(MENAFN- Gulf Times) The International Air Transport Association (IATA) will work with its member airlines and those concerned in decongesting GCC airports, which have expanded with the rapid growth of the Gulf carriers, director general and CEO Tony Tyler has said.
"As Gulf's airlines grow, so does the congestion in the region," Tyler said at the wrap-up press conference on the sidelines of the 71st IATA AGM and the World Air Transport Summit.
While the Middle Eastern carriers, especially those based in the GCC region have grown phenomenally, Tyler said, "one of the challenges faced by the GCC countries is the mounting air traffic congestion in their airports. In whatever ways possible, we (IATA) will help find a solution to the problem".
According to IATA, the fast-growing Gulf area is at the centre of the Middle East region's success.
On the need for proper air traffic management in the region, Tyler said a significant portion of the airspace in the region is currently reserved for the military.
"So we are trying to squeeze the fast-growing civil aviation component into a fraction of the airspace. One solution is developing partnerships and trust with the military to open more flexible use zones."
Another challenge faced by the region was either the closure or reduced operations of some airports due to escalating tension in certain Middle Eastern countries.
Asked whether the heated row on "open skies" between the three major Gulf carriers and major US airlines would affect the global aviation industry, Tyler said: "No, I don't think so. While our member airlines hold different views on certain issues, they continue to maintain good business relationship."
United, Delta and American airlines, in particular, claim that Emirates and Etihad, both based in the UAE, as well as Qatar Airways receive billions of dollars in subsidies from their respective governments. This leads to unfair competition, they argue. The three Gulf airlines have denied such accusations and termed these utterly baseless.
"At IATA, we stand for fair and healthy competition," Tyler said.
The GCC region's aviation industry has had a phenomenal growth in the
last three to four decades, thanks to economic boom, investable surplus and a growing population.
Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways have capitalised on these and grown amid stiff competition from bigger airlines based in the US or Europe.
The growth of the "Big 3 Gulf" airlines has a direct beneficiary based in the US- the Chicago-based planemaker, Boeing. Along with its European rival Airbus, Boeing has filled its order book with commitments from Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways. It is no secret that the substantial orders placed by the Gulf carriers have helped Boeing maintain growth and employ thousands of people across the US.
Meanwhile, the 71st IATA AGM and the World Air Transport Summit in Miami was declared closed by American Airlines chairman and CEO Doug Parker, who chaired the meeting. Page 16
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