06 May 2012
SHARJAH - The recently concluded second Arab Aviation and Media Summit held at the American University of Sharjah, UAE underscored the need for increased skilled and trained manpower availability in the Middle East aviation industry.
"The sector currently employs 56 million people worldwide, and it will employ 1 trillion by 2026 and that's what our region needs at the moment." Each plane needs 250 people just to for it to fly giving a wider space for employment, Dr. Peter Heath, Chancellor of AUS, Omar Bin Ghaleb, Deputy Director General of the Department of Civil Aviation Authority and Adel Al Ali Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia, observed.
"The Middle East is in a very advantageous position. Examples can be taken from experiences of other parts of the world, and see which are the correct steps to take, and which to avoid. Opening the industry here to increased private investment is a step in the right direction; timing it properly will require careful analysis and guidance."
"The Middle East aviation sector has played a pivotal role in steering economic activity, despite continuous political and economic challenges," said Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia. The panel of experts discussed key challenges faced by the industry and the role of aviation in emerging economies as well as the impact of Arab Spring on the regional aviation sector. According to Al Ali, oil price fluctuation, lack of open sky policies, and the impact of Arab Spring represent real challenges for regional air carriers, especially those who operate intra-Arab services.
"Surprisingly there had seen 8 percent growth even with the Arab spring movements going on in several parts of the region which we hadn't expected at all," Abdul Wahab Tefaha, Secretary General of Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO), said.
SHARJAH - The recently concluded second Arab Aviation and Media Summit held at the American University of Sharjah, UAE underscored the need for increased skilled and trained manpower availability in the Middle East aviation industry.
"The sector currently employs 56 million people worldwide, and it will employ 1 trillion by 2026 and that's what our region needs at the moment." Each plane needs 250 people just to for it to fly giving a wider space for employment, Dr. Peter Heath, Chancellor of AUS, Omar Bin Ghaleb, Deputy Director General of the Department of Civil Aviation Authority and Adel Al Ali Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia, observed.
"The Middle East is in a very advantageous position. Examples can be taken from experiences of other parts of the world, and see which are the correct steps to take, and which to avoid. Opening the industry here to increased private investment is a step in the right direction; timing it properly will require careful analysis and guidance."
"The Middle East aviation sector has played a pivotal role in steering economic activity, despite continuous political and economic challenges," said Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia. The panel of experts discussed key challenges faced by the industry and the role of aviation in emerging economies as well as the impact of Arab Spring on the regional aviation sector. According to Al Ali, oil price fluctuation, lack of open sky policies, and the impact of Arab Spring represent real challenges for regional air carriers, especially those who operate intra-Arab services.
"Surprisingly there had seen 8 percent growth even with the Arab spring movements going on in several parts of the region which we hadn't expected at all," Abdul Wahab Tefaha, Secretary General of Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO), said.
© The Saudi Gazette 2012
