Opening Address by Senior Minister of State for Transport, Amy Khor at the 76th International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA) Conference

Captain Jack Netskar, President of IFALPA
Captain Subramaniam Ramanathan, President of ALPA-S
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, 

Introduction

1.     First of all, a very good morning to one and all and for those who have come from afar, welcome to Singapore. I am indeed delighted to join you today at the 76th International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA) Conference. 

2.     It is heartening to see so many pilots and aviation leaders gathered here in Singapore. I am very glad that IFALPA, working with the Air Line Pilots Association Singapore (ALPA-S), has chosen to hold the 11th Global Pilots’ Symposium and the 76th IFALPA Conference in Singapore. This is all the more significant given how the last IFALPA Conference in 2020 that was to be held in Singapore had to be postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.  But as they say, better late than never.

3.     Your presence here is a strong affirmation that Changi continues to remain relevant to global aviation. This is especially important for Singapore. As a global trading and business centre, our air hub is of strategic and of existential importance. It supports essential economic linkages and people-to-people flows with the rest of the world. These connections in turn help Singapore stay relevant to the world and our region.

4.     We are at a pivotal time for global air travel. After two gruelling years of battling with the COVID-19 pandemic, countries and regions are progressively re-opening their borders. We have seen encouraging signs of recovery. The latest monthly air passenger market analysis by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported that as of end-March, international air passenger traffic had recovered to nearly half of pre-COVID levels. 

5.     This is expected to gain momentum over the next several months, especially in the Asia-Pacific, following the reopening of borders by countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea, Thailand as well as Vietnam to all fully vaccinated travellers from April.  In Singapore, passenger traffic has already more than doubled to almost 50% of pre-COVID levels in May, compared to just under 20% in March. The Director-General of IATA had also said at last week’s Changi Aviation Summit that overall air passenger volumes will return to pre-COVID levels by end-2023. I think this must be music to the ears of everyone here.

IFALPA’s role in recovery and the future of aviation  
 
6.     Even as we expect air travel demand to recover to pre-pandemic levels, we must not take the recovery for granted. I must say that indeed we are operating in a new normal in the post-pandemic era. Let me suggest three ways that IFALPA and its Member Associations can help to secure a confident recovery and build a strong runway for growth.

7.     First, to ensure that aviation safety remains top priority. Strong passenger confidence in safe air travel is the cornerstone of aviation and the socio-economic benefits that it brings. COVID-19 not only posed an immediate public health risk, but also introduced new safety risks such as in the upkeep of aircraft in storage and in maintaining the competencies of air traffic controllers and pilots. It has been a very difficult two years for the aviation industry and aviation professionals. 

8.     Pilots and crew had to undergo multiple COVID tests and long periods of self-isolation, both during layovers and even after returning home. Pilots who were furloughed also faced job and financial insecurity and uncertainty about their next steps, including ensuring that their skills were current to meet licensing requirements. In this regard, I am glad that Singapore was able to do our part to help pilots not just in Singapore but also in the region maintain their skills currency through flight simulators.

9.     I would also like to thank IFALPA, its Member Associations and all pilots in Singapore and overseas for your resilience and cooperation with the public health measures over the past two years. Thank you indeed for continuing to fly despite the challenges. You played an irreplaceable role in maintaining essential connectivity and transporting vaccines and medical supplies that were critical in the global fight against COVID-19.

10.    As aviation recovers, I am confident that IFALPA and its Member Associations are doing everything you can to enable pilots to return to the cockpit safely and confidently. 

11.    Second, beyond recovery, we must also enhance the capabilities of pilots so that we can deal with longer term challenges. One such area is in environmental sustainability. Civil aviation stakeholders have committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions from civil aviation activities by 2050.  To meet this goal, airlines will increasingly deploy more fuel-efficient aircraft and engines, use more sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) and may eventually deploy aircraft running on alternative fuels such as hydrogen. 

12.    At a systems level, countries and regions may adopt new concepts of Air Traffic Management to lower fuel burn. Pilots work at the intersection of new technology, operational measures, air traffic management procedures, and varying aircraft capabilities. This gives you a unique and valuable perspective in identifying potential situations from new aircraft technologies and operational procedures coming onstream at the same time. As influencers to the flying public, pilots can also shape global perceptions of sustainable aviation.

13.    Civil aviation must also continue to co-exist with and tap on new technologies such as 5G and unmanned flight. I am glad that IFALPA and its Member Associations have worked together with other aviation stakeholders to deal with the potential risks of 5G interference, by ensuring that pilots around the world are aware of and equipped to handle these risks. 

14.    I am also happy that IFALPA regularly organises and participates in conversations on the potential safety implications of new technology, including at this Conference. We will all benefit if aviation professionals can tap on new technologies and innovations safely and confidently. 

15.    Last, but certainly not least, we must do more to promote inclusivity. As I have the honour of taking this floor, I think it would be remiss of me not to highlight this. Globally, female pilots make up only 5% of commercial airline pilots and 2% of airline captains. I am glad that IFALPA recognises the role and importance of women as equal partners in international aviation. I was encouraged to hear about the IFALPA Female Pilots’ Working Group, which advocates and supports women in the piloting profession, and promotes diversity, equity and inclusivity. 

16.    This is a good start, but there is much more that we can and must do to empower women and girls to pursue their dreams. Earlier this year, the Singapore Parliament endorsed a White Paper on Women’s Development, which sets out concrete commitments that the Singapore government, industry and society will undertake to build a fairer and more inclusive society in Singapore. These include working with schools to encourage girls to pursue their interests in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), industry networks to identify and nurture female leaders, and policies that encourage more equal sharing of family responsibilities between men and women.

17.    Singapore is also happy to support and work with like-minded international partners. In March last year (2021), I was honoured to speak at the launch of the Women in Aviation International Singapore Chapter, the first in Southeast Asia. The chapter raises the visibility of women in aviation, and provides networking opportunities, mentorship as well as support for female aviation professionals. I was very happy to learn that Women in Aviation Singapore launched a new “Women in Aviation Mentorship Programme” in February this year, to nurture women aviation leaders and professionals.

Conclusion

18.    In conclusion, as we look forward to the post-pandemic chapter of air travel, I hope the IFALPA can lead the way to reinforce aviation safety, build new capabilities, and promote inclusivity. I am confident that the conference sessions over the next few days will provide all of you with many valuable insights. Let me wish all of you a productive and fruitful conference ahead, and a great stay in Singapore. 

19.    Thank you.