Vijay Poonoosamy has been the voice of Abu Dhabi based Etihad Airways as Vice President International Affairs. Vijay has been seen on panels, as a speaker at major travel and tourism-related events. He has been regarded as a reliable expert and was seen as the link between the aviation industry and the rest of travel and tourism.

Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates has been going through some very tough times when their substantial Alitalia and airberlin investments turned sour and contributed to enormous losses for the carrier. This happened under the leadership of Australian CEO James Hogan who was forced to resign in 2017 and now lives in Switzerland. Vijay was part of the inner team with Hogan.

Surprisingly today Mr Poonoosamy announced he was leaving the airline. Mr. Poonoosamy would not comment why and what pushed him to resign.

He issued this letter today to friends, colleagues, and supporters:

Dear Friends,

It is with mixed feelings but an excited heart that I will leave Etihad at the end of the year.

I have found my just over 12 years with Etihad most challenging and gratifying. You have made them very memorable too.

I am told that I should be particularly proud of my work for Etihad, Abu Dhabi and the UAE including helping secure valuable traffic rights for Etihad to grow its network, contain the attacks by the three biggest US carriers, successfully challenge the rejection of most of our air berlin code shares by the German authorities, secure regulatory approvals for our investment in Jet Airways and resolve various issues with Governments worldwide. Same for my highest level engagements with ICAO, UNWTO, IATA, ACI, WEF, EU, WTTC and USTA as well as being elected President of the Montreal-based Hermes Air Transport Organization, whose members are recognized global aviation leaders, and being the only non-US airline executive on the Board of the Washington-based International Aviation Club.

I will be on leave as from 10 December.

I take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a Wonderful Festive Season and a Happy and Healthy 2018.

With best wishes, as always.

Vijay Poonoosamy
Vice President International Affairs

Vijay Poonoosamy, a national of Mauritius, is a barrister (Middle Temple) with a law degree from the University of Nottingham, a Masters degree in International Law from the London School of Economics and Political Science, a Post Graduate Diploma in Air & Space Law from the London Institute of World Affairs and a Certificate in Company Direction from the Institute of Directors in New Zealand.

Vijay is the Director International Affairs of the QI Group. He is the President of the Hermes Air Transport Club and a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Mobility, the World Travel &Tourism Council Advisors Circle, the World Routes Advisory Panel, the Board of Directors of US Travel Association, the Board of Governors of the International Aviation Club of Washington, DC, and the Advisory Board of the World Tourism Forum Lucerne.

Vijay was an Aviation Lawyer in London, the Managing Director of Air Mauritius, the Executive Chairman of Airports of Mauritius and the Vice President International Affairs of the Etihad Aviation Group (until 10 December 2017).

Vijay was Chairman of the 1994 ICAO World-wide Air Transport Conference, ICAO Rapporteur and Chairman of the 1999 ICAO Special Group on the Modernisation of the Warsaw Convention, Vice Chairman of the 2009 ICAO Special Committee on Aviation Security Conventions and Moderator at the April 2012 ICAO Air Transport Symposium, the March 2013 ICAO Pre-Air Transport Conference Symposium, the March 2015 ICAO Meeting on the sustainable development of Air transport in Africa and ICAO’s ICAN Symposia of 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2014.

Vijay was also Chairman of the Air Transport Committee of the African Civil Aviation Commission, Chair of IATA’s Industry Affairs Committee, Chair of the IATA Legal Advisory Council and Chair of the IATA Task Force on International Aviation Issues.

4th December 2017, Hangzhou, China. Speaking at the International Hotel & Restaurant Association Annual Congress in Hangzhou, China, Professor Geoffrey Lipman, Co-founder SUNx, discussed the urgent need for the tourism industry to tackle climate change and work together to develop climate resilience strategy. Lipman said:

“One of our known challenges – climate change – is existential and that means if we don’t fix it, our grandchildren will freeze or fry. And it also means we have to keep the pressure on that through other mega-challenges such as poverty, hunger and terrorism dealt with in 17 SDGs (with 169 targets and 304 indicators). All are vitally important but secondary if we do not deal with global warming.”

