For the second year running, the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) will be holding annual meeting of presidents virtually, amid ongoing travel restrictions in the region that have prevented an in-person meeting from taking place.
The meeting, which will see airline heads from major Asia-Pacific carriers gather, is scheduled to take place in November, though AAPA did not state a specific date.
As with previous years, the meeting of presidents will be restricted to member airline delegates, with a separate media briefing to follow after.
Director-general of AAPA Subhas Menon says: “We had very much hoped that we could hold a physical meeting this year, but with international borders still remaining closed across most of Asia, this is regrettably not possible.”
He also reiterated the association’s call to restore international air travel.
“Prolonged border closures have repercussions far beyond the aviation industry, seriously affecting economic and social wellbeing. We sincerely hope governments will come together to pave the way for the smooth restoration of international air travel. There is an urgent need for streamlined travel policies and practices, allowing much needed cross-border business and social activity to resume.”
The AAPA’s decision to schedule its annual meeting online comes as IATA held its first in-person annual general meeting (AGM) since the start of the coronavirus outbreak.
Held in Boston between 3 and 5 October, this year’s IATA AGM saw some 600 delegates and media members attend.
