Vietnam attends Singapore aviation leadership summit

The SAALS is the only event of its kind in the industry that brings together high-level participants from regulators, private sector, government and airline operators to address a wide range of hot topics from environment liberalisation and security challenges to salient strategic trends the region faces.

Participants in this year's fourth SAALS discussed next steps to grow global connectivity and to improve fuel efficiency by 1.5% annually up to 2020, cap net emissions from 2020 with carbon-neutral growth, and cut aviation industry's net emissions in half by 2050 compared to 2005.

Addressing the bi-annual event, Singapore Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew said that the growth of low-cost carriers and the rapid rise of new air hubs will shape the future of aviation.

According to the Minister, in Asia, low-cost carriers have grown from almost nothing 10 years ago to close to 20% of the market today. The growth is even more "phenomenal" in Southeast Asia, where such carriers account for more than half of intra-regional travel, he said.

Air hubs in the Asia-Pacific have also been growing from strength to strength, increasing from five of the 30 busiest airports in the world in 2000 to 10 in 2011, Minister Lui added.

To ensure safe and sustainable flight, governments must invest in infrastructure and manpower development, he said, adding that air liberalization is also critical to meet the growing needs of travellers.

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) estimates that the international aviation system will require an additional half a million technicians and 350,000 pilots in the next 20 years.

The Air Transport Agreement signed between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China in 2011 has brought greater connectivity and increased economic benefits to ASEAN and China. Further, ASEAN is targeting an Open Skies by 2015 that will provide for unlimited market access for ASEAN carriers.

(Source: Nhandan Newspaper Online)