The
five-day Conference, which is only the sixth such event since ICAO
was formed in 1944, sought to address and resolve economic policy
issues in favour of a future that includes an economically viable and
sustainable air transport sector.
Attended
by over 1,000 delegates, from more than 200 States and international
organisations, the Conference included the presentation of over 100
working papers, including seven from Airports Council International.
The papers presented at the Conference sought the development of ICAO
policy on aviation economics, liberalization, fair competition,
taxation and charges, and consumer protection.
Speaking
on the Freedom to do Business Panel at the pre-Conference Symposium
on Sunday 17 March, Mr. Piccolo stated that the regulatory
environment was very different at the time of the last Air Transport
Conference in 2003. Today, regulators needed to allow market forces
to work for airports in the same fashion that was made possible for
airlines. ACI supported the principles of effective market access,
transparency, non-discrimination and fair competition. He said that
the market could be harsh, and airports took risks investing in new
infrastructure since there was no guarantee that airlines would
utilize this infrastructure in the long term.
On
the Symposium Panel discussing Consumer Protection, ACI World
Governing Board Member, Tan Sri Bashir, Managing Director, Malaysia
Airports Holding Berhad and Chair of ACI-Asia Pacific, observed that
passengers' expectations were increasingly demanding and that
handling their many needs was challenging, but for the most part
service provided to those passengers by airports and airlines was
very high. Problems generally arose when things went wrong, and it
was important for industry to work together to develop common
procedures, and here ICAO could provide a suitable forum. He warned
that if industry did not act there was a risk that government
regulations would be introduced which could be out of step with
industry's' capabilities.
Robert
Deillon, CEO of Genève Aéroport and ACI Europe Board Member, spoke
on the Symposium's panel on Taxation of the need for light touch
regulation as the increased competitiveness of airports meant that
concepts such as "single till" were outdated, and that
competition and contestability meant that detailed regulation could
impede infrastructure development and improvements to customer
service.
Speaking
about the Conference, Angela Gittens, Director General of ACI, said
that ACI was consolidating its international representation role as
the voice of the world's airports. The level of engagement that ACI
was able to muster was testament to the increased stature and
importance of airports in shaping the international aviation policy
agenda. In addition to the speakers at the pre-Conference Symposium,
airports were represented by the Chair of ACI-North America, David
Edwards, Executive Director of Greenville-Spartanburg International
Airport and its President, Greg Principato, and the Director of the
Asia-Pacific Region, Patti Chau.
During
the Conference, ACI presented working papers on Market
Liberalisation, Slots and Night Curfews, Passenger Protection,
Airport Competition and Economics of Airports; and jointly presented
papers with CANSO and IATA on taxation and modernising air traffic
management.
