Results of new Ernst & Young report to be revealed at special seminar session; increasing competition prompts leaders to reassess business models and global strategy
Aviation sector experts and commentators will gather in Dubai for the 20th annual Arabian Travel Market (ATM) exhibition next month as the industry comes under close scrutiny at dedicated sessions as part of the overall ATM 2013 seminar series.
Kicking off the debate, two of the giants of aviation will take part in The Big Conversation on the first day of the show, with Emirates Airlines President, Tim Clark, and Qantas CEO, Alan Joyce, discussing their groundbreaking partnership.
A Euromonitor-led presentation at the WTM Vision seminar on 7th May, will share the results of research into the opportunities for growth by low cost airlines in the Middle East. Another aviation outlook session, focusing on the challenges and opportunities, will feature Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO, flydubai; Aage Dunhaupt, Director, Group Communications Southeast Europe, Middle East & Africa, Lufthansa; and Randy Tinseth, Vice President, Marketing, Boeing Commercial Airlines.
Building on the momentum, Sunil Malhotra, Director Aviation Sector, Middle East & North Africa for Ernst & Young, will present the latest industry findings and a 10-year outlook with a session entitled ‘Looking to the skies: global aviation trends 2013 – 2033’ on the afternoon of 8th May from 4-5pm.
“The last three years have seen the global aviation industry turn a corner despite ongoing market turbulence. While consolidation is the strategy in North America, and European carriers are busy lobbying for an end to excessive taxation and passenger duties, the Middle East and Asia are capitalising on both route network growth opportunities and strong passenger demand,” said Mark Walsh, Portfolio Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions.
According to IATA, global airline sector profit will grow from -$US4.6 billion in 2009 to a forecast figure of US$7.5 billion for 2013 with Asia Pacific and Middle East based airlines dominating the international passenger market and leading the way in terms of improved operating margins.
“The aviation industry has grown by 53% since 2000 despite the impact of SARS, the global financial crisis and regional conflicts. The world passenger growth in air traffic is recoded at 5% p.a. (CAGR) by ICAO scheduled traffic analysis since 1980,” said Sunil Malhotra, Director, Aviation Sector MENA, Ernst & Young who spoke on Global Aviation trends at the ATM.
“According to the report, Asia-Pacific will lead world traffic by 2031, with a 32% share, while the Middle East will rise to 11% in 2031 from the current figure of 7%. The future forecasts over the next 20 years for the world GDP growth as per IMF is at 3.2% p.a. (CAGR) and based on ICAO forecasts, the number of airline passengers is projected to grow at 4% p.a. (CAGR) with airline traffic growth outlined to grow at 5% p.a. (CAGR),” added Malhotra.
Partnership activity is a major focus of the report as Airlines are proactively seeking for more meaningful alliances and partnerships to boost their synergies and passenger flows.
“Some of the Gulf carriers are joining global alliances, whilst others have entered into strategic code shares to promote traffic flows between continents. Airlines are now planning to evaluate aggressively dormant partnerships and look at creating a cohesive air charter for organic growth,” said Malhotra.
However, he points out that despite consolidation and new alliances, the industry is facing a highly competitive environment, which continues to weigh down airline profitability and return on capital, with it unlikely to catch up with cost of capital in the near future.
“Facing future uncertainty in a risk-laden market, legacy carriers are also scrambling to find a model that works, with a refocus on short haul routes, development of LCC’s and re-evaluation of their long-haul networks,” he added.
Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai and set to celebrate its 20th anniversary, the show has grown to become the largest showcase of its kind in the region.
Photo caption: Sunil Malhotra, Director, Aviation Sector MENA, Ernst & Young
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
