Qatar
IATA stands for air space liberalisation, says vice president
IATA stands for air space liberalisation, says vice president
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has maintained its position on Qatar’s air restrictions by blockading countries saying it has always been for liberalisation of air space.
“IATA is a trade association and not a political organisation. Our position from the beginning: we understand state sovereignty over their air space, however, we are for liberalisation,” IATA’s airport, passenger, cargo and security vice president Nick Careen told reporters Monday on the sidelines of the 31st annual IATA Ground Handling Conference (IGHC), which runs until Wednesday at the Sheraton Doha Resort & Convention Hotel.“We would like to see sooner rather than later the opportunity for customers and goods to be able to transport in an open fashion again,” he said.IATA has been working with other organisations such as the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to help resolve the current regional dispute, according to Careen.Qatar is under blockade by the Saudi-led bloc (including the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt) for nearly 11 months since June 5, 2017. Careen noted that negotiations among concerned states have been taking place at the ICAO headquarters in Montreal, Canada, discussing about liberalisation or opening of air space.