The last word
Airport World talks to Latin America and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) executive director, Alex de Gunten.
How is 2010 shaping up for the region’s airlines? The Latin America region is experiencing tremendous growth and recovery in 2010 despite the continued uncertainty of the global economic environment and fl uctuating fuel prices, among other challenges. We couldn’t have chosen a better year to celebrate ALTA’s 30th anniversary if we’d planned it.
How does this translate into facts and fi gures? ALTA’s member airlines carried 65.9 million passengers during the fi rst half of 2010 – a rise of 15.6% on the corresponding period last year. The fi rst half of 2010 also saw a 14.4% rise in revenue passenger kilometres and an 8% upturn in available seat kilometres while passenger load factors reached 71.3%, an impressive 4% increase on the previous year. Freight tonne kilometres increased 44.3%.
Was the upturn a surprise? Not really, as the Latin American and Caribbean carriers even showed a 3.9% RPK growth for 2009 over 2008, quite an achievement in a year of crisis and H1N1. The aviation industry in the region has spent over $30 billion on new aircraft in the last fi ve years ensuring that its airlines have some of the youngest and most effi cient fl eets in the world. By any standards these
numbers and the traffi c fi gures for the past 18 months are very strong, with the South American markets, led by Brazil, showing the way. Signifi cant restructuring and consolidation is still taking place.
98 Factfi le
Time in aviation industry: Around 23 years
Best known for:
Leading change in organisations such as Canadian Airlines, LAN and ALTA
Little known fact:
Has an eight foot long pet crocodile
Are the region’s airports equipped to cope with long-term growth? Despite facing many challenges, the outlook is good and there is great opportunity for Latin America’s air transport industry if we effectively manage the forecasted growth by continuing to focus our collective efforts towards a safer, more effi cient and environmentally friendly industry. Meanwhile, we continue to urge
governments to reinvest the more than $4 billion per year in revenue they collect from passenger and airline taxes on new infrastructure to ensure that the region can effectively and safely manage future growth. They must focus on increasing the industry’s safety record and provide adequate infrastructure. We must address the issue of congestion at our airports and work on solutions to avoid possible future bottlenecks that stifl e growth.
AIRPORT WORLD/OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2010
What impact have the LCCs had on the South American market? A very big one! Specifi cally look at Brazil, Mexico and Colombia. They have taken close to 50% of the market in a few years, lowered fares and stimulated the market place.
Are the region’s airlines doing enough to protect the environment? This is a key focus area for ALTA and our member airlines, so I have to say a resounding, yes! Initiatives have to date focused on new fl eets, noise reduction and fuel emissions. ALTA also supports the goals
and targets set collectively by the industry and mentioned once again at the recent Aviation & Environment Summit in Geneva. As an industry, our aim is to target carbon-neutral growth from
2020 and a 50% reduction in aviation’s net carbon emissions by 2050.
What countries/regions offer the greatest potential for route development? With the exception of the main trunk lines, the entire region is underdeveloped, so this question is extremely diffi cult to answer. Penetration per capita is less than half than it is in Europe or the US.
Is Latin America still the land of opportunity for investors/business development? Yes, if you are willing to look at the long-term. Return on investment has been very positive and the region has some of the most effi cient carriers in the world.
Name: Alex de Gunten Age: 47 Job title: Executive director
Nationality: Swiss, Canadian, Spanish
AW
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