Industry Associations

AACO

The Arab Air Carriers Organisation (AACO) was established in 1965 within the framework of the Arab League of States. It is the non-profit, regional association of airlines that have their home base in countries members of the Arab League. AACO's Vision is to “stand out globally as THE association that serves with dedication the Arab airlines and to be instrumental in dealing with an evolving aviation industry”.

AACO holds an annual AGM, consisting of the CEOs of the member airlines, which set the strategies and work plans for AACO. The execution and the follow up of AACO’s work is done by the Secretariat General, which comprises around 27 full time staff headed by the Secretary General of AACO. AACO is located in Beirut (Lebanon), while Amman (Jordan) is the base of AACO Regional Training Centre.

AACO’s homebase comprises the following countries: Democratic Republic of Algeria, Morocco, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Republic of Iraq, Republic of Yemen, Kuwait, Libyan Arab Jamahiriyah, Lebanon, Arab Republic of Egypt, Qatar, Syrian Arab Republic, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Republic of Sudan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Oman, Palestine, Somalia, Mauritania, Djibouti and Comoros.

AAPA

The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) isthe trade association of a group of scheduled international airlines based in the Asia-Pacific region, addressing a wide range of issues affecting air travel. AAPA serves as a common forum for the articulation of views on matters and issues of common interest to the Asia Pacific aviation industry, and it speaks with a common voice on behalf of Asia Pacific carriers and puts forward Asian perspectives when dealing with governments, aircraft manufacturers, airport authorities and other organisations on industry issues. AAPA also publishes information on industry traffic statistics and operational performance measures. The permanent secretariat is headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with international representation in Brussels and Washington D.C. Collectively, the 17 AAPA member airlines carry 285 million passengers and 10 million tonnes of cargo representing approximately one-fifth of global passenger traffic and one-third of global air cargo traffic respectively. It is a not for profit organisation and membership is open to scheduled international airlines based within the time zones between GMT+7 and GMT+12.

ACI

In 1991, airport operators around the world created Airports Council International (ACI) – the first worldwide association to represent their common interests and foster cooperation with partners throughout the air transport industry. ACI pursues airports interests in discussions with international organisations, “defending airports’ positions and developing standards and recommended practices in the areas of safety, security and environment initiatives”. It also “advances and protects airport interests in important policy changes on airport charges and regulation, strengthening the hand of airports in dealing with airlines”.

At the same time, ACI states it provides the platform for “pursuing a constructive and cooperative relationship with the airline associations, governments and regulators”. ACI offers its members numerous training opportunities, a customer service benchmarking programme, detailed industry statistical analyses and practical publications.

ACI EUROPE

ACI EUROPE is the European region of Airports Council International, the only worldwide professional association of airport operators. ACI EUROPE represents over 400 airports in 46 European countries. Member airports handle 90% of commercial air traffic in Europe, welcoming more than 1.5 billion passengers each year.

AEA

The Association of European Airlines (AEA) brings together 36 major airlines, representing the voice of the European full service airline sector for over 50 years. AEA works in partnership with the institutions of the European Union and other stakeholders in the value chain, “to ensure the sustainable growth of the European airline industry in a global context.

AEA provides its members support by following all aeropolitical issues, analysing their impact, recommending strategies, networking with all relevant stakeholders and influencing the legislative process. It also maintains extensive data and economics publishing activities.

AFRAA

The African Airlines Association (AFRAA) was established in 1968 in Accra as a trade organisation open to membership of airlines of African States. There are currently 40 members from African Union member States. A non-profit regional organisation, AFRAA was founded to “establish harmonious and effective co-operation between African Airlines”, to accelerate economic and social integration of African countries.

ALTA

Asociacion Latinoamericana de Transporte Aereo (Latin American Air Transport Association), or ALTA, is a private, non-profit organisation composed by Latin American commercial airlines, whose objective is to combine and coordinate the efforts of its Members “to facilitate the development of air transport in the Latin America region and to ensure better communication and collaboration amongst them for the users, the industry and the mutual benefit”.

The general assembly is the main organ of the association and is formed by its Members, whose will be represented in the meetings by airline Presidents.

CANSO

The Civil Aviation Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) is the industry body representing the interests of Air Navigation Service Providers worldwide. Founded in 1996, and headquartered in The Netherlands, the body aims to provide a global platform for customer and stakeholder driven civil air navigation services providers. No body forming a common aviation community had previously existed for the provision of air navigation services.

