Major Topics to be discussed at Aviation Summit in Kuala Lumpur

The US and European Union are negotiating a “mega-bilateral” which could enter into force within the next few months. It would create open skies between these two massive markets - and has the potential to change the shape of Asian aviation. In addition to their mega-bilateral, both the US and EU are also in individual bilateral negotiations with Asian and Middle East countries.

These and other vital issues will be discussed in Kuala Lumpur, on 5 and 6 December at one of the highest level aviation conferences ever held in Asia, as airline, airport and tourism leaders review prospects for 2006 at the 2nd annual Asia Pacific and Middle East Aviation Outlook Summit.

The Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation has assembled a panel of experts to discuss this vital new development in world aviation. The panel will address the following issues on 6 December 2005, as part of a Special Liberalisation Session at the Summit in Kuala Lumpur:

• Will a combined North Atlantic open skies mean that other countries are shut out?
• How will this affect Asian and Middle East bilateral negotiations with the US and the EU?
• Will it accelerate liberalisation in the region?
• How will airlines, airports and government negotiations be affected?
• Will this change the role of hub airports?
• Should the region negotiate as a bloc?

Key personnel in the panel include experts in North American and European developments, together with three of the region’s leading aviation policy strategists:

• US - Karan Bhatia, Deputy US Trade Representative with responsibility for Asia (and a key figure in the US-EU aviation negotiations)
• EU - Olivier Onidi, Head of Bilateral Air Transport Agreements, European Commission
• Jamal Al Hai, Chairman of the Executive Board, Department of Civil Aviation, Dubai (inv)
• Stanley Kuppusamy, Vice President, International Relations, Singapore Airlines
• Dato’ Zaharah Shaari, Secretary General, Malaysian Ministry of Transport

Other key parts of the 2006 Outlook Summit programme include former easyJet CEO, Ray Webster’s review of his experience and lessons from the easyJet success story. After almost a decade at the helm of Europe’s leading LCC, Ray Webster chose to attend this landmark event in Asia to share with Asia executives his views on competition between full service carriers, LCC subsidiaries and independent LCCs, innovations in cost reduction and boosting ancillary revenues.

Virgin Atlantic Airways Commercial Director, Willy Boulter, will address the hallmarks to success in pricing a premium product, including strategies for combating irrational pricing and competition from LCCs.

Another highlight is Tiger Airways CEO, Tony Davis, who will describe the key drivers of growth in Asia in 2006 and beyond and the expected impact of the Singapore LCC Terminal on operations and profitability.

In looking at 2006 in prospect, key roadblocks to growth in Asia will be discussed, as well as parent/subsidiary/group airline considerations for LCCs, when in expansion mode. Also, delegates will be able to learn about key trends for the Asia Pacific aviation industry in 2006:

• Will liberalisation flourish? Will fuel prices cut demand? 
• Discover where traffic flows will be, and why. What will be the success factors for airports in retail and development?

With over 10 hours networking time, in addition to the CAPA Aviation Awards Gala Dinner, all participants will be able to develop new business partnerships with over 200 CEOs and senior management from airlines, airports and leading organisations in the Asia Pacific region.

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