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Doha - Qatar

The 54th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Arab Air Carriers’ Organisation (AACO) opened in Doha today, patronized and attended by Minister of Transport HE Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti.

The two-day AGM was inaugurated by Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive and Chairman of the 54th AGM HE Mr. Akbar Al Baker. Director-General of the Arab Civil Aviation Organization (ACAO) Eng. Abdennabi Manar, Director General, Mobility and Transport, European Commission Mr. Henrik Hololei and Director General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) William M. Walsh were in attendance.

The event is also attended by more than 200 senior aviation decision-makers, including CEOs of IATA member airlines, partner airlines, IATA partners in the aviation industry such as aircraft and engine manufacturers, the global distribution system and IT organizations and several other companies concerned with Arab and universal aviation industry.

HE Minister Al-Sulaiti thanked the AACO for its efforts to enhance cooperation between airlines in Arab countries for the best interest of the Arab air transportation industry and to increase its contribution to economic growth.

This event, he said, comes in an exceptional timing through which we in Qatar have succeeded to maintain civil aviation operations via the national carrier Qatar Airways, in addition to maintaining business continuity at Hamad International Airport in spite of the repercussions of the pandemic. He said they did so to actively reinforce the contribution to leading the recovery of the Arab and world travel sector and ensure the stability of supply chains around the world.

He hoped success for the AGM with the necessary decisions to support the Arab air transportation industry under such extraordinary circumstances.

The convening of the 54th AACO AGM embodies the intention of the aviation sector in our region to restore air connection and travel services back to normal and we are fully mindful of the important role upon us to revive and revitalize the aviation industry, given its impacts on communities, said Mr. Al Baker.

He said the 54th AACO AGM tomorrow will discuss a roadmap and key topics relating to air transportation recovery and developing the aviation industry sustainably, particularly with relation to reducing carbon emissions.

Despite the challenges facing the aviation industry, he noted, we must continue our efforts firmly towards achieving lower carbon emissions, which is a shared responsibility upon the aviation industry.

AACO Secretary-General Mr. Abdul Wahab Teffaha thanked and appreciated HE Minister Al-Sulaiti for patronizing this 54th AACO AGM, voicing his appreciation for the pivotal global role that Qatar is playing worldwide, particularly in the Arab world. Meeting up in Qatar for the third time at the level of AGM within 20 years demonstrates Qatar’s position in the Arab aviation landscape, he said.

The 54th AACO AGM will discuss several topics on aviation industry recovery from the current tough situation due to the global pandemic.

CNN’s Richard Quest is moderating a panel discussion tomorrow that features Mr. Al Baker, the chairman and director-general of Royal Air Maroc, the Etihad Aviation Group CEO, Mr. Hololei, ACAO director-general and IATA secretary-general.