_{COTHM, again taking a lead over others, is arranging exclusive classes for the aviation aspirants and that’s also in collaboration with International Air Transport Association (IATA).}

by Fraaz Mahmud Kasuri

Pakistan is a country which carries huge potential for almost all the sectors related to hospitality and tourism and among them one major sector is aviation. This sector, in Pakistan, is spreading its wings day by day as the policies at the government level are rapidly becoming tourism friendly. The liberalized form of visa regime to the world, e-visa for 175 countries and visa on arrival for 50 countries, declaring AJK & GB to be non-restricted areas and announcing free movement of foreigners in open cantonments is genuinely increasing the confidence and interest of the travellers in Pakistan.

With all these advancements, the most important thing now is to educate and train the people to join the sector of aviation. College of Tourism & Hotel Management -COTHM, again taking a lead over others, is arranging exclusive classes for the aviation aspirants and that’s also in collaboration with International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Founding of IATA

IATA’s was formed in 1945 and its HQ is in Montreal, Canada, from 57 founding members in 1945, today IATA represents some 290 airlines in over 120 countries. Carrying 83% of the world’s air traffic, IATA members include the world’s leading passenger and cargo airlines.

IATA Training offers flexible training solutions in a classroom, distance learning, virtual or in-company format to meet all budgets and needs.

A call to the member countries by IATA

IATA is calling on governments to intensify their efforts to spread the economic and social benefits of aviation. It is in particular seeking the removal of onerous barriers to the free movement of people across borders. Barriers to travel range from visa restrictions to the inability of airport processes and infrastructure to deal with the growing numbers of air travelers.

Future prospects in aviation

Airlines require access to sufficient, high-quality, and cost-effective infrastructure to meet the rising demand for air transport. In the current scenario, the infrastructure development is not keeping pace with an expected doubling of demand by 2037, and a crisis is looming. The industry’s collaboration with infrastructure partners is critical to maximize customer service and to boost air connectivity.

In 2018, IATA campaigned to ensure that infrastructure investments are aligned to market demand projections. IATA made clear that the air transport industry requires infrastructure that:

• Accommodates growth in demand;
• Drives cost-efficiency and lower charges at airports;
• Promotes sustainable airport governance;
• Aligns airport investment with airline capacity needs;
• Secures a reliable supply of jet fuel at competitive and transparent prices;
• Shapes a common vision of the airport of the future;
• Underpins modernized, efficient air traffic management (ATM) systems

IATA 20 year’s passenger forecast

• More than 8.2 billion aviation passengers will travel by the 2037
• China will be World ‘s Largest Aviation Market in 2025
• Thailand & Turkey will be among the Top 10 Markets
• Indonesia will overtake the UK as the 4th  Largest Market

Job opportunities in aviation

There are two major departments, sales and series, in the aviation industry where trained staff is required to provide the best possible facilities to the travellers. In sales department, jobs like reservation assistant, reservation officer, ticketing officer and ticketing and reservation manager are advertised while, in services department, the vacancies of boarding agent, passenger service assistant, passenger ground assistant, cabin crew, cargo handling agent, cargo officer are announced. Dangerous Goods Regulation is another section where skilled and trained staff is required.

IATA – Facts & Figures 2019 – 2036

• Aviation’s economic impact set to double by 2035.
• More than 36 million new aviation-related jobs will be needed by 2034.

          Percentage of respondents expecting growth in each area in the next 2 years:

• Airport operations – 75 %
• Passenger services – 76 %
• Cargo services & operation – 68 %

          Market liberalization and better infrastructure will create 119 million jobs & $7.6 trillion in GDP supported by aviation globally in 2037.

          The 5 fastest growing markets in terms of annual additional passengers in 2036 compared to 2016 will be:

• China (921 million new passengers for a total of 1.5 billion)
  • USA (401 million new passengers for a total of 1.1 billion)
  • India (337 million new passengers for a total of 478 million)
  • Indonesia (235 million new passengers for a total of 355 million)
  • UK (119 million new passengers for a total of 196 million)
  • Many African states will experience a compound growth rate of more than 7.2 % per year, meaning their markets will double in size in 10 years.
  • IATA expects 7.8 billion passengers to travel in 2036, a near doubling of the 4 billion expected to fly this year.
  • The biggest driver of demand will be the Asia-Pacific region. Asia Pacific will contribute 4.00 Billion new passengers between 2019-2036, more than half of the total Aviation Passengers.
• Indonesia is forecast to make the biggest jump from the 10th to 4th largest market by 2030.
• More than 1.5 billion passengers – 43 % of all air passengers – depart from over 175 slots coordinated airports every year.
• In the next 10 years, Check-in personnel, Airport Passenger Assistants and Boarding-Gate Agent roles are expected to transform, according to aviation HR professionals.

Source: IATA Aviation Human Resources Report

CPEC factor

Having Pakistan particularly in focus, China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) factor cannot be neglected. After having an infrastructure from Gwader to Kashghar under CPEC, a huge number of jobs will be created in the field of aviation and we need to be prepared to fill this gap well in time.

COTHM – An Authorized Training Centre (ATC) –IATA

In this era of global connectivity, the Travel, Tourism & Airline Management is one of the fastest growing industries in the world where the demand for highly qualified professionals shows a bullish trend. As new airports and airlines are being built and the older expanded in almost every other country, the opportunities for related businesses and trained human resource and qualified professionals have multiplied enormously to run operations successfully.

Understanding the current and future needs of this sector, COTHM as an Authorized Training Centre (ATC) of IATA has developed specialized study programs in this field for ambitious students who want to get into this flourishing business and be at higher peaks of success in life. Besides, COTHM offers internationally recognized and accredited qualifications from the top travel, tourism and airline management training institutes. The programs are based on providing vocational training combined with explanations of academic theory, which are furnished by competent working professionals’ right from the field. Its alumni have been serving in various departments of many noted, high-class international airlines, airports, transport companies, travel & tourism agencies, governmental tourism departments, institutes whereas many run their own travel and tourism firms.