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17 May 2023

THE SULTANATE OF OMAN PARTICIPATES IN THE 18TH ACI ASIA-PACIFIC REGIONAL ASSEMBLY IN KOBE, JAPAN

Muscat – Oman Airports: Represented by Oman Airports, the Sultanate of Oman is participating in the 18th ACI Asia-Pacific Regional Assembly, which is set to continue for two days in Kobe, Japan, and which welcomes the world’s leading airport decision-makers and Asia and Pacific airport representatives.

Sheikh Aimen bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Hosni, CEO of Oman Airports and Airports Council International (ACI) Chairman, heads the Sultanate’s delegation at the assembly.

Oman Airports

The participants took part in a discussion regarding the subject of airport and airline recovery following the recent Covid 19 pandemic. The discussion served to highlight how airports in Asia, the Pacific, and the Middle East could re-establish pre-Covid performances, and return to occupy a leading position in the global aviation sector. The 18th ACI Asia-Pacific Regional Assembly, Conference and Exhibition provides an ideal opportunity for airports, the aviation industry, and policy makers to engage in discussions, partnerships and share best practices.

For this year’s agenda, the subject of carbon emissions is of major importance and serves to provide a launching point for ACI and Asia-Pacific airlines to further their aim to achieve net-zero emissions in all operations within the globally implemented accreditation program supervised by the assembly. Aviation industry leaders, as well as experts from allied industries are discussing and exchanging ideas, with the aim of promoting the sector with a diverse mix of topics and exhibitions.

The 18th ACI Asia-Pacific Regional Assembly is again proving itself as one of the most important aviation events in the region. This year, the event has managed to attract a large number of prestigious representatives from various airlines, as well as business partners, to address key issues that affect the aviation industry. The event is also including the participation of a wide range of key partners including regulators, airline companies and organizations related to this industry.

It is worth noting that the Airports Council International of Asia and the Pacific is dedicated to achieving further growth and advancement of these region’s airports.

To-date, it has been over three years since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, with its severe and extended effects on the global community. However, following many months of strict border controls, countries in the region have reopened their doors to international travelers. Also, almost all airports have returned to pre-Covid 19 traffic levels – a figure which represents 88% in comparison to the levels in 2019.

According to the IATA Organization, traffic levels reached 93% compared to levels before 2019. It is estimated that a complete recovery in passenger traffic levels will be achieved in the Middle East by 2024 (this is expected to increase by 4.2% annually till 2040). Airlines in Asia and the Pacific achieved a 283.1% increase in travel traffic during March 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, continuing their strong momentum since the lifting of travel restrictions in the region, while European airlines recorded an increase in air travel traffic by 38.5% compared to the same period in 2022.

Although the past three years were the most difficult that the airport industry and the aviation sector have witnessed, since then, the aviation industry has been on its way to recovery. The Asia-Pacific region was one of the busiest aviation markets in the world, but the prolonged restrictions imposed by many countries during the pandemic affected the region’s speed of recovery. Asia-Pacific airlines are committed to take a closer look at the favorable conditions to achieve growth that the world is witnessing, especially with the rapid return of international travel.

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