It also failed as an
environmental measure, sending travellers across the border to start
their journey from more tax-sensible regimes. The Dutch had the good
sense to repeal their tax. Why repeat past mistakes? Bisignani
questioned.
TAASL holds AGM in China
The inaugural flight of Sri Lankan Airlines to Shanghai, China will
be on July 1.
The joint Membership of IATA Agents Association of Sri Lanka (IATA -
AASL) and the Travel Agents Association of Sri Lanka (TAASL) will join
Sri Lankan Airlines on its inaugural flight to Shanghai, China.
TAASL will be holding its 35th Annual General Meeting and IATA-AASL
will be holding its 22nd Annual General Meeting in Shanghai, which is
scheduled for the July 01, and around 150 are expected to participate.
TAASL President V. Mahathevan, and IATA - AASL President Bernard
Wijetunge, are grateful to the National Carrier, CEO Manoj Gunawardena
and his team for making this event possible for all the Travel Agents in
Sri Lanka. |