Business continuity remains central to the work of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) as cross-border travel continues to be stifled, with key stakeholders in the aviation sector jointly declaring on November 13, at the conclusion of the AAPA Assembly of Presidents, their solidarity and commitment to work with governments to revive air travel.
The Assemble was held with the International Air Transport Association and the Airports Council International Asia-Pacific.
Subhas Menon, director general of AAPA, said: “Facing indefinite border closures, airlines are under enormous pressure to minimise losses and conserve cash as they endeavour to survive the crisis.”
AAPA estimates that regional airlines will account for more than US$29 billion in losses this year – one-third of global airline losses.
In addition to the joint declaration, the AAPA Assembly of Presidents issued a number of resolutions addressing various industry priorities.
For instance, it viewed the setting up of a robust international testing framework, based on mutually-recognised accredited facilities delivering rapid, accurate, affordable and scalable testing prior to departure, coupled with other risk mitigation measures recommended by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), as an effective approach to safely restart international air travel. It also viewed blanket quarantine measures to be a significant deterrent to air travel.
Menon believes that strong multilateral collaboration among governments to relax travel restrictions and quarantine requirements based on risk assessment and medical evidence, will be key to aviation recovery.
Noting that a broad framework conducive to the early restart and recovery of aviation is urgently needed, AAPA has called on governments to refrain from increasing the burden of aviation levies in any form and to support Asia-Pacific airlines as they face unprecedented financial and operational challenges due to the prolonged grounding of international aviation.
Menon said: “The ICAO Council Aviation Recovery Taskforce (CART) guidelines established earlier this year provide practical guidance to governments and industry to restart aviation and recover from Covid-19 in a coordinated manner, while keeping the safety, health and well-being of the travelling public as a top priority. Inconsistent and patchy measures create unpredictability and confusion for both travellers and airlines, while hampering the meaningful restart of cross-border air transport.
‘”The prolonged closure of borders has had deep and lasting effects on the public and the wider economy. It has now become critical to improve collaboration and cooperation across borders so as to mitigate further damage and jumpstart recovery efforts. Asia-Pacific airlines are firmly committed to working with governments and other stakeholders to rebuild passenger confidence and pave the way for the meaningful recovery of travel and tourism as essential services supporting commerce and livelihoods within the region and across the world.’’
While he said efforts by governments to initiate green lanes, fast lanes and travel corridors have not provided much respite from the decimation of demand in the region, due to onerous requirements of such schemes, he acknowledged that the unique Singapore-Hong Kong travel bubble, which will come into play on November 22, is a positive step in the right direction.
Sydney Harbour Bridge was transformed into a massive birthday cake complete with illuminated LED candles for Qantas Airways’ 100-year anniversary on Monday evening.
More than 1,300 LED tubes, 126 LED fixtures and 38 searchlights were used in the city’s birthday bash for the airline, which started off as Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services on November 16, 1920. The projection of 60 historic images and two, 65-metre-high birthday candles onto the southern and northern pylons completed the transformation.
A low flying Qantas 787 ‘blew out’ the candles as it went over the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
New South Wales minister for jobs, investment, tourism and Western Sydney, Stuart Ayres, said: “Sydney has benefited immensely from 100 successful years of business for Qantas – from bringing visitors to the state and boosting our visitor economy to providing local jobs.
“What better way to mark such an important milestone for Qantas than with a celebration in the city it has chosen as its headquarters for the last 82 years involving another much-loved Sydney icon, the Harbour Bridge.”
Almost 200 passengers, including 100 Qantas staff, were on board the 100-minute flight which was a special Centenary Scenic Flight to mark the airline’s 100th year.
The candle-blowing moment was a surprise for those on the ground and on board the flight.
The activation, executed by Destination NSW, complements a new campaign of activity designed to support the recovery of Sydney hospitality and tourism businesses.
Destination NSW CEO, Steve Cox said the Qantas Centenary provided an opportunity to send out a message of hope, both to Sydney businesses and to residents of Sydney and New South Wales.
“This stunt was just the beginning of what will be a truly amazing line-up of events coming up across the city, and we are looking forward to welcoming visitors from across Australia to Sydney this summer,” said Cox.