AAPA adopts four resolutions including passenger rights regulation, cabin safety

Association also called on better government support to address cost pressures.

The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) has adopted four resolutions at the closing of its 70th Assembly of Presidents, with passenger rights regulations featuring for the first time since 2018.

The assembly is taking place against the backdrop of immense cost pressures – from significantly higher fuel prices – confronting the airline sector.

Amid these challenges, AAPA director general Wong Hong reiterated his call on governments in the region to “provide timely, practical support” to its airlines, while noting that it “may not always be direct answers, or it may not always be the same type” of support across the region.

Wong, who is helming his first assembly as AAPA’s director general, adds: “Governments must recognise these pressures and work constructively with the industry to provide support that safeguards the long-term viability of air transport across the region.”

What are the four resolutions adopted?

Sustainability returned to the fore at this year’s assembly, with AAPA calling on governments to “take a leadership role” in developing national and regional sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) policies.

“The principles promote an ecosystem approach across the whole SAF value chain, and long-term policy clarity tailored to national readiness. They encourage competition, discourage market concentration and call for a level playing field for all airlines,” the AAPA states.

The association also reaffirmed its “aspirational target” of 5% SAF usage by 2030 – something it announced in 2023 – but Wong acknowledged that the goal “clearly is a big challenge” for its member airlines, given the scarcity of SAF.

The association also called on governments to apply a “set of core principles when developing or reviewing” passenger rights regulations.

It is the first time since 2018 that passenger rights regulations – similar to the European Union’s EU261 regulation – has been high on the association’s agenda. AAPA says it comes as these regulations are “proliferating across Asia Pacific and beyond”, but with inconsistencies in policies “causing a lot of confusion and anxiety” among passengers and airlines.

Wong states: “Insofar as Asia Pacific is concerned, we strongly feel that [the EU261 regulation] is not something that is always or easily replicable in all the markets in our region.”

To this end, it hopes governments can “seek a balance” between protecting passenger rights and industry competitiveness, “without compromising safety and security”.

The AAPA also adopted a resolution on cabin safety, calling on governments, regulators and airlines to collaborate more closely, to address issues such as lithium battery risks, unruly passengers as well as medical emergencies and evacuations.

Lastly, the AAPA resolved to promote regional collaboration “to integrate human factors into aviation security, focusing on training, workload management, security culture and organisational learning”.

This year’s AAPA Assembly of Presidents took place on 12 and 13 November in Kuala Lumpur, hosted by Malaysia Airlines.

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