ALTA’S AIRLINES ALIGN TO FACE INDUSTRY CHALLENGES AND TACKLE INEFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT POLICIES

PANAMA CITY, Panama (November 23, 2010) – The need to face up to major industry priorities and challenges, such as safety, efficiencies and an increasingly environmentally friendly aviation industry was reflected in a series of strong resolutions that were adopted by ALTA members with the conclusion of its 30th General Assembly and the 7th annual ALTA Airline Leaders Forum in Panama City.

According to Alex de Gunten, Executive Director of ALTA, “ALTA’s carriers are among some of the most efficient in the industry and continue to enjoy strong growth.  However, we are continually the target of recessive taxation and suffer a lack of re-investment in the industry.  We call on policymakers to urgently address the barriers to the development of this industry’s full potential, such as over taxation and infrastructure bottlenecks.”

ALTA´s members adopted four resolutions calling for action on the association’s key priorities of safety, efficiencies and environment. The resolutions passed unanimously during its Annual General Meeting that took place during the Forum and brought together the leaders of the leading airlines in the region.

Safety

In consideration that safety remains the number one priority for ALTA and its airline members and that accident rates in the regions have diminished dramatically, ALTA members have committed to:
Call on Governments to reinvest in the industry (infrastructure, civil aviation authorities, etc.) the funds collected through taxes, levies and fees from passengers and the industry;
Strongly support the recommendation of the Latin American Civil Aviation Commission (LACAC) and the paths demonstrated by Brazil, Costa Rica and Mexico, requiring IOSA certification for the operation of airlines in the region;
In order to provide better investigation and flow of information for accident prevention, implement changes in legislation and regulations to protect information without the imposition of penalties to airlines and crew members.

Efficiencies & Infrastructure

ALTA members also agreed that cost efficiencies continue to be an important area of focus for the association.  ALTA members have committed to:

Call all governments to carefully assess the negative impact of tax increases on the industry and passengers;
Exhort airport service providers, air navigation systems providers and government authorities, following the efforts made by airlines on costs and efficiencies, to make their own effort on their sectors, restraining themselves from new arbitrary and unjustified raises on taxes and fees, which are against the common goals of social development and international commerce growth;
Call on governments to expand the implementation of joint projects with airlines, focused on obtaining common benefits through cost efficiencies

Call on governments to eliminate the restrictions of substantial ownership and effective control from their local regulations and from the bilateral air services agreements to which they are parties, allowing the biggest participation of foreign capital in the industry.

Environment

A resolution was passed during the AGM focused on the association´s environmental efforts geared to:

Support the unified position of both ICAO and the worldwide aviation industry, in terms of aspirational goals and emission reduction;
Reiterate the request of a global emissions scheme led by ICAO, through the use of market-based measures (MBM), and to monitor the provisions raised by the 37th ICAO Assembly in its resolution on environment;
Reject the application of taxes on aviation emissions, since they do not effectively tackle climate change;
Reinforce the strong opposition to any unilateral, national or regional regulation on emissions and in that sense, to especially call Governments of the region to oppose the unilateral implementation by the European Community of its Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) on aviation;

ALTA calls its members to collaborate with ICAO, through LACAC and civil aviation authorities in their respective countries, and other United Nations agencies whose mission is to address climate change, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

NEW ALTA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

ALTA also appointed its new six-member executive committee for the 2010-2011 period, responsible for guiding the association´s efforts and facilitating the development of air transport throughout the Latin American and Caribbean region.  Chairman of Grupo TACA Roberto Kriete will continue as ALTA´s president and LAN CEO Enrique Cueto will become the association´s new vice president.

2010-2011 ALTA Executive Committee

President – Roberto Kriete, Chairman Grupo TACA
Vice President – Enrique Cueto, CEO, LAN Airlines
Fabio Villegas, CEO Avianca
Pedro Heilbron, CEO, COPA Airlines
Libano Barroso, CEO, TAM
Andres Conesa, CEO, Aeroméxico
Alex de Gunten, Executive Director, ALTA

About ALTA:

ALTA (Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association) is a private, non-profit organization, whose member airlines represent more than 90 percent of the region’s commercial air traffic.  ALTA coordinates the collaborative efforts of its members in order to facilitate the development of safer, more efficient and environmentally friendly air transport in the Latin America and Caribbean region for the mutual benefit of the association’s members, their customers and the industry.  Founded in 1980, ALTA is currently celebrating its 30th anniversary.  Visit ALTA at www.alta.aero.

Member Airlines: Aerolíneas Argentinas, Aeroméxico, Aeroméxico Connect, Aerosur, Air Jamaica, Avianca, Bahamas Air, Caribbean Airlines, Cayman Airways, COPA Airlines, COPA Airlines Colombia, Cubana, GOL, LAN, LAN Ecuador, LAN Peru, LIAT, Mexicana, Mexicana Click, PLUNA, TACA, TACA Peru, TAM, TAM Mercosur, TAME, Volaris, VRG Linhas Aéreas -GOL Group. Associate Members: Air Canada, Continental Airlines, Iberia, United Airlines, UPS, WestJet. Affiliate Members: Airbus, Airline Business Magazine, Amadeus, AON, ARINC, ATR, AvGroup, Bain, Boeing, Bombardier, CFM, Chevron Aviation, Embraer, Hahn Air, HEICO, Lufthansa Consulting, Lufthansa Systems, MARSH Aviation, Mercator, Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation, OAG, Petrobras, Pratt & Whitney, ROUTES, SABRE Air Solutions, SH&E, SHELL Aviation, SITA, SNECMA, Spencer Stuart, Superjet International, Travelport, UATP, Wencor, Willis Aerospace.