CANSO’s membership covers 54 ANSPs worldwide as full members, which together share responsibility for handling 85% of world air traffic, although great gaps exist in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Full membership is available to all ANSPs. There are also 50 associate members, primarily air traffic management and aerospace suppliers, including giants such as EADS, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and Thales, as well as ICAO.

The organisation is headed by Graham Lake, who has been Director General of CANSO since Dec-2009. Mr Lake took over from Aleaxnder ter Kuile, and brings a wealth of experience and expertise, having held management positions at SERCO, SITA and ARINC.

ELFAA

The European Low Fares Airline Association (ELFAA) was established towards the end of 2003, as a non-profit making organisation, to represent and protect the needs of low fare airlines and their customers. It was formed in response to what was seen as an urgent need for greater presence and influence from low fare airlines across Europe on an ongoing basis.

ELFAA’s mission is to “ensure that European policy and legislation promote free and equal competition to enable the continued growth and development of low fares into the future, allowing a greater number of people to travel by air”. This will be achieved by (1) identifying policy areas affecting the low fares sector; (2) effectively influencing regulatory issues; and (3) promoting the common interests of its members in the various European institutions.

ERA

ERA is a non-profit trade association representing almost 200 companies involved in European air transport, including airlines, airframe and engine manufacturers, airports, suppliers and service providers from all over Europe. The Association promotes the interests of intra-European airlines by lobbying the European Commission and other European regulatory bodies on policy matters, promoting the social and economic importance of air transport and its environmental commitments, holding an annual conference and other networking events, publishing a monthly journal and providing expert advice and guidance on all air transport regulatory matters.

IACA

The International Air Carriers Association (IACA) cooperates with international institutions, national authorities and airport authorities to ensure that the specific needs of (mainly European) leisure airlines are taken into consideration. It represents 33 leisure airlines in 19 countries. Each year, a General Assembly endorses IACA's work programmes. The General Assembly elects the President and Vice President as well as members of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors consists of one Director from each member country and meets regularly to review the Association's work and priorities.

One of IACA’s core objectives is to represent members' interests in consultation with international authorities and organisations of the EU, the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC), the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA), European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and EUROCONTROL.

IATA

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is an international trade body, created over 60 years ago by a group of airlines. Today, IATA represents some 230 airlines in 125 countries, comprising 93% of scheduled international air traffic. Its mission is simply “to represent, lead and serve the airline industry”.

IATA was founded in Havana, Cuba, in April 1945. It now has 74 offices in 68 countries covering 148 nations, with its Head Office in Montreal, the Executive Office in Geneva and Regional Offices in Amman, Beijing, Johannesburg, Miami, Moscow, Singapore and Washington. The IATA Annual General Meeting & World Air Transport Summit, held in June each year, formalises industry positions on industry and public policy issues and provides a focus for emerging industry issues. IATA's Industry Priorities for 2010 are Safety, Environment, Simplifying the Business and Financial Improvement of the sector.

PATA

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is a membership association acting as a catalyst for the responsible development of the Asia Pacific travel and tourism industry. In partnership with PATA’s private and public sector members, PATA aims to enhance the sustainable growth, value and quality of travel and tourism to, from and within the region. PATA's members include public-sector tourism organisations; air, land and sea carriers; and organisations engaged in the production, distribution, financing, consulting, educating and other technical aspects of the travel industry.

TIACA

TIACA is a not for profit trade association for the air cargo industry, pledged to support and assist progressive liberalisation of the global market, and easier, enhanced trade between developing and developed economies.  It is a worldwide organisation that serves a membership which includes all major segments of the air cargo and logistics industry; airlines, forwarders, airports, ground handlers, all-cargo carriers, road carriers, customs brokers, third party logistics companies, integrators, shippers, and educational institutions. TIACA is committed to representing and advocating the interests of the air cargo industry at meetings of relevant regulatory bodies including the WCO, ICAO, UNCTAD, OECD and others that are open to trade observers.

US ATA

Founded in 1936, the Air Transport Association of America (ATA) represents the leading US airlines in significant government decisions regarding aviation. ATA’s mission is to “serve its member airlines and their customers by assisting the airline industry in continuing to provide the world’s safest system of transportation; transmitting technical expertise and operational knowledge to improve safety, service and efficiency; advocating fair airline taxation and regulation worldwide to foster a healthy, competitive industry; and by developing and coordinating industry actions that are environmentally beneficial, economically reasonable and technologically feasible.

The Association’s fundamental purpose is to foster a business and regulatory environment that ensures safe and secure air transportation and permits U.S. airlines to flourish, stimulating economic growth locally, nationally and internationally.

US National Air Transportation Association