I consider liberalizing air transport and the implementation of an Arab Joint market one of the biggest challenges
Cairo- The Arab Civil Aviation Organization is looking forward for more cooperation with the Arab Air Carrers Organization and all air transport concerned organizations in order to achieve common objectives as far as civil aviation is concerned "confimed Mr Abdenbi Manar Director General of the Arab Civil Aviation Organization.
Speaking during the 51st General Assembly of the Arab Air Carriers Organization, held on yesterday 6th November in Cairo, Mr Manar said that this event represents a great opportunity to exchange ideas and views in order for the organizations and committees, specializing in the field of civil aviation under the auspices of the Arab League, to achieve their goals and develop this industry implementing a safe and orderly Arab air transport keeping pace with global progress in this area, which will stimulate economic development in the Arab countries .
"Air transport plays one of the most important roles in the economic development globally", highlighted the Director General, it works to achieve sustainable development, in a manner that preserves natural resources and guarantees future generations a decent life. "In this perspective the international community considers this vital sector very important, and has implemented various international and regional organizations in order to ensure the orderly safe and secure transport. In parallel, international and regional airlines have created associations in order to regulate their business and ensure fair competition amongst them as long as the passenger´s safety security and rights.
The Director General explained that the Arab Air Carriers Organization´s mission since its establishment in 1965, under the auspices of the Arab League, is to serve and represent Arab airlines common interests, facilitate cooperation amongst them thereby enhancing their operational capabilities within a framework of fair competition through supporting its members process aiming to maintain the highest safety and security standards, through supporting its members process in adopting advanced environmental policies and positive contribution to the development of human resources in various fields as well as dealing with regulatory frameworks to protect and promote its members interests and launch and service its members joint projects to achieve operational capabilities in addition to blurring the positive image of Arab airlines in all global events.
The Arab Air Carriers Organization´s mission
The Arab Air Carrier Organization seeks many objectives in order to promote and support the air transport industry in the Arab region but faces many challenges, added Mr Abendebi Manar, ensuring that this industry requires from all of us more efforts and cooperation whereas the air transport market in the Arab region is a promising market that helps develop tourism, the movement of persons and increases trade exchange.
Developing air transport infrastructure
Mr Manar considers that one of the most important challenges facing the industry of air transport in our Arab region is the liberalization of air transport among the Arab countries and reviving the Damascus agreement on air transport liberalization between the Arab countries and this is what the Arab Civil Aviation Organization will be working on in the coming period as one of its most important plans and programs, in collaboration with the Arab Air Carriers Organization and all relevant air transport industry stakeholders in order to achieve its most important objective and create a Joint Arab Market which represents an advanced stage of economic integration between states where goods, production units, capital and people will move freely by removing impediments, barriers and quantitative price and customs restraints or other obstacles. A unified market means also liberalizing air transport with all its components from all constraints related to capacity, number of trips, and the freedom for fixing prices based on offer and demand while being subject to general restrictions and conducting uniformed policies on taxation, coordination of fuel prices and establishment of mechanisms for collective actions and negotiations in the name of all Arab countries as a bloc.
Fierce competition requires more efforts
The speaker added that the fierce and intense competition framework in the field of air transport requires more efforts in order to achieve the highest possible degree of worldwide competitiveness through offering the best air services on the most favorable prices. This is done by providing competitive advantage and implementing the highest safety and security standards to preserve Arab airlines reputation, supporting and developing policies, restructuring and developing human resources capacities and enhancing their skills, initiating cooperation and coordination between Arab airlines, forming operational and marketing alliances and acting to protect Arab airlines from harmful practices to competition, exchange of information and expertise amongst countries and Arab airlines.
The joint Arab market
According to the Director General, another big challenge in order to achieve a Joint Arab market is civil aviation infrastructure development of which airports are the most significant part. Airport development faces a shortage in air traffic capacity and inadequate management. "We have to work on addressing those inefficiencies to provide modern airports and air navigation equipments that contribute actively in efficient and orderly air traffic management to benefit from the Arab geographical location that represents a very important competitive advantage that has not yet been fully used until now.
In conclusion, the Director General thanked the president of the Union for this opportunity to speak to the outstanding civil aviation elite who was attending the event