Global airports association urges greater air connectivity

Airports Council International Asia-Pacific & Middle East (ACI APAC & MID), an association of 624 airports, delivered two key papers at a Riyadh conference that highlighted the critical need for enhancing air connectivity, and seamlessly integrating Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) into the current air transportation framework. The papers presented at the ICAO Conference of Directors General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for the Middle East region in Riyadh, laid emphasis on the importance of restoring and developing air connectivity, urging countries to further liberalise market access policies in terms of traffic rights on a bilateral and multilateral basis. Additionally, ACI APAC & MID urged states to streamline and simplify the visa application process for inbound international travellers where applicable. With the commercialisation of AAM expected in the coming years, ACI APAC & MID stressed the need for harmonised standards, certifications, and policy frameworks to regulate this sector. Such measures are crucial to ensure the highest levels of safety and security, fair market access, and robust competition.<br/>