International Air Transport Association (IATA) Americas

air transport system to reduce C02 emissions. This is a collaborative approach with a branch of the United Nations and states around the world. And we have an extended plan to where we want it to be in 2050. That is something else that IATA, as a trade association, leads on behalf of our industry – working with different entities to take on social responsibility. And through technology and standards setting, we’re already seeing how C02 emissions have gone done and will continue to go down over the coming decades. We are focused on being a cleaner, more environmentally-friendly industry, doing our part. “The issue of infrastructure is also high on the agenda. Air passenger traffic is going to more than double over the next 20 years. It’s a good problem to have, but that kind of growth is putting a tremendous amount of strain on infrastructure. It’s going to require collaboration with governments, particularly in developing nations, because otherwise the industry will not be able to provide the service to cover more flights and more destinations. “Another issue is regulatory. We’re seeing a lot of policy shifts around the world that affect the air transport system, because when new governments come into play they try to implement programs that have an impact – either positive or negative. So, we keep an eye on these countries to ensure we have policies in place that protect the passengers’ interests, and reforms that are open, fair, and transparent, which permit the industry to grow. Costs are also a major focus of IATA. We’re being vigilant in a proactive manner to make sure there are transparent ways of pricing, that all stakeholders abide by policy standards, and there is ample consultation with the industry.” BVC: What is uppermost on the agenda for the Caribbean region? Cerda: “We are a very volatile region in the Caribbean and the Americas, in the sense that it is common to have political, social, and economic crises, and natural disasters come and go. And we always have to adapt to these changes in very short time frames. But the Caribbean is very resilient and the industry comes together very quickly; working with states to maintain connectivity in any part of the world efficiently and reliably. When our Caribbean states are impacted by natural disasters, air transport needs to be launched as quickly as possible, because that is the lifeline to getting those countries back up and going. Our industry takes great pride in having focused resources so we can start bringing relief flights without delay in life and death situations like a hurricane. The only way of bringing immediate relief is through air transport and we make sure we’re up to the task.”