SUNx – Strong Universal Network is a program of the EU based, not for profit Green Growth and Travelism Institute, and a legacy to the late Maurice Strong – sustainable development pioneer. Its goal is to promote Climate Resilient, Impact-Travel with good & bad effects measured and managed coherently: with Green Growth at the core and, 2050-proof in line with the Paris Accords and the W.E.F. 4th Industrial Revolution.

Addressing the Congress Professor Lipman charted the evolution of the tourism industry with its growth mindset focussed on bed nights and visitor numbers, coming to grips with the need to manage its growth sustainably. The triple bottom line focus on Economic, Social and Environmental sustainability must now address Climate Change first and foremost.

Impact-Travel is a template for sustainable Travel and Tourism that is Paris Climate & SDG linked – measured: green: 2050 proofed. SUNx has developed a system for Impact-Travel, Learning, Innovation and Resilience. It is based on a network of cloud connected, solar powered pre-fabricated Centres for local Community focus. Shipped in a single container, they can be set up rapidly, without extensive machinery. They will be operated by smart, next generation, climate change curators, with graduate trainee support through Maurice Strong Legacy Scholarships, provided by industry CSR support. This next generation of SUNx “Champions” will help to drive the behavioural change and influence the fundamental government and industry actions needed.

Professor Lipman urged the hotel and restaurant community to step up to the challenge of developing climate resilience strategy in line with the 2030/2050 SDG & Paris targets. SUNx wants to form partnerships in line with Goal 17 and the One Belt, One Road initiative. Quoting Chairman Mao Lipman said that “The long march started with a small step. By uniting together to take that first vital step it will be the beginning of a global movement that continues Maurice Strong’s sustainability vision for the Travel & Tourism sector.

After devastating natural hurricane disasters, Caribbean countries are struggling to bring the islands together. MOU signed at the just-concluded UNWTO Sustainable Tourism conference in Montego Bay opened more doors to establish enhanced and direct air service to and between the island countries.

Besides the lack of air services to fly from one island to another, also air-connections to the island often involves a change of aircrafts in the United States. US airports including Miami, Ft.Lauderdale, Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Newark, JFK are some of the connecting points for tourists to reach a Caribbean State like Jamaica.

This is profitable for U.S. airlines including American, Delta, United, SouthWest, and others, but a nightmare for some travelers arriving from a country that requires a VISA for the U.S., but no visa for the destination country, for example, Jamaica.

In almost every part of the world, this is no big deal. International airline passengers transiting through airports and not entering the transit airport country it only involves clearing a security check. Passngers  walk from gate to gate and enjoy duty-free shopping in between. Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Tokyo, Beijing, Frankfurt, London, Singapore, Bangkok, Istanbul, Munich, Amsterdam, Paris, Rome, Cairo – almost every airport on the globe has transit passengers and can handle them without requiring them to clear immigration or customs at the transit airport point.

The United States of America is different. If a passenger passes through a US airport it means clearing immigration, getting your suitcase and checking in again for your connecting flight. Some say this is an abuse of passenger and in violation of international airline agreements.

Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization agreed. He told eTN at the just concluded UNWTO Sustainable Tourism Conference in Montego Bay, Jamaica,  that it was not a pleasant experience trying to connect travel through a US airport when traveling to different Caribbean state. He said: “I have a U.S. visa, but going through immigration, facing long lines, clearing U.S. customs and checking back in and go through security again, makes this travel experience unpleasant.”

A government delegation to the UNWTO conference from Greece arrived a day late,  because they had to get an “emergency” transit- visa for the U.S. before they were allowed to go on a direct itinerary from Athens to Montego Bay through New York.

