AFA Press Release, 30 December 2011

For the past 25 years Aerospace Forum Asia has been the region's leading advocate, promoting government, industry, media and public appreciation of the aerospace industry as a vital enabler of global, sustainable economic growth.

The Forum wishes to congratulate the Airport Authority Hong Kong on the energy, professionalism and diligence with which it has carried out the consultation process on its Master Plan 2030. In particular we are proud to have hosted the "Our Airport, Our Future, Final Call" Symposium on 2 September (the last day of the public consultation exercise) and thus play an important role in stimulating informed, balanced and open discussion of the options for future development of the HKIA.

The results of the consultation, which overwhelmingly favour construction of a third runway at the Hong Kong International Airport as soon as possible, show that the Hong Kong community has an excellent understanding of the importance of the Airport in supporting international trade, tourism and economic growth in Hong Kong, South China and the wider Asian Region.

We wholly endorse the recommendation which the Authority's Board has made to the Hong Kong SAR Government, to proceed with urgency towards a full environmental impact assessment of constructing a third runway at HKIA and we look forward to continuing to support the Authority in this important endeavour.

Elizabeth Bosher -  Director-General, AFA

By Charlotte So - South China Morning Post and Reuters in Brussels, 22 December 2011

Europe's highest court has backed a European Union law charging airlines for carbon emissions on flights to and from Europe, a decision set to increase ticket prices for Hong Kong travellers.

All airlines flying to and from EU airports will have to buy permits under the EU's emissions trading scheme from January 1, the European Court of Justice ruled yesterday.

"The directive including aviation activities in the EU's emissions trading scheme is valid," the court said in a statement. "Application of the emissions trading scheme to aviation infringes neither the principles of customary international law at issue nor the open-skies agreement."

International airlines argue carbon taxes should be levied through a global treaty, not a regional edict.

Airlines operating direct long-haul flights to Europe had challenged the EU's right to base the carbon levy on a plane's entire journey rather than the part of it in EU airspace. They say this will put them at a competitive disadvantage to competitors operating indirect flights from hubs near EU borders.

Cathay Pacific Airways (SEHK: 0293) said it was disappointed with the European court's ruling, which represented a "green light towards an emerging patchwork of complex bureaucratic schemes, which will ultimately have no impact on improving the environment and will hit passengers".

Cathay will levy a HK$50 per passenger surcharge for all flights to and from Europe from January 1 to partially offset the additional cost. While the surcharge might seem relatively small, it was expected to rise in the future, John Slosar, Cathay Pacific chief executive, told an industry forum this month.

Yesterday's ruling was in line with expectations after a senior adviser to the court issued a preliminary opinion in October finding the EU legislation did not infringe other states' sovereignty and was compatible with international agreements.

The case was initially brought to the London High Court of Justice by the Air Transport Association of America, American Airlines and United Continental, but the London court referred it to the European court in Luxembourg.

Critics of the EU rules have argued that under the 1997 Kyoto climate pact, countries agreed to address emissions from aviation jointly through the UN's International Civil Aviation Organisation.

More than a decade on, talks in that forum have not yielded significant progress.

Segment: China Aviation Market Growth

Martin Craigs, President of Aerospace Forum Asia believes that air capacity growth is starting to slow in China due to infrastructure limitations.

Airtime: Wed. Aug. 24 2011 | 11:20 PM ET
Video courtesy of CNBC.com

Segment: New Leadership at IATA

Martin Craigs, president at Aerospace Forum Asia, is confident about the leadership of Tony Tyler, incoming CEO of the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Martin believes Tony's track record in the industry and deep understanding of Asia will position him well for the new role.

Airtime: Mon. Jun. 06 2011 | 8:10 PM ET
Video courtesy of CNBC.com

Segment: Cathay Pacific's CEO Tony Tyler Steps Down

Martin Craigs, president at Aerospace Forum Asia, shares his thoughts on the leadership change at the helm of Hong Kong's flag carrier Cathay Pacific and what this means for the airline. He speaks to CNBC's Karen Tso & Sri Jegarajah.

Airtime: Mon. Dec. 10 2010 | 7:30 PM ET
Video courtesy of CNBC.com

Segment: China's Aerospace Industry Taking Off?

In order for China's aerospace industry to gain commercial acceptance in the marketplace, Martin Craigs, president at Aerospace Forum Asia, says the sector needs more intellectual capital. He speaks to CNBC's Karen Tso, Martin Soong & Sri Jegarajah.

Airtime: Thurs. Nov. 18 2010 | 7:40 PM ET
Video courtesy of CNBC.com

Segment: Cathay Pacific: Air Cargo JV Will Expand China Footprint

The air cargo JV inked between Cathay Pacific and Air China will greatly expand Cathay's footprint in China, said its COO, John Slosar. He tells guest host, Martin Craigs of Aerospace Forum Asia, CNBC's Martin Soong, Karen Tso, Sri Jegarajah and Emily Chan more.

Airtime: Thurs. Jan. 25 2010 | 6:30 PM ET
Video courtesy of CNBC.com

Segment: Flight Plan for Asia's Airlines

Asian governments need to assume the mantel of leadership at a policy level to reflect the commercial influence and might that they have right now in the aviation industry, says Martin Craigs, president at the Aerospace Forum Asia. He tells CNBC's Martin Soong & Sri Jegarajah why this is vital.

Airtime: Thurs. Feb. 4 2010 | 8:09 PM ET
Video courtesy of CNBC.com

To view more coverage of the Singapore Airshow 2010 with Martin J. Craigs, please watch these additional video clips from CNBC:

• Can Boeing Meet Its Promise About 787's Delivery?
• Unwise for China to Levy Sanctions on US Firms: Analyst
• Airbus: Asia Will Make Up a Third of Aircraft Demand
• Boeing On Track to Deliver 787 to ANA by Yr-End
• Cathay Pacific CEO: Plans to Up Capacity in 2010
• Honeywell Spreads Its Wings in Asia

Below you can find copies of the AFA material that was produced and circulated during the Airshow.

PDF 78KB	PDF 74KB	PDF 41KB
Newsletter	Media Highlights	Aviation Leadership Summit 2010 Program

China is shooting itself in the foot by threatening to sanction U.S. defense contractors, says Charles Alcock, editorial director at Aviation International News. He tells Martin Craigs, president at the Aerospace Forum Asia & CNBC's Martin Soong why.

Airtime: Thurs. Feb. 4 2010 | M GMT 00 ET

Video courtesy of CNBC.com

Asian carriers will make up about a third of the demand for new aircraft in the next 20 years -- an order book estimated to be worth around $1.2 trillion, says Airbus's COO, John Leahy. He tells CNBC's Martin Soong & Oriel Morrison how the firm plans to cash in on this

Airtime: Wed. Feb. 3 2010 | 11:36 AM ET
Video courtesy of CNBC.com