T

he International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced that South African Airways will host the 69th IATA Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit next year.

The event that draws together the leaders of the global air transport industry will be held in Cape Town’s International Convention Centre from June 2 to 4 in 2013.

“Air connectivity plays a critical role in maximizing growth opportunities arising from South Africa’s BRICS membership and the burgeoning African economy,” IATA director general and CEO Tony Tyler said.

The aviation and aerospace sectors contributed some ZAR 51 billion (US$6.07 billion), which was equal to 2.1 percent of the country’s GDP.

This activity also supports more than 227,000 South African jobs.

According to Tyler, growth in Africa was impeded by regulatory burdens and a poor safety record compounded by the high fuel prices in many parts of the continent.

“IATA is working across the continent with governments, regulators and airlines to improve safety, sustainability and competitiveness. Holding the 2013 meeting and world summit in Cape Town will provide a prominent platform to address these issues and challenges,” he said.

This year, the meeting was successfully held in Beijing and attracted some 750 airline industry leaders representing IATA’s 242 member airlines.

It was also attended by some 350 journalists representing major media outlets from around the world.

“This will position South Africa to play a vital role in driving trade, business and tourism on the continent together with current and developing markets in Brazil, Russia, India and China. In turn this promises to create jobs and tackle poverty and inequality in South Africa,” Mzimela added.

Based on Oxford Economics’ recent study on the Benefits of Aviation, 21 million passengers and over 240,000 tons of freight traveled to, from and within South Africa on more than 52,500 scheduled international flights annually, serving 77 airports in 51 countries last year

In the domestic market, South Africa had more than 156,000 flights a year, which provided more than 17 million seats for passengers on routes linking 17 airports across the country.