(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Arab leaders have been urged to give priority to addressing challenges related to the civil aviation sector, including growing air traffic congestion, to maintain the pace of growth and economic diversification.
"Arab countries will not be able to expand the region's aviation sector and achieve the desired economic goals unless they fix issues like air traffic management and scrapping archaic regulations," Abdul Wahab Teffaha, Secretary General of the Arab Air Carriers Organisation (AACO), told reporters on the sidelines of the recently concluded fourth Arab Aviation and Media Summit in Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) in the UAE.
Countries with significant exposure to the aviation business and world-class facilities on the ground need to give equal importance to invisible infrastructure (airspace) for smooth movement of the increasing number of flights, Teffaha said. "Growing air traffic congestion may put shackles on the growth and expansion plans of Arab carriers."
As of 2013, AACO members had about 1,070 aircraft operating in less than 50 percent of the region's airspace (nearly 50 percent is reserved for military aircraft), carrying over 150 million passengers annually. The number of aircraft is expected to grow by 57 percent to 1,685 aircraft by 2026, carrying about 300 million passengers from around the world.
"There is high-level coordination taking place among countries in the region to ease traffic congestion in the airspace," said Sheikh Salem bin Sultan bin Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA), RAK.
The authorities concerned are taking steps to address these issues and ensure hassle-free growth of the aviation industry in the region, Sheikh Salem told The Peninsula.
Asked when the issue was discussed last, he said: "These challenges, including those related to the environment, are common issues that are discussed almost all the time whenever the concerned authorities in the region meet."
The Summit, themed 'Aviation and Tourism: Common Vision and Purpose', was held under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince of Ras Al Khaimah.
It brought together international tourism and aviation experts, more than 150 journalists and guests from across the world. Guest speakers at the event included representatives from DCA, AACO, the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority, Oman's Ministry of Tourism, Airbus Group, Airbus Prosky, RAK Tourism and Development Authority, Air Arabia, International Air Transport Association, Google, and Waldorf Astoria.
This year's edition of the Summit witnessed the launch of 'The Little Engineer' € an edutainment organisation dedicated to educating young minds through interactive programmes.
Sheikh Salem delivered the opening remarks, followed by the keynote address by Teffaha, who underlined the role of the Arab aviation industry in supporting the region's economy and its direct impact on growth of tourism.
Adel Ali, Group CEO, Air Arabia, welcomed the delegates. Several panel discussions and case studies were conducted as part of the Summit. Adel Ali, Fouad Attar, Managing Director, Airbus Middle East, and Steven Rice, CEO, RAK Tourism and Development Authority, presented a case study on RAK as an emerging tourist destination.
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