Domestic aviation rebounds this year

The local aviation industry, which was badly hit by the global health crisis, is seen to achieve full recovery this year.

This was according to the International Air Transport Association in a recent forum organized by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines.

During the Aviation Forum last week, Yuli Thompson, area manager for the IATA in Southeast Asia, said the Philippines and the rest of the Asia Pacific region's aviation market is swiftly recovering and seeing a consistent rise in terms of growth in international and domestic travel.

Thompson said passenger traffic trends for international flights in the Philippines were logged at 75 percent of 2019 levels as of June 2023.

As for the Asia Pacific passenger forecast, Yuli maintained that domestic travel will fully recover in 2023, while international travel will occur sometime in 2026.

Further, Asia Pacific will be seen to lead in traffic growth in the next 20 years.

"However, overcoming current challenges riding on the current momentum, and meeting full recovery will require strong interventions from all players in the aviation sector," he said.

Infra investments

For his part, Cebu Pacific Air chief executive officer Michael Szucs emphasized the need to invest in infrastructure, citing that "Philippine carriers will need to quadruple in size to cater to growing demand."

In her keynote speech, Secretary Grace Poe urged stakeholders to support necessary infrastructure investments, especially following the air system glitch incident earlier this year.

The senator called for the acquisition of a new Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management.

Poe also recommended the hiring of a third-party maintenance provider for the CNS/ATM system.  "It is my hope that the government, the private sector, and other stakeholders can work together and collaborate on air transport projects which will not only generate economic growth but also provide our people with excellent and affordable public services that can improve the quality of life for all," she said.

Also filed by Poe is Senate Bill 1121 which proposes the creation of a Philippine Transportation Safety Board.

Under the directive of the current Marcos administration, Department of Transportation Undersecretary for Aviation and Airports Roberto Lim highlighted the government's key priorities, including aviation safety and strengthening of learning institutions.

Lim further noted the agency's priority of strengthening the Civil Aviation Training Center and engaging with the private sector as close partners for Air Transport Skills Training and Development.

"If we are able to train our air traffic controllers, we would not only meet our own requirements, but the requirements of other countries. We can develop this on an institutional basis," said Lim.

Open up the industry

Kurt Edwards, director general of the International Business Aviation Council, also raised the fact that much could be gained "by opening the industry and making it more known to people."

In terms of managing safety risks, Captain Manuel Antonio Tamayo, director general of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, shared initiatives to advance safety capabilities in the aviation sector through the State Safety Program.

The program employs a risk-based approach to regulations, capacity building and integration of a new organizational structure for monitoring and evaluation.

Meanwhile, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista stressed that the DOTr's goal to rehabilitate the Ninoy Aquino International Airport through a public-private partnership agreement, which he said, will present a "landmark opportunity for economic growth, improved infrastructure, and a world-class travel experience."

Added Bautista, "We are also developing regional airports, such as the unsolicited proposals for the operations and maintenance of the Bicol International Airport, Bohol-Panglao International Airport and Laguindingan Airport."