AAPA future at stake as Qantas quits

Australian flag carrier, Qantas, has decided not to renew its membership in the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (APAC). The decision, experts predict, is likely to strike the death knell of this four decade-old organisation, as it is likely to have a ripple effect and spur other members to opt out as well.

There is a growing feeling within members that the airline industry would do well to unite behind a single banner – that of IATA.

AAPA detractors have long maintained that the regional grouping wasn't truly representative of the region and dominated by a few legacy carriers. It was pointed out that mainland Chinese carriers, for one, weren't represented in the body, which automatically put paid to its pretensions of being representative of the region.

At last November's Assembly of Presidents held in Singapore, a number of carriers even omitted to send representatives.

Current AAPA members are Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways, China Airlines, Dragonair (a Cathay subsidiary), EVA Air, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Royal Brunei Airlines, Thai Airways and Vietnam Airlines.