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Nov 2006

Indo-EU aviation summit from Nov 23 in Delhi

     New Delhi: In a bid to bring together the top-level policy makers and industry executives from all sectors involved in the European and Indian aviation and aerospace industries, a two-day Indo-EU Aviation Summit will be held here on November 23 and 24. Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel and Vice President of the European Commission Jacques Barrot will inaugurate the Summit, jointly organised by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Directorate General for Energy and Transport of the European Commission. The Aviation Summit envisages providing an important platform for enhancing co-operation between the EU and India in aviation sector. Policy statements and business strategies will be at the centre of the discussions, which will address a wide range of topical trends and new opportunities in EU-India aviation relations. Key players from the public and private sectors in India and the EU, including representatives of governments, airlines, airports and aerospace industries, and service providers are expected to attend the Aviation Summit.

     At the EU-India Summit held in November 2004, the EU and Indian leaders had decided to upgrade the EU-India relationship to the level of a Strategic Partnership and to support this partnership through the implementation of a Joint Action Plan. The Joint Action Plan was endorsed at the 2005 Summit held here in September, including a range of proposed initiatives in the area of civil aviation aimed at strengthening co-operation between the EU and India in this priority field of activity. The summit assumes significance as in the recent years, the Indian air traffic market has been among the fastest growing in the world. In 2005, domestic air passenger traffic in India increased by 22 percent while international passenger traffic grew by 15 percent. Since 1990, the number of seats available on scheduled non-stop flights between the EU and India has increased from 2.6 to 5.5. million in 2005 (+116 percent). Capacity on EU- India routes is expected to grow even faster in the coming few years. With such a rapid development in air traffic, important new challenges and opportunities are emerging. Market opening and attempts to attract private and foreign capital to the Indian aviation market are seen as part of the measures necessary to develop and modernize India's aviation sector in order to meet increasing demand and consumer expectations. India has therefore in recent years taken decisive steps towards opening up its aviation market. These developments combined with the expansion of the single European aviation market, offer both significant new challenges and opportunities to all involved in the aviation sector both in India and within the EU.

     Highlights of the issues that the EU-India Aviation Summit will address include the following: * Political and regulatory developments in aviation in India and the EU * Developments in EU-India passenger and cargo markets * Infrastructure needs and investment opportunities in the aviation sector * Safety and security policies and co-operation * New Challengers in commercial aircraft technology * Air traffic management and technological and industrial co- operation.
-Nov 21, 2006