ACI ASIA-PACIFIC NEWS

Vivian Fung rounds up all the latest news from ACI Asia-Pacific, including a report on its participation at the 53rd ICAO Conference of Directors General of Civil Aviation, Asia and Pacific Region.

A busy few months for ACI Asia-Pacific culminated in representing the interests of our member airports at the 53rd ICAO Conference of Directors General of Civil Aviation, Asia and Pacific Region, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, this August.

The annual summit attracts civil aviation policymakers from 38 states across the Asia-Pacific region and the theme of this year’s event was the all-encompassing topic of ‘Fostering a Safe, Secure and Efficient Aviation System In An Eco-friendly Environment With No Country left Behind’. 

Over 300 delegates were in attendance to listen and take part in debates that focused on ICAO’s five strategic objectives – safety; security and facilitation; navigation capacity efficiency; environmental protection; and air transport economics.

Three Information Papers were submitted by ACI covering Airport Excellence (APEX) in Safety, APEX in Security and Airport Carbon Accreditation. The documents provided an update on the programmes and solicited support from the civil aviation regulatory
bodies in the region.

Inaugural ACI Asia-Pacific Economics Review 

A key economic initiative of the Regional Office is to develop regionalised analysis and reports and advocacy material for members in response to specific policy issues. 

This commitment has led to the compilation of the inaugural ACI Asia-Pacific Economics Review by our Regional Economics Committee. 

Covering the year 2015, the report is designed to share high-level regional insights and summaries on airport economics matters with members through the analysis of data obtained from ACI surveys and public sources. It also aims to provide pointers in specific areas for further studies.  

World Aviation Hub Conference

Regional director, Patti Chau, was on the road again in late June attending the World Aviation Hub Conference organised by Incheon Airport, where she gave a keynote address on the state of the industry. 

On airport capacity, Chau noted: “In less than two decade’s time, some 45% of global traffic is forecast to be coming from emerging markets, but many of these countries lack the funding [to develop their airports] or simply the permission to grow.  

“If these countries are to fully realise aviation’s potential as a driver of economic and social progress, the right investments in infrastructure, capacity building, safety, security, and efficiency need to be made.”