Jean Louis Baroux
President & Founder of World Connect
Mr BAROUX you are the president & the founder of the 13th World Connect (Annual Airline Conference) organized by APG which will be held from October 26 to 28, 2022 in the prestigious Hotel Westin Dragonara in Malta.
CAN YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND YOUR COMPANY (WORLD CONNECT)?
I am the President of the World Connect by APG. This is a place where the airline executives meet every year. The next one will be the 13th edition. We enjoy the participation of over 400 people coming from 80 countries at least. They cross the world for 2 days just because they think it is quite valuable for them. This year, after being in Singapore, Washington, Amman, Marrakech and Monaco, we have the great pleasure to organize the event in Malta which is a neutral and a gorgeous place and I am sure that the attendants will be more than happy when returning home. This year Malta will be the center of the worldwide air transport during the World Connect. I have to recognise the great involvement of the Maltese Government to attract the event in this so lovely place.
HOW DO YOU SEE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE GLOBAL AIRLINE INDUSTRY IN THE YEARS TO COME AFTER IT HAS SUFFERED POTENTIALLY THE WORST CRISIS IN ITS HISTORY?
Since the beginning of the modern air transport just after the second World War in 1945, this industry has been growing an average rate of 5% a year regardless all politic events which have occurred during the last 70 years. Of course some years have been very difficult and this is specially the case for the two last ones. Some have predicted the progressive attrition of this activity. I don’t believe that. The very strong recovery that we have seen during the second quarter of 2022 is just the beginning of the future. The next opening of the Chinese borders and the growth of demand from the Asian markets will even give more strength to the future of the air transport.
THE THEME OF THE WORLD CONNECT THIS YEAR IS: "HOW DO AIRLINES ADAPT IN A CHANGING WORLD" WHAT IS YOUR POINT OF VIEW ON THIS SUBJECT?
Air transport has been enjoying a continuous growth because this industry as always adapt its fundamentals to the needs of the population. The New Frontier is certainly the Ecology. The target is to reach the neutral carbon consumption within the next 25 years. I am quite confident that this will be achieved just because this is very good for the economy of this activity. Of course, an enormous investment is required and it has to be paid by the customers. This is why the tarifs will raise at least by 20% to 25% compared to the ones that we have known during the 10 last years.
WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS/ARE THE MAIN REASON(S) THAT DRAW PEOPLE TO THE WORLD CONNECT?
I am always impressed to see people spending 20 hours in a plane crossing several airports just to spend 2 or 3 days in the World Connect. In my point of view, there are two main reasons. Firstly they are sure to learn something which will help them in conducting their business for the year to come. But secondly, they are as well confident to meet their colleagues coming from other parts of the world in a real friendly atmosphere. This why I am not surprised to meet some participants at each event since several years. They do business but more than, that they create new friends. This is why the air transport is still so important not only for the economy but as well for the peace of our so fragile world.
CAN YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND YOUR COMPANY (WORLD CONNECT)?
I am the President of the World Connect by APG. This is a place where the airline executives meet every year. The next one will be the 13th edition. We enjoy the participation of over 400 people coming from 80 countries at least. They cross the world for 2 days just because they think it is quite valuable for them. This year, after being in Singapore, Washington, Amman, Marrakech and Monaco, we have the great pleasure to organize the event in Malta which is a neutral and a gorgeous place and I am sure that the attendants will be more than happy when returning home. This year Malta will be the center of the worldwide air transport during the World Connect. I have to recognise the great involvement of the Maltese Government to attract the event in this so lovely place.
HOW DO YOU SEE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE GLOBAL AIRLINE INDUSTRY IN THE YEARS TO COME AFTER IT HAS SUFFERED POTENTIALLY THE WORST CRISIS IN ITS HISTORY?
Since the beginning of the modern air transport just after the second World War in 1945, this industry has been growing an average rate of 5% a year regardless all politic events which have occurred during the last 70 years. Of course some years have been very difficult and this is specially the case for the two last ones. Some have predicted the progressive attrition of this activity. I don’t believe that. The very strong recovery that we have seen during the second quarter of 2022 is just the beginning of the future. The next opening of the Chinese borders and the growth of demand from the Asian markets will even give more strength to the future of the air transport.
THE THEME OF THE WORLD CONNECT THIS YEAR IS: "HOW DO AIRLINES ADAPT IN A CHANGING WORLD" WHAT IS YOUR POINT OF VIEW ON THIS SUBJECT?
Air transport has been enjoying a continuous growth because this industry as always adapt its fundamentals to the needs of the population. The New Frontier is certainly the Ecology. The target is to reach the neutral carbon consumption within the next 25 years. I am quite confident that this will be achieved just because this is very good for the economy of this activity. Of course, an enormous investment is required and it has to be paid by the customers. This is why the tarifs will raise at least by 20% to 25% compared to the ones that we have known during the 10 last years.
WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS/ARE THE MAIN REASON(S) THAT DRAW PEOPLE TO THE WORLD CONNECT?
I am always impressed to see people spending 20 hours in a plane crossing several airports just to spend 2 or 3 days in the World Connect. In my point of view, there are two main reasons. Firstly they are sure to learn something which will help them in conducting their business for the year to come. But secondly, they are as well confident to meet their colleagues coming from other parts of the world in a real friendly atmosphere. This why I am not surprised to meet some participants at each event since several years. They do business but more than, that they create new friends. This is why the air transport is still so important not only for the economy but as well for the peace of our so fragile world.