Abu Dhabi, UAE: Next month's Global Aerospace Summit in Abu Dhabi will hear a call for cross-national co-operation on passenger rights as C-suite executives to the biennial aviation, aerospace, defence and space gathering examine how to improve the customer service experience and whether it will really win airlines new business.
Consumer protection will figure in the debate with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) warning that loose cross-national co-operation is muddying the picture on passenger rights.
"Without much better country coordination on consumer protection regulations, providing clarity to passengers is unachievable. On some international itineraries, as many as three different sets of rules can apply. That creates confusion and adds to stress levels of already inconvenienced passengers. Rules should adopt a 'smarter regulation approach' and be consistent with existing international conventions, address the root causes of travel disturbances, be transparent, and subject to a rigorous cost-benefit analysis," said IATA's Senior Vice President, Member External Relations Paul Steele.
IATA says that currently, over 60 countries have a variation of passenger protections-- some that border on extraterritorial - yet all seek the same outcomes.
"Passengers, governments and airlines all have the same goal - to get to destinations safely, reliably and on-time. That is often forgotten in drafting consumer protection rules. This can often result in regulations which reduce customer protection and convenience - through higher fares, less choice, and more confusion--and also raise costs for airlines who must comply with a plethora of differing and often conflicting regulatory regimes," explained IATA's Assistant Director, External Affairs, Chaitan Jain.
Jain says that with more countries allowing for more rules, each regulation carries different levels of liability and outlines a need for governments to develop consumer protection regulations that are unambiguous, accessible to consumers, and comparable with regimes in place for other modes of transport.
"It is important that a balance is struck between protecting passengers and industry competitiveness. IATA remains committed to actively engaging with consumer protection bodies around the world in a dialogue to find balanced solutions," he concluded.
The issue of passenger rights will be aired alongside a raft of customer service issues across the entire travel chain and seek to resolve whether price or improved experiences will drive future business.
"Customer service has been a hotly contested issue within the airline industry recently with some carriers convinced it is the bedrock of growing their business and passenger loyalty, while others contend it is putting undue pressure on their bottom lines," said Nick Webb, Managing Partner of Summit organisers Streamline Marketing Group (SMG). "This dedicated session will look at the myriad of service factors including changes in passenger bookings, how they are affecting airline competitiveness and what it all means for airline and OEM strategy."
The Summit, which will run on March 7 and 8 at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), will see C-Suite leaders from the aviation, aerospace, defence and space industries debate and analyse their specific sector trends and needs as well as focus on the two key emerging aviation markets of Saudi Arabia and Africa.
Hosted by Mubadala Development Company, the 2016 Summit, the third in the series, is part of the inaugural Abu Dhabi Aviation and Aerospace Week, which is held under the patronage of His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. Abu Dhabi Airports Company is backing the Summit as an official event partner with Etihad Airways as its official airline.
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The Global Aerospace Summit 2016
The Global Aerospace Summit is an exclusive, invitation-only event for C-level executives, senior decision makers and government officials involved with the aerospace, aviation, defence and space industries. The 2016 edition, the third in this biennial series, will take place March 7-8 in the capital of the United Arab Emirates and will be part of the inaugural Abu Dhabi Aerospace and Aviation Week (ADAAW). The Summit, which is hosted by Mubadala Development Company, will debate and analyse key issues and solutions that face the aviation, aerospace, defence and space sectors across the globe under the over-arching theme of 'Innovation.'
The Global Aerospace Summit is organised by Streamline Marketing Group. For more information, please visit - www.aerospacesummit.com
About Mubadala Development Company
Established and owned by the Government of Abu Dhabi, the company's strategy is built on the creation of partnerships and on long-term, capital-intensive investments that deliver strong financial returns and tangible social benefits for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and that contributes to the growth and diversification of its economy.
Mubadala brings together and manages a multi-billion dollar portfolio of local, regional and international investments and partners with leading global organizations to operate businesses across a wide range of industry sectors. These include aerospace, semiconductors, metals & mining, oil & gas, renewables, information & communications technology, healthcare, real estate & infrastructure, and services. For more information about Mubadala please visit www.mubadala.com.
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© Press Release 2016
