The 75th AGM of IATA was successfully held with calls to make the industry sustainable amid a slew of challenges lying ahead and covered topics in the aviation industry from economic outlook to safety at Seoul, Korea from June1-3. A highly educative World Air Transport Summit (WATS) themed “The Vision for the Future” followed the AGM was hosted by Korean Air and chaired by its Chairman Cho Won-tae,
The event attracted more than thousand top leaders from among IATA’s 290 member airlines in 120 Countries Mr. Sunil Kumar, President , UFTAA was registered as a Chief Delegate .
“Flying is freedom. And we can be proud that it is our business. Flying contributes to 15 of the 17 UN sustainable development goals,” said IATA Director General and CEO Alexandre de
Juniac.
The AGM featured keynote addresses by Kim Hyun-mee, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of the Republic of Korea and Violeta Bulc, European Commissioner for Mobility and Transport. The South Korean Minister said “this year’s AGM would be able to discover the vision for the future of the aviation industry and also share our extensive experiences between our countries and airlines, so that the whole aviation industry can make another leap forward.” The European Commissioner for Transport said that close cooperation between regulators and the industry could ensure a prosperous future for aviation by seeing to it that air carriers and other industry players maintained global standards and offered maximum safety for passengers.
Five resolutions passed at the 75th AGM, IATA
Slots: The projected growth in aviation will be challenged by capacity shortages. There is a huge threat of “delays” and “millions of travellers” affected. Governments requested to urgently address capacity shortages and endorsed a Statement of Objectives which focus on consumer benefit, convenient schedules, ensure transparency and non-discrimination in the process and use existing capacity to its full potential.
RFID for Baggage Tracking: To support the global deployment of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) for baggage tracking. Implementation of modern baggage messaging standards to more accurately track passengers’ baggage in real time across key points in the journey called for. Airlines transition to bar-coded bag tags with RFID inlays and use RFID data alerts to enact processes with airports and ground handlers that prevent potential mishandlings.
One ID: To accelerate the global implementation of the One ID initiative, which uses a single biometric identifier to move passengers through the airport, without the need for paper travel documents. This resolution calls for stakeholders — including airlines, airports and government authorities; to work together to promote and implement a paperless passenger process utilizing biometric recognition.
Disabled Passengers: An estimated one billion people live with disabilities worldwide. Airlines committed to ensure the passengers with disabilities have access to safe, reliable and dignified travel, and called upon governments to use IATA’s core principles which aim to change the focus from disability to accessibility to accommodate passengers with disabilities. By bringing the travel sector together with governments to harmonize regulations and provide the clarity and global consistency that passengers expect.
Environment: Governments requested to implement the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) as agreed through the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). CORSIA will cap net CO2 emissions from international aviation at 2020 levels (carbon-neutral growth, or CNG). The AGM looked beyond CORSIA to the next climate action commitment—cutting net emissions to half 2005 levels by 2050. Airlines were urged to implement all available fuel efficiency measures and to participate fully in a long-term switchover to sustainable aviation fuels.
“All these resolutions are in favour of developing our industry. We’re developing industry in a sustainable way.” said Alexandre de Juniac, DG and CEO of IATA
Lufthansa Group CEO Carsten Spohr is the new Chairman of the Board of Governors (BoG), the policy review and decision-making body of the IATA and Mr Ajay Singh, Chairman and Managing Director of SpiceJet, was elected to IATA Board of Governors for a three-year period effective June 2019.
“It is heartening that this most popular “turn-around” leader of the Indian Aviation who got SpiceJet join IATA during March 2019 is now on IATA Board which is incredible and truly outstanding. TAAI wishes him a great tenure with IATA and the Aviation world” Remarks Sunil Kumar President, IATA .
The IATA Diversity & Inclusion Awards, sponsored by Qatar Airways, were presented to recognize and celebrate the great work that is being done to take the industry into the future.
The High Flyer Award presented to Fadimatou Noutchemo Simo, Founder and President, Young African Aviation Professional Association. Diversity & Inclusion Team was presented to Air New Zealand. The Inspirational Role Model award was presented to Christine Ourmières-Widener, CEO, Flybe
Both the Gala evenings were impeccably hosted by Boeing & Air Bus and TravelSky hosted the Farewell Lunch. The 76th IATA AGM will be in Amsterdam on June 22-23, 2020, with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines serving as the host.
Tourism India, India’s Travel & Tourism Magazine.
