EURO-MEDITERRANEAN AIR TRANSPORT SEMINAR: AMMAN: OCT ICAO’S AIR TRANSPORT ACTIVITIES IN THE MID REGION By Evalou GNANG RO/AT

NAIROBI BANGKOK DAKAR LIMA PARIS MEXICO CAIRO ICAO Headquarters ICAO OFFICES CAIRO

ICAO Middle East Regional Office, Cairo Egypt: Objectives The ICAO Middle East Regional Office (ICAOMID) was established in Cairo, by an agreement with the Egyptian Government signed in The office was established to provide assistance to 19 States in the MID Region and to coordinate with adjacent Regions in Africa, Asia Pacific and Europe. To liaise with MID States, appropriate Organizations and Regional civil aviation bodies, by giving advice and providing necessary assistance as required to establish and maintain a high performance air navigation system aimed at a safe, orderly and efficient air transport system.

ICAO MID Office Objectives (cont.) To foster international civil aviation safety, security and assistance within MID area of accreditation. To encourage, expedite, co-ordinate and follow up the implementation of Air Navigation Plans and maintain them up to date. To act as Secretariat of MIDANPIRG.

MID Regional Office Organizational Chart P Staff = 09 GS Staff = 10 Total Staff = 19 DEPRD RD SECRETARY OAA RO AGA RO AIS/MET RO ATO RO ADMIN SENIOR SECRETARY SECRETARY FIN/ADMIN ASST. ADMIN ASST. MES/REPRODDRIV/CLERK/ MES RO CNSRO ATMRO FLS RO AVSEC ICAORD

MID Accreditation Area AfghanistanAFG LebanonLEB BahrainBAH LibyaLIB CyprusCYPOmanOMA EgyptEGYPakistanPAK IranIRAQatarQAT IraqIRQ Saudi ArabiaKSA IsraelISRSudanSUD JordanJORSyriaSYR KuwaitKUWUAEUAE YemenYEM

LEGEND Major Traffic Flows Low density routes, seasonal high density Area covered by MID CNS/ATM Plan Flows are intended to show area of origin, destination, and approximate flight paths. They do not accurately portray ATS routes Middle East Region Major Traffic Flows

Air Transport Activities The air transport sector of the Middle East and North Africa in 2006 registered a record growth of 12 percent representing the world’s fastest growing region. This high growth is expected to continue through the next 20 years. This growth however is not equally distributed throughout the region but concentrated in the Gulf States.

Remarkable Traffic Growth The region has benefited from strong economic growth driven by: high oil prices. growing world air transport industry. Future growth will be driven by: an increasing number of tourist estimated by the World Tourism Organization to grow at an average rate of 5 percent per year through 2020.

Future Growth Challenges This future growth will have to face the following challenges: Economic and security risks. Increasing competition. Uneven development of regulatory frameworks. Aging facilities in some States. History of wars and neglect in others. This, coupled with economic stagnation and recessions in several States will be the impediments to the development of the air industry.

Infrastructure investments In line with the industry growth, states have realized the need to increase airport capacity and currently plan airport investments of nearly USD 30 billion. This will raise airport passenger capacity from around 170 million to 480 million per year. Most of this added capacity will take place in the Gulf where five mega airport projects (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Jeddah) will add capacity of 270 million passengers per year at an estimated cost of USD 26 billion. The new Dubai World Central International Airport is set to become the region’s largest with a planned capacity of 120 million passengers per year.

Airport Privatization Most of the region airports are owned and operated by national governments. However national authorities are beginning to realize that to cope with demand, the private sector has to be allowed to play a certain role either by: increasing efficiency through management contracts, or by building new airports under build-operate- transfer (BOT) contracts.

Major Challenges Facing the Region Despite the good performance of the sector during the past few years and the anticipated growth over the coming years, the sector faces many challenges: Air transport capacities, volumes and expansion projects are concentrated in the Gulf region. Passenger air travel and cargo shipments in the Gulf States have developed much faster than elsewhere. Ongoing expansion projects of airports and airlines emphasize long-haul networks between the gulf and global destinations with much smaller increases in capacities for intra-regional routes. Inter-regional air transport among States through low-cost carriers is still relatively underdeveloped.

ICAO’s Assistance to MID States in the field of Air Transport Disseminating information and encouraging States’ use of ICAO guidance material. Encouraging attendance at ICAO air transport events. Following up on air transport programmes and developments in States. Assisting States to implement Annexes related SARPs. Coordinating, assisting and organizing/conducting workshops and seminars. Encouraging adoption by States of ICAO ENV policies. Collecting information and encouraging opportune reporting.

ICAO’s Assistance to MID States (cont.) Encouraging States to register new air services agreements and other documents. Encouraging and assisting States to develop and implement harmonized contingency measures to prevent from the spread of disease by air travelers. Coordinating with States, air traffic data collection. Encouraging the development of business cases and financial analysis for planning and implementation of air navigation systems; and Assisting MIDANPIRG with air traffic forecasting for the development of air navigation plans. Organizing Workshops and Seminars (next Traffic Forecasting workshop in Bahrain from Oct. 2007).

ICAO Will continue to: ICAO Will continue to: monitor regulatory and industry developments, to analyze emerging trends and issues, and provide information to States. keep existing policy guidance on economic regulation current and responsive; and where required or appropriate, develop new policy and guidance material to facilitate and assist States in liberalization. take a proactive approach to involve States, the industry and other interested parties in the promotion and implementation of ICAO’s policy framework and practical guidance related to economic regulation and liberalization (such as those on safety and security responsibilities, and liberalization of airline ownership and control). FUTURE WORK

FUTURE WORK (cont.) ICAO will continue to: foster cooperation with other international organizations to address issues of common interest in the air transport field. organize workshops, seminars or symposia to provide a forum for States on economic policy issues; and explore new avenues to facilitate liberalization. promote ICAO policies on taxation and address emerging issues on taxation or charges as required, including those relating to the environment.

International Civil Aviation Organization Middle East Regional Office