Covid-19 a chance for Asean’s aviation to promote tourism
KUALA LUMPUR: The Covid19 pandemic is perceived as an opportunity for Asean to play an active role in the aviation industry, particularly in promoting tourism and bolstering the regional overall economy.
Rolls-Royce Southeast Asia, Pacific and South Korea president Dr Bicky Bhangu said while the aviation sector may have stalled as a result of the pandemic, it can be more resilient if the right structural response measures were taken.
“The structural response cannot be delivered solely by external support such as government financial assistance and considered industry response.
“But it presents opportunities of strengthening dialogues across policy makers and establish a more uniform standard and approaches in handling crisis and capitalising on opportunities,” said Bhangu, who is also Malaysian IndustryGovernment Group for High Technology director.
He expressed such view during a webinar entitled “The Aviation Industry: Taking Us to The Skies again?”.
Echoing his perspective, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd Aviation Marketing and Development general manager Mohamed Sallauddin Mohamed Shah said despite the current headwinds, Southeast Asia’s larger share of domestic and short-haul travel indicates strong potential for a post-pandemic recovery.
“This would be driven by increase in middle-class population and private consumption, while the region’s economy has expanded by nearly 70 per cent over the last decade,” he said.
Another panellist, Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia former chairman Datuk Seri Azharuddin Abdul Rahman said in response to a question on
Asean Open Skies, that although the policy has been ratified, there is slower or no development and improvement in the area of secondary airport.
“It depends on the member countries as well as the carrier itself,” he added.
Meanwhile, Pangolin Investment Management director Mohshin Aziz said it was imperative for aviation reforms to take place as post-pandemic recovery would see more airline bankruptcies and airport consolidation despite the arrival of the Covid-19 vaccine.
“Market however would be more efficient, although the growth rate would be slower,” he opined, adding that countries could have up to two airlines, while larger countries like China and the United States could have up to five airlines.
In regard to vaccines, he said the relevant authorities should deliberate and provide clear and uniform standard operating procedures (SOPs).
“Locally, the government must rope in the Ministry of Health to be part of this getting back to travel promotion, whilst globally, the International Civil Aviation Organisation; International Air Transport Association; and World Health Organisation must try their best to ratify and develop a common vaccine passport that is accepted by the world over.
“If successfully implemented, this will greatly aid air travel recovery and if this vaccine card is back, we should not view it with reservation. The computer systems in place are more powerful nowadays and this can be done fairly easy and without prohibitive cost,” he said.
He said vaccines would greatly help promote confidence and trackability of passengers.
“This could potentially remove the need for quarantine and boost recovery in travel as fast as possible,” he added.
The structural response cannot be delivered solely by external support such as government financial assistance and considered industry response. Dr Bicky Bhangu