IATA remains bullish on China

Agency chief says like India, China has a large middle class which has a high appetite for travel

International Air Transport Association is not anticipating a negative impact on air travel in China despite an economic slowdown in the world's second largest domestic aviation market. Chinese airlines flew over a hundred million passengers across domestic and international networks in first three months of 2015.

 

"In the last few weeks we have seen weakening of stock market in China and government intervention. I personally do not think there will be a significant impact on air travel in China. Domestic and international travel demand remains strong," IATA's Director General Tony Tyler stated here today. Like India, China has a large middle class which has a high appetite for travel, he indicated.

 

Tyler, who was in India on a three-day tour, is impressed with the initiative taken by Centre to boost aviation in India but acknowledged that lot more needs to be done to support the airlines.

"The government has announced it will make easy to do business in India. Now a lot regarding aviation business in India is not easy. However I am encouraged by the government initiatives. We have a new minister and new civil aviation secretary who are determined to make a difference. There have been some achievements like on implementation of e-freight. When I come next hopefully there will be more positive developments," he said addressing media today.

 

Tyler also said the civil aviation ministry should carry out detailed cost benefit analysis before it undertakes privatisation of airports in Ahmedabad, Chennai, Jaipur and Kolkata. "Airport Authority of India has already invested in modernisation of airports and there is no requirement to attract fresh capital. If better management is the objective the airports could be given on management contracts," he added.