Aviation

Lanka one of the safest places now - PM

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.

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.

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.