Miami (November 20, 2012) - The Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA), Airports Council International (ACI), Airports Council International - Latin America and Caribbean (ACI-LAC), the Civil Air Navigation Services Organization (CANSO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) signed the Joint Declaration on Airport and Air Navigation Service Infrastructure last week during the 9th ALTA Airline Leaders Forum. These associations came together to urge Latin American and Caribbean Governments to develop air transport infrastructure to adequately meet the needs of the industry, now and in the future.
Considering that:
- Airports and air navigation services ("air transport infrastructure") are essential infrastructures for the air transport industry;
- The growth of air transport traffic depends on the availability of air transport infrastructure capacity to accommodate additional passengers, freight and aircraft;
- Air transport infrastructure development is an ongoing process in order to evolve with new technologies, operational processes, and improved safety and security standards;
- The tourism industry and business communities are heavily reliant on cost efficient and effective access to air transport;
- The strategic positioning and economic competitiveness of a region is highly dependent on its accessibility to air transport;
- Airports play a vital role in the social and economic development of the cities, regions and territories they serve, and airports serve as focal points of economic growth;
- Safe and efficient air navigation services have a vital role to play in facilitating and ensuring effective air transport.
The five aviation associations call on the region´s governments to:
- Facilitate the timely development of air transport infrastructure in order to accommodate the growth of the air transport industry and ensure the social and economic benefits that aviation brings;
- Provide effective economic regulatory oversight to attract the much needed investment in air transport infrastructure whilst maintaining the competitive advantages of air transport;
- Encourage the development of sustainable air transport infrastructure commensurate with the actual needs of the regions served and based on operational requirements of the airlines that use the infrastructure;
- Apply the revenue generated from aviation for the development of air transport infrastructure, while maintaining compliance with ICAO policies;
- Refrain from imposing taxes on aviation on a national or multi-national level which are not reinvested into aviation development.
About ALTA:
ALTA (Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association) is a private, non-profit organization, whose member airlines represent more than 90 percent of the region's commercial air traffic. ALTA coordinates the collaborative efforts of its members in order to facilitate the development of safer, more efficient and environmentally friendly air transport in the Latin America and Caribbean region for the mutual benefit of the association's members, their customers and the industry. Visit ALTA at www.alta.aero.
Member Airlines: ABSA, AeroGal, Aerolíneas Argentinas, Aeromar, Aeroméxico, Aeroméxico Connect, Air Jamaica, Avianca, Avianca Brasil, Aviateca, Bahamasair, Caribbean Airlines, Cayman Airways, Copa Airlines, Copa Airlines Colombia, Cubana de Aviación, GOL, InselAir, Lacsa, LAN, LAN Argentina, LAN Cargo, LAN Colombia, LANCO, LAN Ecuador, LAN Express, LAN Peru, LIAT, MasAir, TACA, TACA Peru, TAM, TAM Mercosur, TAME, Volaris Associate Members: Air Canada, Delta Air Lines, Iberia, JetBlue, TAP Portugal, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, UPS Affiliate Members: Airbus, Air Lease Corp., Airline Business, Amadeus, ARINC, Ascend, ATR, AvGroup, Avio-Diepen, Bain & Company, Barfield, Boeing, Bombardier, CFM, Chromalloy, Embraer, GE Aviation, Hahn Air, HEICO, Holland & Knight, ICF SH&E, ILFC, Lufthansa Consulting, Lufthansa Systems, MARSH Aviation, Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation, OAG, Petrobras Aviation, Pratt & Whitney, Rockwell Collins, ROUTES, SABRE Airline Solutions, SHELL Aviation, SITA, SNECMA, SpencerStuart, Superjet International, Travelport, Travel Guard Worldwide, UATP, Wencor, Willis Aerospace, World Fuel Services
About Airports Council International
ACI is the only worldwide association of airports. It is a non-profit organization whose prime purpose is to represent the interests of airports and to promote professional excellence in airport management and operations. ACI has 573 members who operate over 1751 airports in 174 countries and territories.
About CANSO
CANSO - The Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation - is the global voice of the companies that provide air traffic control, and represents the interests of Air Navigation Services Providers worldwide. CANSO members are responsible for supporting over 85% of world air traffic, and through our Workgroups, members share information and develop new policies, with the ultimate aim of improving air navigation services on the ground and in the air. CANSO also represents its members' views in major regulatory and industry forums, including at ICAO, where we have official Observer status.
About ACI-LAC
ACI-LAC represents the interests of 58 Airport Operators managing more than 250 airports in 37 countries of LatinAmerica and the Caribbean. Its primary objective is to promote cooperation among airports members and other air transport and civil aviation industry stakeholders.
About IATA
IATA (International Air Transport Association) represents some 240 airlines comprising 84% of global air traffic.
