IATA director-general expresses concern over "critical situation" of aviation industry in India

Syed Akbar
Hyderabad, March 15: Tony Tyler, director-general of the International
Air Transport Association, on Thursday expressed concern over the
“critical situation” of the aviation industry in India. He emphasised
the need for addressing the problems of the aviation sector.

Participating in India Aviation 2012 here, Tony felt that since the
crisis being faced by the industry cannot be addressed to by
individual companies, the government should intervene and initiate
measures to solve the problem. “The problems the Indian aviation
sector is faced with are severe and beyond the control of airlines,”
he said adding that the union civil aviation ministry can take steps
in the right direction.

Tony suggested that competitiveness should be rebuilt in the aviation
sector. “We need a four-pronged strategy to make the industry viable
in the country,” he said. The strategy should be based on the pillars
of taxes, infrastructure, costs and investment policies.

Stating that the situation in the Indian aviation sector is
“critical”, Tony called for an urgent action. “I can certainly pledge
the resources of the industry to support the development of such a
policy with the greatest amount of determination and speed. But
without the support of the ministries of tourism, finance, environment
and petroleum and the Competition Commission, the major changes that
are needed cannot take place."

He hoped that the civil aviation ministry's proposals to lift
restrictions would allow strategic tie-ups with foreign airlines.