ASIA PACIFIC TO BECOME BIGGEST AIR FREIGHT MARKET

KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 (Bernama) -- Asia Pacific is expected to be the
biggest single air freight market in a few years despite the current recession,
according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Its director-general and chief executive officer, Giovanni Bisignani, said
today that Asia Pacific carriers are the largest players in the global air
freight market with 44 percent of the global market.

"Air transport is the lifeblood of the global economy," he said in his
speech at the MICCI Leaders Luncheon 2009 here.

IATA member airlines help support 32 million jobs and US$3.5 trillion in
economic activity.

As for Malaysia, Bisignani said an efficient air transport industry would
continue to play a significant role in driving the economy.

According to him, the decision to drop plans for a new airport at Labu was a
good one as it keeps the focus on developing the Kuala Lumpur International
Airport (KLIA) as the nation's hub.

"Malaysia has always prided itself on efficient transport infrastructure.
The priority must be on providing efficient infrastructure that delivers low
costs for all airlines," he said.
-- BERNAMA