Aerospace Diary

The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines ( AAPA ) is urging Governments to roll back or refrain from introducing travel restrictions. Reports from the World Health Organisation (WHO) indicate that the COVID-19 outbreak has now spread to over 100 countries. In the majority of the countries, the spread is now predominantly through local transmission rather than from imported cases. WHO has repeatedly advised against travel or trade restrictions as such measures are generally ineffective.   Furthermore, travel restrictions cause significant disruptions to supply chains, commerce, trade and most importantly to peoples' livelihoods due to the severe economic impact.   Based on the latest situation report [i]  issued by WHO on 10 March 2020, although over 90 countries have introduced some form of travel restrictions, only 45 States have informed WHO of such additional measures and provided the associated public health rationale, as required [ii] under the ...

Neelam Mathews , Delhi Jane's Airport Review UK 31-Jan-2019 Asia-Pacific airlines reported strong demand for business and leisure travel in the first 11 months of 2018. Their international passenger traffic grew by more than 7% year on year to 325 million. The region includes some of the busiest city pairs in the world; as this market grows, and budget carriers also add ....more  in JAR

by  Neelam Mathews  -  October 23, 2018, 9:46 AM As the Asia-Pacific region experiences international air traffic growth of 8 percent per year, unease grows over the likely inability of infrastructure capacity to keep pace with fleet orders in the next two decades. The region, according to Airbus and Boeing, will receive 40 percent of the globally ordered fleet, or more than 16,000 airplanes, “equal to the U.S. and Europe together,” stressed Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) director general Andrew Herdman at the group’s recent Assembly of Presidents on Jeju Island, South Korea. "We are gathered here in search of answers on what can we can do to effectively respond to our rapidly changing environment,” added Korean Air president Walter Cho. “The Asia-Pacific market is driving global aviation growth and is growing rapidly. We have our challenges in the aviation industry with economic fluctuations, shifting political interests, and spread o...

 by Neelam Mathews  - December 1, 2015, 10:00 AM Some Asian airlines have had their operations inhibited by restrictions imposed by U.S. and European authorities over concerns about alleged poor safety oversight by their national aviation authorities. [Photo: Neelam Mathews} As Asia Pacific airlines experience strong passenger growth, the region continues to face a host of diverse challenges, not least of which involves effective safety oversight. At the recent Association of Asia Pacific Airlines ( AAPA ) annual 59th Assembly of Presidents in Bali, delegates also called on governments to boost infrastructure investment, simplify passenger facilitation and moderate consumer rights legislation. But perhaps the foremost concern centered on what   AAPA   director general Andrew Herdman characterized as a heavy handed regulatory approach by world aviation bodies toward airlines whose countries’ aviation authorities do not meet international standards. A...

Neelam Mathews Nov 19, 2014 The AAPA 2014 Annual Assembly of Presidents in Tokyo was a delight in more ways than one- am referring to the Sake ofcourse! But seriously, following a host of mostly useful sessions, come night and added to the fantastic Imperial Hotel food and drink was a brilliant performance by Japanese artistes who then asked IATA DG to come and try his hand. Tony Tyler is a great sport-have seen him dancing to the beat of the Beach Boys in Hong Kong , to playing a guitar in Astana and now this! His talents seem to know no bounds. Nice to see CEOs- ANA and Garuda CEOS also followed him exhibit the spirit of our industry. Enjoy!

by  Neelam Mathews  -  November 18, 2014, 9:23 AM Association of Asia Pacific Airlines members hope to see some relief from downward yield pressures next year. (Photo: Flickr:  Creative Commons (BY-NC)  by  Pieter v Marion ) Profitability remains elusive for Asian carriers facing challenges of surplus capacity even though most economies across the Asia-Pacific region continue to grow. “This is likely to continue in 2015…We hope it will stabilize next year,” said Association of Asia Pacific Airlines ( AAPA ) director general Andrew Herdman in Tokyo at a press briefing on the first day of group’s November 18 to 19 annual Assembly of Presidents.  Already, anecdotal evidence suggests deferment of delivery and reduction in staff as aggressive pricing intensifies, Herdman added.  However, after years of no growth, air cargo volumes have accelerated, a positive note for Asian airlines that account for 38 per...

