Several countries within the Asia Pacific are teaming up to study procedures for reducing air traffic congestion and aviation emissions within the region.
The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) has issued a contract for an undisclosed sum to Dulles, Va.-based air traffic management company Metron Aviation to study infrastructure constraints at airports and and airspace throughout the Asia Pacific. According to Metron, air traffic growth in the region is beginning to exceed the capacity of major airports and key airspace, resulting in airline delays and unnecessary reroutes.
"Their region’s air traffic growth is one of the fastest in the world, and they are taking measures to ensure capacity meets the rising demand, while actively considering environmental concerns," said Jim Gaughan, CEO of Metron Aviation.
The International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) latest airline industry traffic forecast projected that emerging economies within the Asia Pacific would experience the strongest passenger growth rates among all markets, with an estimated 380 million passengers expected to travel within the region through 2016.
APEC, AeroThai Thailand and Malaysia’s Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) will be assisting Metron with the study.
Related: Air Traffic Management News