ID :
27043
Tue, 10/28/2008 - 16:36
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/27043
The shortlink copeid
AIRLINES AGREE THAT LIBERALISATION OF AVIATION IS THE WAY TO GO
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 28 (Bernama) -- The International Air Transport Association (IATA) successfully concluded the Agenda for Freedom Summit in Istanbul with airlines agreeing that liberalisation of the aviation sector was the way to go forward.
A total of 14 nations plus the European Commission attended the weekend
meeting in Istanbul which focused on ways to further liberalise market access
and ownership and control rules governing international civil aviation.
"This has been an extra-ordinary year for airlines. From oil prices that
peaked at US$147 in July, to today's global financial crisis, the need for
airlines to have the commercial tools that other industries take for granted has
never been more critical," said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA's Director General and
chief executive officer, in a statement issued from the Turkish capital
Sunday.
The goal of the Agenda for Freedom Summit was to find ways to expand the
commercial freedoms of airlines, namely access to markets and to global capital.
The meeting did not set out to sign any agreements or declarations.
"The conference was a success. The states had a very frank and open
discussion on ownership and market access. We had gathered 15 of the most
liberal players in aviation policy and three key outcomes emerged."
"The participants asked IATA to continue to facilitate this discussion with
a second meeting in early 2009 to turn the discussion into action. They also
asked IATA to facilitate the development of a multi-lateral statement of policy
that would be a powerful tool expressing the common thinking and approach of the
group of states," he said.
Finally, the group agreed to spread best practices in liberalisation by
making more openly available to all states the most liberal agreements that are
being negotiated," said Bisignani.
Bisignani emphasised the need for states to act with urgency. "Look at what
happened to the banking system. In a week it became a state enterprise in many
countries.
"We have already seen the re-nationalisation of Aerolineas Argentinas. This
is not the solution that we want. We are not asking for bailouts or more
government involvement in our business. Governments have a critical role in
regulating safety, security, monopolies and environmental standards," he
said.
"What we were asking for this weekend was simply the ability to act like
any
other global business," said Bisignani.
"The industry is in crisis and the message for change is critical. I
believe
that our message resonated with governments. We have started a process that I am
confident will help to build a more stable financial future the air transport
industry," he said.
The agenda for Freedom Summit was a follow-up to the Istanbul Declaration,
signed by IATA's 230 member airlines, which, among other things, called for
expanded commercial freedoms.
The meeting was chaired by Jeffrey Shane, former Under-Secretary of
Transportation for the United States of America and Partner, Hogan &
Hartson.
-- BERNAMA
A total of 14 nations plus the European Commission attended the weekend
meeting in Istanbul which focused on ways to further liberalise market access
and ownership and control rules governing international civil aviation.
"This has been an extra-ordinary year for airlines. From oil prices that
peaked at US$147 in July, to today's global financial crisis, the need for
airlines to have the commercial tools that other industries take for granted has
never been more critical," said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA's Director General and
chief executive officer, in a statement issued from the Turkish capital
Sunday.
The goal of the Agenda for Freedom Summit was to find ways to expand the
commercial freedoms of airlines, namely access to markets and to global capital.
The meeting did not set out to sign any agreements or declarations.
"The conference was a success. The states had a very frank and open
discussion on ownership and market access. We had gathered 15 of the most
liberal players in aviation policy and three key outcomes emerged."
"The participants asked IATA to continue to facilitate this discussion with
a second meeting in early 2009 to turn the discussion into action. They also
asked IATA to facilitate the development of a multi-lateral statement of policy
that would be a powerful tool expressing the common thinking and approach of the
group of states," he said.
Finally, the group agreed to spread best practices in liberalisation by
making more openly available to all states the most liberal agreements that are
being negotiated," said Bisignani.
Bisignani emphasised the need for states to act with urgency. "Look at what
happened to the banking system. In a week it became a state enterprise in many
countries.
"We have already seen the re-nationalisation of Aerolineas Argentinas. This
is not the solution that we want. We are not asking for bailouts or more
government involvement in our business. Governments have a critical role in
regulating safety, security, monopolies and environmental standards," he
said.
"What we were asking for this weekend was simply the ability to act like
any
other global business," said Bisignani.
"The industry is in crisis and the message for change is critical. I
believe
that our message resonated with governments. We have started a process that I am
confident will help to build a more stable financial future the air transport
industry," he said.
The agenda for Freedom Summit was a follow-up to the Istanbul Declaration,
signed by IATA's 230 member airlines, which, among other things, called for
expanded commercial freedoms.
The meeting was chaired by Jeffrey Shane, former Under-Secretary of
Transportation for the United States of America and Partner, Hogan &
Hartson.
-- BERNAMA
