Asia-Pacific replaces North America as the largest airline market with 647 million passengers

Singapore, February 1 (Xinhua) Chairman of the International Air Transport Association, Giovanni Bissignany February 1, said at the second Singapore Air Show Aviation Leaders summit that the Asia-Pacific region has replaced North America as the world's largest aviation market.　　Basignani said that the total number of air passengers in the Asia-Pacific region in 2009 was 647 million, exceeding 638 million in North America, thus becoming the world's largest aviation market. Basignani said the global airline industry has been hit hard in the past 10 years, with only 2009 losses of $11 billion trillion, and is expected to lose $5.6 billion trillion in 2010. He predicts the Asia-Pacific region will be the first to emerge from the crisis.　　2010 Asia Pacific Airlines losses will be reduced from $3.4 billion trillion in 2009 to $700 million. Basignani said: "To achieve its enormous potential in the Asia-Pacific region, in the short term, we must overcome the difficulties caused by the economic crisis, further reduce costs and increase efficiency, in the long run must also address environmental protection, aviation security and aviation liberalization challenges." With the theme of "Confronting the crisis and creating a better future", the aviation Leaders summit of the aviation Industry of Singapore has participated in the meeting with more than 250 aviation representatives and government officials from more than 80 countries and regions.　　The main areas of the meeting are: how to draw lessons from the economic crisis, how to deal with climate change and the future development strategy of aviation industry. The 2010 Singapore Air Show, to be held from February 2 to 7th, is expected to attract more than 800 exhibitors from more than 40 countries worldwide.