Mark Your Calendar
JUNE
June 25-26, 2013
San Jose, Costa Rica
SEPTEMBER
ALTA Aviation Law Americas 2013
September 25-27, 2013
Miami, USA
NOVEMBER
Nov 13-15, 2013
Cancún, Mexico
ALTA'S Airlines Exhort Authorities and Governments to Meet Industry Needs
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (November 23, 2011) - The need for increased government cooperation and investment was evident in a series of resolutions adopted by ALTA members with the conclusion of its 31st General Assembly and the 8th annual ALTA Airline Leaders Forum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
According to Alex de Gunten, Executive Director of ALTA, "While the aviation industry in Latin America continues to reach major milestones and grow at significant rates, there are many variables that can negatively affect the industry. Without the collaboration of regional authorities and governments, and a serious look at issues related to infrastructure, over taxation and lack of harmonization, the progress we have achieved during the last two decades is at risk. We call on governments to proactively keep up with the growth of aviation in the region."
ALTA´s members adopted several resolutions during its 31st Annual General Meeting that took place during this year's Forum, which gathered more than 500 industry leaders from throughout Latin America, the Caribbean, North America and Europe.
Safety
Safety is priority #1 for ALTA and its airline members.
While accident rates involving fatalities in the region have diminished dramatically, as evidenced by the absence of any fatal accidents in 3 years, ALTA's goal is for Latin American and Caribbean carriers to match or surpass the safety record of the US by 2014. ALTA members recognize that challenges remain and are committed to ensuring further progress in the region. The Resolutions once again call on governments to adopt IOSA as a general standard in their national regulations and exhort governments to adopt all necessary measures to implement new technologies such as PBN and R-NAV routes.
Competitiveness
Given their hard work and strong leadership, ALTA's airlines are among the most efficient in the industry, and have made excellent progress in improving operations and cutting costs. However, they are continually affected by monopolistic charges and over taxation, which negatively impact the airlines and the end consumer. ALTA's members agreed on the following:
• With the goal of improving infrastructure and improving efficiencies, ALTA calls on governments to cease diverting funds from taxes and fees collected from the airlines and reinvest them in the industry
• They exhort governments to be cautious in their economic regulation regarding airport privatization and concessions and avoid past mistakes, such as:
• Pre-financing investment
• Allowing airports to extend monopolies to ancillary services
• Providing concessions with a focus on revenue generation versus airport efficiencies
• Lack of competitive pricing
• Lack of consultation processes with users, such as the airlines
• Lack of independence between regulators and operators
Harmonization
With more than 30 different jurisdictions, harmonization of standards and policies have been difficult to obtain in key areas, such as operation and maintenance certification, and licensing, which are essential for the development of a safe and efficient aviation industry. The industry would be greatly served by uniform regulations and aeronautical procedures, in addition to common certification processes and providers. Resolutions are as follows:
• To make a call on government and regulatory entities of the industry, including ICAO and CLAC, to continue with integration efforts in Latin America and the Caribbean
• Exhort Latin American and Caribbean states to consolidate the adoption of the Latin American Regulations (LAR), and the application of common procedures for certification and surveillance of Safety, supporting the SRVSOP
• Urge governments and regulatory bodies to adopt and incorporate in their national bylaws, regulations regarding license homologation with the participation of the airlines
Environment
ALTA's members invest heavily in the environment. More than 35 Billion dollars have been invested during the last 5 years, and over 11 Billion dollars in 2011 alone, to make the Region's fleet one of the youngest and most environmentally friendly in the world. But, this is not enough. In conjunction with its member carriers and partner organizations, such as ICAO, IATA, CLAC and the local BARS, ALTA continues to actively promote improvements in fuel efficiency and coordinates efforts to support a long-term reduction of GHG emissions in the industry. However, regulations such as the EU-ETS, threaten to negatively affect the region's carriers and penalize those who took the lead in this initiative. Resolutions are as follows:
• Press the EU and its Members to reconsider and refrain from implementing the Emissions Trading Scheme to foreign airlines, international waters and third-party countries
• Encourage the EU to support and cooperate with ICAO with respect to emission standards, best practices and alignment of environmental measures
• Continue supporting the work being developed by ICAO on greenhouse emissions
• Congratulate the countries who signed the Delhi Declaration and invite those who did not sign it, to do so.
ALTA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
This year, ALTA has re-elected its executive committee and appointed one new member. Its executive committee for the 2011-2012 period will be responsible for guiding the association's efforts and facilitating the development of air transport throughout the Latin American and Caribbean region.
