The small signs of economic recovery will undoubtedly be hotly debated during the World Travel Market 2009 Air Travel Programme.
While figures from the International Air Transport Association showed losses of £3.9 billion ($6.39 billion) for the first six months of the year, passenger and freight volumes saw some improvement in July with a three per cent rise month-on-month.
The organisation, which represents 93 per cent of international air traffic, has advised caution in terms of expectations of a quick recovery and against this backdrop WTM has brought industry leaders together to debate the challenges facing the sector.
Tuesday November 10 sees a ‘Head to Head’ between Etihad Airways Chief Executive James Hogan and aviation consultant JLS Consulting director John Strickland, who is organising the programme on behalf of WTM.
Hogan and Strickland will cover a range of aviation hot topics including the current market with challenges such as fuel prices, falling demand and the uncertain economic climate and future strategy.
On Wednesday November 11 senior aviation experts including Emirates divisional senior vice president of worldwide commercial operations Richard Vaughan will look at the challenge aviation faces in dealing with environmental issues.
While demand has fallen globally and capacity has been cut, the environment is still very much in the spotlight and the session will take an in-depth look at how the industry is facing the issue.
Both sessions promise to be lively and insightful combining expert views from those on the leading edge on today’s challenges and healthy debate on the way forward.
World Travel Market chairperson Fiona Jeffery said: “The aviation industry has really born the brunt of the global financial downturn, although recent figures would indicate it’s starting to recover.
“The Air Travel Programme will examine the current shape of the sector and how it needs to equip itself to prosper in the future.