Doha, November 3 (QNA) - Director General of the Arab Civil Aviation Organization (ACAO) Khalid Cherkaoui has called for greater integration, early coordination and information exchange among the organization, the Arab Air Carriers' Organization (AACO) and Arab civil aviation authorities to build a competitive, resilient, efficient and sustainable Arab aviation sector.

Speaking on the sidelines of the 59th General Assembly of the Arab Air Carriers' Organization in Doha, Cherkaoui highlighted shared priorities, including sustainability, economic and tax policies, travel facilitation, digital transformation, air transport liberalization and Arab integration.

On environmental sustainability, he stressed the importance of coordinating Arab positions on the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), sustainable aviation fuels and the proposed expansion of the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS).

He also underscored the need to avoid double counting and ensure that international regulations take geographical distances into account.

In this context, he referred to notifications submitted to the European Commission and relevant international and regional organizations, including the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the African Civil Aviation Commission, the Latin American Civil Aviation Commission, the European Civil Aviation Conference and the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Cherkaoui also highlighted digital transformation and cybersecurity as key priorities for the sector, alongside the need to address economic challenges, including double taxation, in line with Article 8 of the UN Model Tax Convention.

He also pointed to the importance of the Damascus Agreement in advancing Arab air transport cooperation.

Addressing the sector's resilience, he cited the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war and regional tensions, emphasizing the need for stronger coordination and cooperation to help airlines navigate disruptions.

He noted that global passenger traffic is projected to reach 5 billion in 2025, 8 billion in 2040 and 12 billion in 2050, underscoring the importance of preparing the Arab aviation sector for future growth. (QNA)