2011-2012 ALTA Executive Committee
President - Roberto Kriete, TACA CEO & AviancaTaca Chairman
Vice President - Enrique Cueto, CEO, LAN Airlines
Member - Fabio Villegas, CEO AviancaTaca
Member - Pedro Heilbron, CEO, Copa Airlines
Member - Líbano Barroso, CEO, TAM
Member - Andres Conesa, CEO, Aeroméxico
Member - Albert Klüyver, CEO, InselAir
Alex de Gunten, Executive Director, ALTA
According to Alex de Gunten, Executive Director of ALTA, "While the aviation industry in Latin America continues to reach major milestones and grow at significant rates, there are many variables that can negatively affect the industry. Without the collaboration of regional authorities and governments, and a serious look at issues related to infrastructure, over taxation and lack of harmonization, the progress we have achieved during the last two decades is at risk. We call on governments to proactively keep up with the growth of aviation in the region."
ALTA´s members adopted several resolutions during its 31st Annual General Meeting that took place during this year's Forum, which gathered more than 500 industry leaders from throughout Latin America, the Caribbean, North America and Europe.
Safety
Safety is priority #1 for ALTA and its airline members.
While accident rates involving fatalities in the region have diminished dramatically, as evidenced by the absence of any fatal accidents in 3 years, ALTA's goal is for Latin American and Caribbean carriers to match or surpass the safety record of the US by 2014. ALTA members recognize that challenges remain and are committed to ensuring further progress in the region. The Resolutions once again call on governments to adopt IOSA as a general standard in their national regulations and exhort governments to adopt all necessary measures to implement new technologies such as PBN and R-NAV routes.
Competitiveness
Given their hard work and strong leadership, ALTA's airlines are among the most efficient in the industry, and have made excellent progress in improving operations and cutting costs. However, they are continually affected by monopolistic charges and over taxation, which negatively impact the airlines and the end consumer. ALTA's members agreed on the following:
• With the goal of improving infrastructure and improving efficiencies, ALTA calls on governments to cease diverting funds from taxes and fees collected from the airlines and reinvest them in the industry
• They exhort governments to be cautious in their economic regulation regarding airport privatization and concessions and avoid past mistakes, such as:
• Pre-financing investment
• Allowing airports to extend monopolies to ancillary services
• Providing concessions with a focus on revenue generation versus airport efficiencies
• Lack of competitive pricing
• Lack of consultation processes with users, such as the airlines
• Lack of independence between regulators and operators
Harmonization
With more than 30 different jurisdictions, harmonization of standards and policies have been difficult to obtain in key areas, such as operation and maintenance certification, and licensing, which are essential for the development of a safe and efficient aviation industry. The industry would be greatly served by uniform regulations and aeronautical procedures, in addition to common certification processes and providers. Resolutions are as follows:
• To make a call on government and regulatory entities of the industry, including ICAO and CLAC, to continue with integration efforts in Latin America and the Caribbean
• Exhort Latin American and Caribbean states to consolidate the adoption of the Latin American Regulations (LAR), and the application of common procedures for certification and surveillance of Safety, supporting the SRVSOP
• Urge governments and regulatory bodies to adopt and incorporate in their national bylaws, regulations regarding license homologation with the participation of the airlines
Environment
ALTA's members invest heavily in the environment. More than 35 Billion dollars have been invested during the last 5 years, and over 11 Billion dollars in 2011 alone, to make the Region's fleet one of the youngest and most environmentally friendly in the world. But, this is not enough. In conjunction with its member carriers and partner organizations, such as ICAO, IATA, CLAC and the local BARS, ALTA continues to actively promote improvements in fuel efficiency and coordinates efforts to support a long-term reduction of GHG emissions in the industry. However, regulations such as the EU-ETS, threaten to negatively affect the region's carriers and penalize those who took the lead in this initiative. Resolutions are as follows:
• Press the EU and its Members to reconsider and refrain from implementing the Emissions Trading Scheme to foreign airlines, international waters and third-party countries
• Encourage the EU to support and cooperate with ICAO with respect to emission standards, best practices and alignment of environmental measures
• Continue supporting the work being developed by ICAO on greenhouse emissions
• Congratulate the countries who signed the Delhi Declaration and invite those who did not sign it, to do so.
ALTA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
This year, ALTA has re-elected its executive committee and appointed one new member. Its executive committee for the 2011-2012 period will be responsible for guiding the association's efforts and facilitating the development of air transport throughout the Latin American and Caribbean region.
2011-2012 ALTA Executive Committee
President - Roberto Kriete, TACA CEO & AviancaTaca Chairman
Vice President - Enrique Cueto, CEO, LAN Airlines
Member - Fabio Villegas, CEO AviancaTaca
Member - Pedro Heilbron, CEO, Copa Airlines
Member - Líbano Barroso, CEO, TAM
Member - Andres Conesa, CEO, Aeroméxico
Member - Albert Klüyver, CEO, InselAir
Alex de Gunten, Executive Director, ALTA
