The meeting discussed the current state of the industry, including the recovery of the aviation sector and travel demand following the COVID-19 crisis and the time expectations for the sector’s recovery, in addition to the repercussions of the war in Ukraine on air transport, which mainly affected the operating costs of airlines around the world due to the significant increase in aviation fuel prices.
The meeting also focused on several strategic issues; most importantly, aviation and the environment, whereby the Committee affirmed its support for CORSIA-the global system for reducing emissions for international aviation, as the only Market-Based Measure to deal with international aviation’s emissions. In addition, the Committee discussed the latest developments in ICAO in preparation for discussions on the aspirational long-term goal of reducing CO2 emissions for international aviation, which will be discussed at the ICAO General Assembly this month in Montreal. The Committee also raised important principles to facilitate the use of sustainable and low-carbon aviation fuels to reduce aviation emissions.
The Committee dug deeper into digital transformation in enhancing sales through direct channels and improving customer relationship management while looking at the challenges facing airlines in both direct and indirect channels.
The Executive Committee also raised the issue of the danger posed by transporting lithium batteries on board aircraft inside the baggage of passengers, stressing the importance of having unified standards for all concerned aimed at avoiding accidents or damage that may result from not declaring the presence of this type of batteries inside the baggage.
In the end, the Committee reviewed the latest developments of the current joint projects between AACO members, and some administrative and financial affairs for the organization.
Eng. Samer Al-Majali, Vice Chairman and CEO of Royal Jordanian, expressed his pleasure in hosting the CEOs of Arab airlines, pointing to the importance of such gatherings which build foundations for cooperation between Arab airlines and strategies to protect their common interests. He pointed out that Royal Jordanian has been a member of the Arab Air Carriers’ Organization (AACO) since the year of establishment of AACO in 1965.
Secretary General of the Arab Air Carriers’ Organization, Mr. Abdul Wahab Teffaha, expressed his gratitude to Royal Jordanian for hosting the meeting of the Executive Committee, whose duties include supervising the work of AACO and directing its activities in strategic matters of interest to Arab airlines and the Arab aviation industry as a whole. It also supervises the administrative and financial affairs of AACO, and the joint work among its members in various fields of ground and air services, aircraft maintenance, fuel, distribution, information technology, training and other areas that aim at developing the Arab air transport industry.
