The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is calling for urgent action to address the challenges of infrastructure, regulatory harmonization and sustainability in the Asia-Pacific region.

Speaking at the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) Assembly of Presidents in Taipei, IATA CEO Alexandre de Juniac said that the economic benefits of forecasted growth in the region would be at risk "if the region does not address the big long-term challenges of sustainability, infrastructure and regulatory harmonization."

De Juniac warned of a looming infrastructure crisis, with a number of airports (such as Bangkok, Manila and Jakarta) in need of major upgrades and Chinese air traffic management “struggling to cope with growth”. High costs at India's privatized airports, he declared, were burdening the industry.

The AAPA said it was looking to governments in Asia to coordinate the necessary investments in aviation infrastructure to keep pace with the growth in demand whilst delivering operational efficiencies and reduction in environmental impact.

At congested slot-controlled airports around the world, nearly 40 of which are in the Asia-Pacific region, AAPA is calling on governments to ensure optimal use of scarce airport capacity by managing slots in an independent, fair and non-discriminatory manner.