World: Airline executives worry protectionist views could slow air travel

A swell of anti-global trade sentiment is worrying airline executives who are fearful it could lead to slower traffic growth and limit market access. Retrenching on so-called open skies policies that have made it easier for airlines to connect cities across borders would be “a hugely retrograde step,” Tim Clark, president of Emirates Airline said this week. The Dubai-based carrier has grown to become the biggest airline by international traffic. Concern about increased levels of protectionism has been spurred by the US presidential campaign, where both leading candidates have criticized trade pacts with other countries. These worries have been amplified by Britain’s decision in June to leave the European Union and a move by Belgium’s Wallonia region to torpedo a trade deal between the EU and Canada. Belgium last month reached a political agreement with the French-speaking region to salvage the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement. Brian Pearce, chief economist for the IATA, said “aviation flourishes where there is free trade. That’s a concern for us when we see that potentially threatened.” The industry group could be forced to lower its 20-year passenger growth estimate should greater protectionism creep into global trade, he said.<br/>