IATA chief urges governments to invest in aviation infrastructure instead of tightening regulations

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has urged countries not to follow the European air passenger protection regulation EU261 as a model, according to a Report correspondent from Rio de Janeiro.

"EU261 is not a model. I am pleased to note that Australia and Dubai made the timely decision to stay away from EU261, and other countries should follow their example," IATA Director General Willie Walsh said at the opening ceremony of the IATA 82^nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) & World Air Transport Summit (WATS).

At the same time, the IATA chief emphasized that governments should focus on addressing infrastructure issues, which are a major cause of flight delays.

According to him, efficient aviation infrastructure can significantly reduce delays. Currently, nearly 400 airports worldwide require slot coordination because existing capacity is unable to meet peak demand.

"Outdated air traffic management systems are struggling to manage such traffic volumes. Flight delays are becoming a significant burden on productivity and competitiveness. Therefore, addressing infrastructure issues must remain a priority," noted Walsh.

He also noted the uneven situation in the airport industry. According to him, a number of countries, seeking to maximize the economic potential of aviation, are investing in the construction of new airport facilities and the expansion of existing infrastructure to stimulate further traffic growth.