IATA Calls for Urgent Changes for Brazilian Aviation
IATA Calls for Urgent Changes for Brazilian Aviation
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) praised President Dilma Rousseff’s strategic focus on aviation and urged a quick follow-up with critical reforms to improve the industry’s competitiveness. Preparations to host the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics make urgent progress necessary.
“President Rousseff recognized the power of air transport to drive long-term gains in the quality of life in Brazil in her inauguration speech. Her intention to create a ministry-level Civil Aviation Secretariat is an opportunity to achieve change. IATA is eager to use our global expertise to play a collaborative role in delivering on the President’s expectations with a strategic plan focused on competitiveness,” said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s Director General and CEO. Bisignani made his remarks in a speech at the British Chamber of Commerce in Sao Paulo, with Government nominations for key aviation posts imminent.
Bisignani highlighted some key areas for change, including the creation of an infrastructure and regulatory framework, fuel pricing, air traffic management and environmental protection.
One simple solution is for all airport stakeholders—ANAC, INFRAERO, customs, immigration, public health and agriculture—to institutionalize cooperation. Airlines could bring solutions to improve terminal operations and reduce congestion, including IATA’s Fast Travel standards for implementing self-service technology, and e-freight to improve cargo handling efficiency.
These solutions exist today and can deliver major improvements,” said Bisignani. IATA also encouraged ANAC to add a new dimension to its safety oversight by adopting the IATA Operational Safety Audit as a requirement for all airlines operating to Brazil.
Aviation is important to Brazil’s economy. It drives travel and tourism which supports 9.1% of GDP and over 8 million Brazilian jobs. Aviation has grown by an impressive 10% annually since 2003. The Brazilian domestic market is the fourth largest in the world after the United States, China and Japan. But with 13 million international passengers it ranks 37th, completely disproportionate to Brazil’s economy which is the world’s eighth largest.
IATA has had a Brazilian office since 1991. IATA’s Brazil office processed about $4.5 billion in industry settlements in 2010 and provides a local access to all of IATA’s global expertise including safety, security, infrastructure development and Simplifying the Business. In December 2010, IATA appointed Carlos Ebner, former Chief Financial Officer of Varig and CEO of OceanAir, as Country Director for Brazil.
