Mr. Alexandre de Juniac, Director-General, International Air Transport Association (IATA),
has called on Mauritius to focus on aviation as a strategic enabler of the country’s economic and social development.
has called on Mauritius to focus on aviation as a strategic enabler of the country’s economic and social development.
“The leaders of Mauritius have always understood that air connectivity is vital.
“As we celebrate the first half-century
of the country’s success, let’s keep in mind the critical role that
aviation plays as a pillar of the economy.
of the country’s success, let’s keep in mind the critical role that
aviation plays as a pillar of the economy.
And let’s look to the next fifty years
with a comprehensive strategic focus on maximizing the benefits of
aviation for this island nation,” said Alexandre de Juniac, director
general and CEO of IATA.
with a comprehensive strategic focus on maximizing the benefits of
aviation for this island nation,” said Alexandre de Juniac, director
general and CEO of IATA.
“The key elements of any aviation
strategy are safety, global standards, competitiveness and cooperation.
But Mauritius and other small island states have a critical competitive
advantage in implementing an aviation strategy—and
that is size.
strategy are safety, global standards, competitiveness and cooperation.
But Mauritius and other small island states have a critical competitive
advantage in implementing an aviation strategy—and
that is size.
The country is small enough to rally the
aviation universe—the airlines, the airport, the tourism
infrastructure—to agree to a strategy and to get it implemented quickly
and nimbly,” said de Juniac.
aviation universe—the airlines, the airport, the tourism
infrastructure—to agree to a strategy and to get it implemented quickly
and nimbly,” said de Juniac.
“The goal of a comprehensive aviation
strategy is to enable aviation to drive economic and social development.
That will mean a successful future for Air Mauritius—the home-town
carrier that serves the market as a lifeline. And
it will create opportunities for other carriers to augment the
prosperity that aviation brings with robust competition,” said de
Juniac.
strategy is to enable aviation to drive economic and social development.
That will mean a successful future for Air Mauritius—the home-town
carrier that serves the market as a lifeline. And
it will create opportunities for other carriers to augment the
prosperity that aviation brings with robust competition,” said de
Juniac.
Major elements of a comprehensive aviation strategy would include:
Safety
IATA encouraged Mauritius to take a
leadership role in fulfilling its Abuja Declaration commitment to
recognize the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) in its safety
oversight regulatory framework. IOSA is mandatory for all IATA
member airlines and the 34 African carriers on the IOSA registry are
delivering world-class safety levels—three times better than African
carriers not on the IOSA registry.
leadership role in fulfilling its Abuja Declaration commitment to
recognize the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) in its safety
oversight regulatory framework. IOSA is mandatory for all IATA
member airlines and the 34 African carriers on the IOSA registry are
delivering world-class safety levels—three times better than African
carriers not on the IOSA registry.
Alignment with global standards
Global standards are the foundation of
international civil aviation. This includes the industry’s responsible
approach to managing its climate change impact. The Carbon Offsetting
and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation
(CORSIA) will stabilise emissions from 2020.
international civil aviation. This includes the industry’s responsible
approach to managing its climate change impact. The Carbon Offsetting
and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation
(CORSIA) will stabilise emissions from 2020.
Focus on competitiveness
Mauritius ranks high in many categories
of the World Economic Forum’s Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report.
This includes a fourth-place ranking (behind Malta, Singapore, and
Iceland) for prioritization of travel and tourism
in government policy. But it ranks 116th on price competitiveness
largely driven by ticket taxes, airport charges and fuel costs.
of the World Economic Forum’s Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report.
This includes a fourth-place ranking (behind Malta, Singapore, and
Iceland) for prioritization of travel and tourism
in government policy. But it ranks 116th on price competitiveness
largely driven by ticket taxes, airport charges and fuel costs.
“The airport is probably the most
valuable few kilometres of concrete ever poured on this island. The
return on the investment for the economy is immense. There must be an
open dialogue with the airlines to ensure that development
provides sufficient capacity, technical excellence aligned to airline
needs and affordable costs,” commented de Juniac.
valuable few kilometres of concrete ever poured on this island. The
return on the investment for the economy is immense. There must be an
open dialogue with the airlines to ensure that development
provides sufficient capacity, technical excellence aligned to airline
needs and affordable costs,” commented de Juniac.
Cooperation
“Mauritius has impressive connectivity.
But there are many markets that have still to discover Mauritian
hospitality. And no single airline can provide the connectivity that is
needed. Partnerships with other airlines are enhancing
the nation’s connectivity,” said de Juniac.
But there are many markets that have still to discover Mauritian
hospitality. And no single airline can provide the connectivity that is
needed. Partnerships with other airlines are enhancing
the nation’s connectivity,” said de Juniac.
De Juniac also noted the strategic location of Mauritius between Asia and Southern Africa.
“Mauritius is well-placed to grow its
footprint in Africa. It is accessible—only requiring visas from six
African countries. Cooperation with South African Airways and Kenya
Airways opened two gateways into the African continent.
And the Single Africa Air Transport Market creates the potential for
even broader connectivity. For sure Africa’s development will demand
increased air connectivity with Asia’s important markets. Could
Mauritius evolve as a one-stop hub, efficiently connecting
Southern African markets to points in Asia-Pacific?” said de Juniac.
footprint in Africa. It is accessible—only requiring visas from six
African countries. Cooperation with South African Airways and Kenya
Airways opened two gateways into the African continent.
And the Single Africa Air Transport Market creates the potential for
even broader connectivity. For sure Africa’s development will demand
increased air connectivity with Asia’s important markets. Could
Mauritius evolve as a one-stop hub, efficiently connecting
Southern African markets to points in Asia-Pacific?” said de Juniac.
Business of Freedom
“We know that aviation brings in the
tourists, that it connects us to family and friends, and that it is a
catalyst for economic, social and educational ties. The
post-independence success story that is Mauritius today would be
very different without connectivity that can only be facilitated by
air. Aviation is the business of freedom—and that includes the freedom
to develop,” concluded de Juniac.
tourists, that it connects us to family and friends, and that it is a
catalyst for economic, social and educational ties. The
post-independence success story that is Mauritius today would be
very different without connectivity that can only be facilitated by
air. Aviation is the business of freedom—and that includes the freedom
to develop,” concluded de Juniac.
