Research
Air Transport and Sustainable Development: What Complementarities and Compatibility for the Future?
History is replete of its own repetitions and contradictions and domestic and international air transport are no exceptions. It has now become necessary for several reasons to assess how limited resources could be more wisely used for further welfare and economic growth without threatening the very existence of mankind. In other words we need to stop ‘shooting ourselves in the foot’ by playing a game of duplicity when it comes to ecology and environmental protection the paradox of economic development and industrialization. The 20th century has seen the rapid and swift development of both international and domestic air transport worldwide. Emphases then were on efficiency, speed, comfort, cabin and cargo space and load factor. In the 2nd half of the last century, more specifically in the early 70s up to the end of the century and as a result of energy crises, oil peaks and price hikes of cartels, more attention was given to fuel efficiency. Air transport being an essential service has forced most aircraft manufacturers to devote more energy, investment and time to designing better equipment. In so doing, aircraft manufacturers, airline operators and governments have all overlooked the issue of sustainability. This oversight has now become a major concern for all. Because of the global but fragmented nature of air transport, it is difficult to regulate the industry in order to establish standard policies and procedures. Attempts made by the European Union have so far produced mitigated results. In this paper, we look at the contradictions and paradoxes when nations have to make a choice between the‘now’ and the ‘future’, between the options of further economic growth and sustainability and between welfare and wealth.
Open Sky Policy for Developing Countries with Emphasis on the Small Island Developing States (SIDS)
With the advent of globalisation, the world has become a global village. In other words, traveling to other countries has become easy since the travel industry has facilitated economic growth, world trade, international investment and tourism. This paper addresses the future of air travel due to the adoption of an open sky policy by some of the developing countries who are somehow forced to do so as other airlines become too competitive. The first and foremost purpose of this dissertation is to assess the impacts and benefits of regulation and liberalisation on developing countries with a special consideration for the small island developing states (SIDS). Mauritius is a classic example of one such state that has favoured free enterprise for its economic development and has had to give up the quasi-monopoly of its flag carrier. Moreover, the purpose of this paper is to exhibit the benefits of an open sky policy for the government and the consumer. Furthermore the paper also aims at explaining the potential threats that a flag carrier like may face with the advent of an open sky policy. Another objective of this project has been to devise a policy theory that could help airlines of SIDS to develop further strategies within a framework where deregulation and liberalization are bound to become a necessity and inevitable development to reckon with.
Air Transport Policy for Mauritius a The Way Forward
The dichotomy in policy making regarding the hotel industry and air transport, makes it imperative for the government to formulate clear policy processes in order to avoid conflicting situations among stakeholders. This paper looks at the various issues regarding policy theories and examines the various theories that have made their mark in other countries. It has often been contended that the national carrier, the hotel industry and government have often been looking in different directions instead of coming up with consistent policies common to all stakeholders where all could deploy efforts to consolidate the tourism industry and at the same time contribute to economic growth. Several policy theories are available namely Policy Network Analysis (PNA), Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF), Prospects Theory, Power Elites Theory and Community organization Theory among others. Most of the above are analyzed and compared and the two theories that come close are the PNA and ACF with a preference for the latter for various reasons developed in the paper. Governments have to pay considerable attention to new policies in the implementation of an open sky policy and must assess its impacts so as to ‘protect’ their respective national carriers.
The Air Transport Industry in the 21st Century: a Synthesis of the Views of Aviation Experts in the UK
The expert interviews carried out in the UK in 2009 show that the concepts of deregulation, liberalization and globalization in air transport are realities that cannot be overlooked. The results of these interviews will also support the contention that SIDS will eventually adopt policies which will, in the long run, be beneficial to these developing countries wishing to stay in operation within a highly competitive environment. Although all interviews were confined to the UK, it would be fair to mention that because of the nature of international transport that literally cut across borders most if not all of the concepts and ideas discussed at the interviews are global issues that would probably be applicable to any part of the world. Moreover, most if not all, of the interviewees have international exposures and have handle projects and consultancy works overseas. Although, the views expressed by the interviewees may not always be coherent, there is a common thread throughout as to the present and sometimes very precarious situation. Most of the interviewees are optimistic for the future and some of the themes that keep recurring are: consolidation, the necessity for alternative sources of energy and the rise in cost of operations. Another issue that got specific attention and focus was the environmental concern and global warming.