SINGAPORE AIR SHOW  »  2014 by    NEELAM MATHEWS Jet Airways is not yet a member of AAPA, but it has expressed an interest in the association, which addresses a wide range of aviation industry issues. February 10, 2014, 5:00 PM The 15-member Association of Asia Pacific Airlines ( AAPA ), which addresses a wide range of issues of common interest to the region’s aviation industry, is focusing its efforts on extending its membership base to South Asia–to include the time zones between  GMT +5 to  GMT +12, extended from the previous  GMT +7 to  GMT +12. “In 2014 we will be approaching more Indian carriers. They are welcome. [While] Jet Airways has shown interest, it has not as yet approached us for membership,” Andrew Herdman, director general of  AAPA , told  AIN . Jet Airways’ recent restructuring, following the establishment of a strategic alliance with Etihad Airways completed last November, is like...

AIN AIR TRANSPORT PERSPECTIVE  »  NOVEMBER 18, 2013 by    NEELAM MATHEWS AAPA director general Andrew Herdman. November 18, 2013, 9:40 AM Lack of infrastructure and regulatory cohesion challenge the growth of the Asia-Pacific region’s airlines, said Andrew Herdman, president and director general of the 15-airline Association of Asia Pacific Airlines ( AAPA ). Herdman and other industry officials warned of rising air traffic congestion at  AAPA ’s 57th Assembly of Presidents, held November 14 and 15 in Hong Kong. The Association of South East Asian countries (Asean) will begin implementing an Open Skies liberalization policy in 2015. Already, with seven of the world’s top 10 busiest routes located in Asia, the region sorely misses a single regulatory body like the  U.S.  Federal Aviation Administration to control its congested airspace. Every nation has its own set of regulations related to airspace management...

AIN AIR TRANSPORT PERSPECTIVE  »  NOVEMBER 18, 2013 by    NEELAM MATHEWS Lion Air faces increasing competition from new low-fare startups in the Asia-Pacific region. (Photo: Boeing) November 18, 2013, 9:45 AM Economic growth, aviation deregulation, a growing middle class and aggressive tourism marketing continue to drive business in the regional markets of Asia-Pacific, where well entrenched budget carriers such as Malaysia’s AirAsia and Indonesia’s Lion Air face increasing competition from new low-cost startups. In neighboring India, three of every four airline seats now belong to budget carriers. According to Sydney-based consultancy Center for Asia Pacific Aviation ( CAPA ), Southeast Asia’s international market has seen a 20-percent capacity increase in the last 18 months, from 4.7 million weekly seats in April last year to 5.6 million weekly seats last month. The fastest growing markets, Thailand and Malaysia, added 23...

AIN AIR TRANSPORT PERSPECTIVE  »  DECEMBER 3, 2012 by    NEELAM MATHEWS The Asia Pacific Airlines Association, led by director general Andrew Herdman, wants a fundamental rethink of air transport security. December 3, 2012, 12:50 PM The Asia Pacific Airlines Association ( AAPA ) has called for a shake-up of aviation security management in the region, arguing that the current approach–accounting for 25 percent of total airport costs–is inadequate. “What we have today is nothing short of a ‘mistrusted traveler program’ with 100-percent enrollment,” said  AAPA  director general Andrew Herdman at the group’s 56th annual Assembly of Presidents last month. “Harsher critics have characterized current passenger screening procedures as ritualistic ‘security theater.’ We need a fundamental rethink [and] to break free of the current mindset that by default treats every passenger as a potential terrorist.” Herdman also ...

AIN AIR TRANSPORT PERSPECTIVE  »  NOVEMBER 26, 2012 by    NEELAM MATHEWS Singapore Airlines’s recent acquisition of a 10-percent stake in Virgin Australia is a prime example of the wave of strategic realignments now happening in the Asia Pacific air transport sector. (Photo: Airbus) November 26, 2012, 6:00 PM Tough economic times are resulting in innovations by carriers in the Asia Pacific region looking beyond traditional business models through strategic realignments and new product offerings. Recent ground-breaking deals include Virgin Australia selling a 10-percent stake to Singapore Airlines ( SIA ) and buying 60 percent of Tiger Airways; the new partnership between Emirates Airline and Qantas; and Etihad Airways purchasing a 10-percent stake in Virgin Australia. “It is hard to say who is next. Qatar Airways said it would never enter into an alliance, and within a week it was in bed with British Airways,” commented ...