International Air Transport Association CEO Tony Tyler has lauded Korean carriers for supporting the global e-freight initiative, including the introduction of air waybills. Ensuring that Korea remains at the forefront of the flight sector, however, will require the nation to develop new policies that enhance the competitiveness of aviation, he explained.
Even so, Tyler praised Incheon International Airport in Seoul for building an infrastructure that supports aviation. Incheon, which enjoys the No. 5 spot in Airport Council International’s most recent ranking of the world’s busiest cargo airports, has gone to great lengths to boost traffic, he explained. In 2007, for instance, the airport reduced its landing fees for 2008 through 2010 by 10 percent.
Tyler recommended that Incheon run a similar promotion today to attract even more traffic. “Whether it be decisions on charges, construction or airport privatization, it is critical that Korea’s competitiveness be the guiding factor,” he said in a statement. “You have created a great competitive advantage with the excellent facilities at Incheon, which are competitively priced. Don’t lose that advantage.”
Tyler also addressed Korea’s stalwart opposition to the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, thanking the nation for supporting the International Civil Aviation Organization’s approach to global sustainability. Korea is also part of the 25-state-strong coalition that has congregated around the globe to voice its opposition to the EU ETS — an action Tyler applauds.
“Nobody wants a trade war,” Tyler said in a statement. “Convincing Europe to create the space for success in the ICAO discussions by somehow lifting the immediate threat of its unilateral actions is a top priority.”
