Senior executives from the Association of European Airlines’ 30 members are congregating in Istanbul to discuss key issues facing the region at the second AEA Aviation Leadership Summit.
The event marks one year since the organisation’s revamp into a more transparent and outwardly focused body. And it firmly believes it has become a much more relevant force when it comes to fighting aviation’s corner in the corridors of Brussels.
The new image was unveiled in November 2013 at the AEA’s first open-door annual general meeting, during which newly appointed chief executive Athar Husain Khan demonstrated a new organisational structure and publicised his intention to ensure the AEA’s messages were conveyed loudly and clearly going forward.
It is a move he believes was well received and warmly welcomed by stakeholders from across the industry. “I was absolutely thrilled by the welcome and reception we got – there was a lot of support for the revamped and revitalised AEA,” says Husain Khan.
“I would definitely argue that [the AEA] has become more relevant,” he adds. “I can also feel appreciation from stakeholders at an institutional level, which is evidence and proof of a more relevant association and a more constructive AEA.”
The key message the AEA has been at pains to express over the last year – and will continue to stress in the future – is the positive impact it believes aviation has on Europe’s economy. “What we’re focused on very much is that the industry is a key enabler of European prosperity, it’s a key enabler for jobs and economic growth,” says Husain Khan. “This is one of the key messages we always try to deliver, and will deliver at our summit in Istanbul.”
By focusing on the positive aspects of aviation, Husain Khan is hopeful that regulators will recognise the industry’s contributions and “stop impeding growth with overburdening costs”.
He adds: “We feel that regulators should take a laidback approach to the industry and not try to over-regulate, for example on passenger rights.”
Infrastructure concerns weigh heavily on the AEA’s agenda, and it will continue to push for greater efficiencies both in the air and on the ground.
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“A key impediment we see is a lack of efficient infrastructure in the air,” says Husain Khan, noting that air traffic management in Europe is “too fragmented” and leads to increased flight times for passengers and the release of unnecessary carbon-dioxide emissions. “This needs to be solved as soon as possible.” The situation is no better on the ground, in Husain Khan’s view: “There are simply not enough runways and airports in Europe, and those that are there are too expensive.”
On a more positive note, the AEA chief executive is confident Europe is “much better prepared” to deal with any future volcanic ash clouds than it was in the aftermath of the 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajokull in Iceland.
“[It has been recognised that] a blanket shutdown is not a solution,” says Husain Khan. “The rules are clearer on where responsibility lies, and we’re better prepared than we were four or five years ago.”
Compliments are also forthcoming for the way in which ICAO dealt with the airspace safety concerns that arose after the downing of a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 over eastern Ukraine in July.
“We called for a more transparent way for member states to define whether their airspace is safe or not,” says Husain Khan. While acknowledging that changes will take time, he says he was “pleasantly surprised by the swiftness with which ICAO picked this up”.
Another key objective the AEA had when it unveiled its revamped new image a year ago was to create a new non-executive chairman role, with the aim of appointing someone with the political experience to strengthen the association’s voice in Brussels.
While that role has yet to be filled, the AEA is courting “a former top European politician with aviation experience” as a potential candidate.
Efforts to fill the role will be stepped up once the incoming European Commission and Parliament take office in November, says Husain Khan.
At its summit in Istanbul, the AEA plans to focus on brighter times ahead as the industry emerges from the global economic slowdown, with a heavy emphasis on making sure that regulations do not cast a shadow on future growth.
“The industry is leaving the dark years of losses behind it,” says Husain Khan. “Our role is to ensure that growth is not impeded at a regulatory level.”
Source: Flight Daily News
