Flying High : Liberalizing Civil Aviation in the Asia Pacific

Abstract

For almost fifty years, a system of bilateral aviation agreements has governed international trade in civil aviation services. The theme of these agreements was bilateral balance in the air traffic carried by the respective national airlines. The emergence of new airlines (in addition to the old flag carriers), the growth of cross-border control of airlines, code sharing arrangements, and the divergent interests of business travellers, shippers, tourists, and airlines are now straining this regulatory system. The strain is particularly acute in the Asia Pacific because the rapid growth of aviation in the region has attracted many upstart airlines.In this volume, aviation experts examine changes in important Asia Pacific countries, and suggest policy prescriptions that individual countries and the APEC group could implement to liberalize aviation services and rationalize the regulatory system. The volume also provides country summaries that highlight significant changes in the airline industry and national aviation policies. Published in cooperation with the Australia-Japan Research Centre.