IATA Urges Cooperation to Strengthen Latin American Aviation

IATA Urges Cooperation to Strengthen Latin American Aviation

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called for close cooperation and innovation among aviation stakeholders to meet the challenges and opportunities in the Latin America-Caribbean (Lat Am) region.

“Aviation in Lat Am is a bright spot in the aviation world -- the only region generating aggregate profits for three consecutive years,” said Tony Tyler, IATA’s director general and CEO, in an address to the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) Airline Leaders Forum in Rio de Janeiro. September figures show the region’s international passenger traffic growing faster than the global average.

Tyler attributed the region’s strong performance to structural change over the last decade. “It is absolutely clear that the hard work of the last decade has transformed the region’s air transport industry for the better,” said Tyler. “Overall, Latin American aviation has become safer and more profitable. It has also been a cradle of innovation on cross border ownership structures. And the merger of TAM and LAN will create an aviation powerhouse of global scale.”

Tyler urged Lat Am participation in further innovation to address the global challenges of safety, security, environment and infrastructure.