Leading aviation experts, who gathered in Salalah, Oman for the third edition of ‘Arab Aviation and Media Summit,’ have called upon regional governments to adopt an ‘open skies’ policy.
During the two-day event, leading speakers from across the region as well as from global markets shed light on the rapid growth of the aviation and tourism sectors in the region, reported the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.
Themed ‘Aviation and Tourism: Enabler of Economic Growth,’ the Arab Aviation and Media Summit 2013 was organised by Air Arabia under the patronage of Oman’s Ministry of Tourism, in association with CNBC Arabiya, Airbus and CFM.
This year’s event was attended by more than 100 editors and media representatives and approximately 100 delegates from the aviation and tourism industry.
The aviation experts placed a greater emphasis on the need for skilled and trained manpower, which is seen as a crucial challenge to the industry.
Inefficient infrastructure and poorly-conceived regulations are adding to the woes of the Middle East aviation and tourism sectors, they warned.
Speaking at the summit, Air Arabia chief executive Adel Ali said: “The starting point is the implementation of a full open skies policy, the introduction of more liberalised regulations allowing the free-flow of cross-border movements and the proliferation of privately owned airlines.
“Together, this approach would help the Middle East aviation and tourism sector to reach its full potential, which is estimated to be equal to the size of the US economy,” observed Ali.
“Nobody doubts the tremendous potential of the aviation and tourism sectors in the Arab world, but there are a number of significant challenges that still need to be addressed if it is to be fully realised,” he stated.
According to airline industry trade group International Air Transport Association (IATA) Gulf area manager Micheal Herrero, the enormous social benefits to the region of a thriving aviation industry means there is a real urgency to overcome obstacles such as a lack of skilled aviation professionals.
“In addition to investing in technology and aircraft, we should also invest in the workforce,” he noted.
