By Ma. Cristina Arayata/Philippine News Agency
MANILA — Philippine Airlines (PAL), the only Philippine carrier in the International Air Transport Association (IATA), attended the association’s 75th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit slated from June 1-3 at the COEX Convention Center in Seoul.
The event, which officially opened on June 2, is said to be the world’s largest gathering for the global air transport industry, gathered executives and decision-makers to vote on resolutions and important decisions that impact the industry.
The event is aimed at tackling key issues, particularly in infrastructure, the airline industry is facing. IATA AGM is expected to help transform certain aviation trends, and upgrade the global status of Korea as a major player in the airline industry, according to the event’s host, Korean Air.
“IATA airlines discuss common issues of concern, but never about pricing or markets as these are strictly not allowed,” Jose Perez de Tagle, PAL vice president for communications, told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Monday.
About 1,000 airline executives and aircraft manufacturers attended the 75th AGM.
“This year, airlines discussed the challenges of airport infrastructure around the world; digital innovations that can revolutionize the future of air travel; urgent environmental issues; and many others,” de Tagle said.
After the discussions and approvals on IATA’s resolutions, including annual report of IATA, the report of the Board of Governors and financial statement will also be disclosed during the AGM.
De Tagle told the PNA that airlines have adopted unanimous resolutions — to call for governments and airports to step up infrastructure development, since the growing congestion in many airports and air traffic control systems will certainly constrain the growth of airline operations and air travel.
This issue, he said, will have a negative impact on tourism and economic growth.
“(Airlines also made) a resolution asking all governments to support the CORSIA (Carbon Offset Reduction Scheme for International Aviation), the long-term global effort of airlines to reduce the environmental impact of air travel,” he added.
The executive noted that the said environmental impact would be severely lessened if airport congestion would be eased significantly, as the planes would not have to waste fuel during prolonged circling around the airports while waiting to land, or queuing for a long time in taxiways, waiting for their turn for takeoff.
“We are also concerned about an escalating trade war among the major economies that may affect economic growth worldwide, and thus (affect) air travel,” he remarked.
De Tagle emphasized that airlines hope airports and authorities heed IATA’s call to ensure fair, transparent and equitable allocation of slots at congested airports.
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