Airport officials discuss challenges facing Asian airports

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Officials from ASEAN countries are meeting this week in Singapore to discuss the challenges facing ASEAN airports. The ASEAN International Airport Association (AAA) meeting, being held from 23 to 26 October 2001, is hosted by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) this year.

The annual meeting was officially opened by John Chen, Singapore minister of state for communications and information technology, yesterday evening.

In his opening address to the delegates, Chen said, "The September 11 attacks have brought the issue of airport security and aviation safety into the limelight. In the short term, airports and airlines will have to work closely to tighten security measures to restore the confidence of air travellers. In the longer term, airports would have to review their facilities and the way they process passengers in light of the increased emphasis on security".

Besides getting an update on the developments in the ASEAN airports, delegates will also discuss the challenge of enhancing safety and security of air travel.

The ASEAN International Airport Association was formed in 1982 to foster closer cooperation among ASEAN international airports in airport operations, development and management.