KUALA LUMPUR: The Asia-Pacific region’s rapid aviation growth must be matched by ongoing long-term planning to ensure the expansion remains safe, sustainable and resilient, says Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
He said this was because aviation had become the century's defining force for the region, supporting trade, tourism, communities and businesses, while serving as a strategic pillar of development.
"As such, we must focus on the foundations that will enable our aviation sector to grow with confidence.
"This includes investing in modern infrastructure, strong regulatory institutions, a highly skilled workforce and policies that support investment while safeguarding national and public interest," he said on Monday (Sept 7).
Loke also said growth must be pursued responsibly, with safety and security as absolute priorities and embedding sustainability in long-term planning.
He also highlighted how emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, unmanned aircraft and advanced air mobility, could transform logistics, public services and connectivity.
However, he said governments and regulators must provide clarity on these technological developments to ensure innovation proceeds responsibly without compromising safety, security and public trust.
"Our national efforts form only one part of a much larger regional picture, so if our region is to progress, that progress must be inclusive," he added in his opening speech at the 61st Conference of Directors General of Civil Aviation, Asia and Pacific Region (DGCA/61).
The event is being hosted in Malaysia this year and organised by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
Over 500 participants from 35 countries are attending the five-day conference until Friday (Sept 11), including aviation regulators, government officials, international organisations and industry leaders.
Loke said DGCA/61 provided an opportunity to establish regional priorities, strengthen implementation commitments and develop practical partnerships among member states.
"The decisions taken by aviation leaders today will shape how our region connects, competes and grows for decades to come," he added.
Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) chief executive officer Datuk Norazman Mahmud said the region’s growing connectivity meant aviation risks and responsibilities increasingly crossed national borders.
"Meaningful regional cooperation therefore requires both technological capability and institutional trust," he said in his speech.
Norazman said regulators also needed to move from reactive oversight towards predictive safety, turning data into intelligence and intelligence into prevention.
ICAO Council president Toshiyuki Onuma similarly stressed that risks such as satellite-navigation interference, lithium battery fires and cyber threats crossed national borders.
"As we connect more people and more technologies, airspace continues to increase in complexity which increases the need to renew our global commitment to aviation's safety and security.
"All this means our collaboration is more essential than ever as we ensure that no country is left behind while addressing emerging risks and seizing new opportunities," he said in his speech.
