THE International Air Transport Association (IATA) is looking to strengthen partnerships with airlines in the region according to Regional Vice President, Asia-Pacific, Sheldon Hee.
Speaking on the cusp of the 44th AGM and 81st General Session of the Association of South Pacific Airlines (ASPA), Hee said he believes the time has come for IATA to re-engage on a meaningful level with regional partner ASPA.
“It’s been some time since we’ve had a formal sort of link-up. And I think we used to work together, but then after COVID, the pandemic, it stopped. And I think it’s about time that we resume some of these connections.”
Hee—who has had close to three decades of experience in the airline industry—was emphatic about the importance of the aviation industry, particularly in connecting the Pacific.
“It’s probably the only practical mode of transport for efficient connectivity between the islands, as well as from the islands to other key markets – whether it’s Asia or Australasia, Australia and New Zealand. And I find that this is actually very core to what aviation is about. Civil aviation, when it was first started in the post-war period, was really about trying to create better connections between communities, options for trade, and facilitating that sort of growth so that communities and countries around the world could prosper together.”
Turning IATA’s re-engagement into practical outcomes—one being greater efficiency—will be what Hee and his team hope to bring, something they have always put a high premium on. “Efficient is very much what IATA stands for still today. We still champion policies that encourage better connections, better connectivity throughout. So, for the Asia-Pacific Islands, I think for us, we come in to advise on opportunities for improving connectivity wherever that’s possible.”
Ultimately, community is core, Hee said. We see aviation as having so much potential in strengthening the growth of the community in Asia-Pacific as well, specifically in the Pacific Islands. And we look forward to seeing what we can do there – contribution and support.”
