'Sustainability’ has replaced ‘recovery’ as the buzzword in the inter-linked aviation and tourism sectors. This was amply evident at the 10th Arab Aviation Summit (AAS 2023) held in Ras Al Khaimah last month (March).
Industry leaders at the summit highlighted the ongoing decarbonisation efforts and the need to get all stakeholders together to achieve net zero by 2050. They called for renewed commitments to reduce emissions and implement strategies for the sustainable growth of the sector.
Are they on track, will they reach the target? Most attendees lifted their hands to indicate ‘yes’ during an instant audience poll by the moderator of a panel discussion. Time will tell.
However, they were all in unison in pointing out the stumbling block – hugely insufficient supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). A major increase in production of SAF is needed to meet the ambitious goal, they highlighted.
The speakers also underlined the fact that sustainable aviation can become a catalyst for driving economic growth and prioritising climate action in the Middle East.
The event was inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, in the presence of several industry leaders at the Al Hamra International Exhibition & Conference Center.
The two-day event (March 14 and 15) was held under the theme ‘Impactful sustainability in modern-day travel and tourism’. More than 800 aviation and tourism sector delegates from across multiple sectors took part.
Prominent speakers at the event included Sheikha Mozah bint Marwan Al Maktoum, First Lieutenant Pilot of the Dubai Police Airwing; Raki Phillips, Chief Executive Officer, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA); Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia; Irena Georgieva, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Republic of Bulgaria; Abdul Wahab Teffaha, the Secretary General of Arab Air Carriers Organisations (AACO); and Aradhana Khowala, the Chair of the Global Advisory Board, Red Sea Global.
In his opening note, Al Ali, also the Chairperson of the AAS 2023, said the last three years had been a great learning experience and showed how resilient the industry was.
“2023 looks to be a positive year for the interconnected tourism and aviation sectors,” he stated.
HUGE CHALLENGES
“There are huge challenges but people are eager to travel and enjoy their lives and that’s our opportunity. However, we must act sustainably, that’s our responsibility for the future generations,” he declared.
Welcoming the fact that sustainability was a key talking point at the summit, Al Ali said: “Safety had been a major issue for a long time and now safety is taken for granted, almost. How did this happen? A lot of work was done in the background and air transport is the safest mode of transportation now.
“It is now the turn of sustainability and we are happy that as the UAE hosts COPS28 this year, the summit and the aviation sector are focusing on this issue,” he added.
Phillips said aviation and tourism were both essential parts of life but they couldn’t be taken for granted as the pandemic has proven.
“Preserving the environment and sustainability are key to Ras Al Khaimah’s growth strategy,” he stated.
“It’s important to be impactful and Ras Al Khaimah is committed to be a sustainable destination by 2025 and is on track with this programme,” Phillips said, adding the northern emirate was in a position to be ‘the destination of the future’.
Insightful panel discussions, participated by nearly 70 renowned industry experts, focused on key subjects impacting the aviation sector.
With the regional fleet set for a significant expansion over the next decade, experts and thought leaders shared insights on challenges and opportunities and called on greater public-private sector cooperation to transition the sector to a greener future.
Efficiency and a practical approach towards sustainability in aviation were key pillars in all discussions. Net zero goals in the industry were also at the forefront of panel discussions as industry stalwarts highlighted the role of SAF and the value of collaboration in strengthening the growth of the sector.
During a panel discussion, AACO’s Teffaha pointed out that the region was close to the 2019 levels of travel and airline traffic. The sector is ready and eager to implement sustainable solutions but there is not enough production of SAF to meet the demand and it could take years and determined efforts to achieve enough output, he said.
Khowala said the governments of G7 and G20 should step up and mandate production of SAF.
On the concern over SAF pricing and possible increase in fares, she went on to suggest that fossil fuel producers who ‘benefited from the recent geopolitical crisis’ should support the aviation sector in its drive towards sustainability.
INCLUSIVITY
Meanwhile, Sheikha Mozah made an impassioned plea for inclusivity in the aviation industry in her keynote address. A shift in the narrative could be achieved with increased representation of women and this will empower young females to identify growing opportunities in the sector, she said.
Delivering the guest country keynote, Georgieva expressed her keen interest in establishing strong ties with countries in the Middle East. A wise and responsible management of the travel and tourism industries would benefit all of humanity, she added.
Khaled Al-Eisawi, Area Manager Gulf & Near East, IATA, commended the alignment among stakeholders in the aviation sector in accelerating efforts to meet net zero goals, stating that this shared vision was a commitment to future generations.
Mikail Houari, President, Airbus Africa Middle East, said the market forecast for the region indicates that 3,000 new aircraft are expected to take to the skies by 2040, of which 40 per cent are to be replacements for existing fleet, underpinning the region’s commitment to sustainability as a key pillar to grow the sector.
John Kelly, President – Middle East, Türkiye and Africa (META), Rolls Royce, said that with a growing demand among passengers to fly sustainably, decarbonisation of the skies could be achieved through clean fuels and emerging technologies that could potentially lead to 50 per cent lower emissions.
The summit, hosted in collaboration with Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, was claimed to be the world’s first aviation and tourism event to calculate carbon emissions.
NEW QATAR, GERMANY FLIGHTS
Starting from November 1, Qatar Airways will operate daily flights to Ras Al Khaimah International Airport, it was announced prior to the Arab Aviation Summit (AAS).
The daily flights will offer greater choice, flexibility and opportunities for travellers looking to explore the ‘nature emirate’, leveraging Qatar Airways’ expansive global network of over 150 destinations.
At the summit, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) and the FTI Group, one of Europe’s leading outbound tour operators, have struck a new agreement for the launch of twice-weekly flights from Munich to Ras Al Khaimah in the fourth quarter of this year.
The agreement was signed by Raki Phillips, Chief Executive Officer of RAKTDA, and Ralph Schiller, CEO of the FTI Group. It will significantly expand air connectivity between Ras Al Khaimah and Germany, one of the emirate’s top five visitor source markets for many years.