Jamaica’s tourism minister Ed Bartlett said: “We are in an advance discussion with the U.S. State Department and other Caribbean nations in regards to the transit issue and a single visa for the Caribbean. There are electronic options, including visa payment options, a country could implement.”

In the meantime, the majority of all flights to the Caribbean touch a U.S. port and it means delays, long lines and a complicated process unnecessary in today’s electronic world.  Caribbean states are also looking for more direct flights from major gateways in Europe to overcome this hurdle.

Minister Bartlett responded that this question speaks clearly to the strategy of tourism, explaining that the MOU speaks to the harmonization of certain types of policies, particularly in relation to clearance regulations for the United States and visa facilitation, and what needs to be done in terms of making payments online.  He said, “More important, is to create a single visa card that will allow an international visitor who comes into let’s say Jamaica to then have domestic arrangements thereafter. That would be enormous in terms of the airlines … and cost as well.” He said they are pretty advanced in discussions with US representatives and other destinations as well, such as the Bahamas, Aruba, and even Colombia, for example.” He said they are looking forward to the day when a visitor can fly from between islands with ease. He further explained that they are also discussing with China how to structure travel with Jamaica.

Taleb concurred with Juergen that it was not a pleasant experience trying to connect travel within the Caribbean.

Airlift is a major Caribbean problem that deserves top priority because it is vital for tourism and trade, subsequently for the economic well-being of all population members of the Caribbean communities. The problem was discussed at last week’s UNWTO Sustainable Tourism Conference in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

The problem has been acknowledged for many years. No one has come up with a true common solution.

How to solve the airlift problem? It is quite complicated. Already because of the geography and the many jurisdictions. Try to define the Caribbean. It could be any area between Bermuda and the Guyanas and include the coastal areas of Central America. Yet, the countries need each other’s air transport connections. It is not a kind of project where one should expect to have a complete universal solution at once for all. It will most likely come in steps and building blocks. That is acceptable, as long as the end result is a ‘Caribbean House’ that all feel comfortable to live in.

Part of the problem is the word ‘unifying’. So let’s post the question to a person who has an objective perspective on airlift matters and panoramic view of Caribbean issues, the Minister of Transportation of the island St.Tosia, the fictitious Honourable Duncan Vanderbeest: “Unifying the Caribbean? Can it be done? Yes! Am I sure? No! Where lies the challenge? The first challenge is that one would have to unite while leaving all the differences intact! The second challenge is that there are more jokers around than a Caribbean comedy festival could stand. Last but not least, and don’t tell my colleagues that I have said this, or else they may have evil come upon me in a next summit, but, I couldn’t tell one ‘Honourable’ from another; they all sound alike.” End quote. Wow! Thank you, mister Minister, as it is an exception to hear the powerful talk as candidly as the powerless.

The solution may be a Caribbean Airlift Council. An institution that is independent of governments. It cooperates with governments and advises them when asked, yet, it is credible and highly respected to also urgently suggest and be accepted even when not asked. Where does that leave the representation of the public sector, the various business organizations or interest groups? The expression ‘Interest groups’ says a lot. They usually pursue a particular interest that is on their mind and they have organized themselves for that purpose. There are three interest segments: aviation, tourism, and investment. The Caribbean Airlift Council will cooperate with all of them and communicate but remain impartial and independent. If the Council is just a mediator in such a complicated environment, why fiddle around with a healing middleman and not immediately call a priest? Not so pessimistic! This is about new life and when differing circumstances meet, creativity is encouraged.

The primary task of the Council is finding realistic solutions for any airlift issue that has not been dealt with (past, current, and future) with a satisfactory result. This global definition in itself creates an immense field of issues. It serves all airlift stakeholders thus not just the aviation industry, but rather also the travel and tourism interests, and to a lesser degree the investment segment. The Council activities could include, consulting and advise, study, meditation, certification (e.g. Caribbean Friendly Sky concept). Several other activities may be included but cannot be listed here.

The Council shall not copy the activities which agencies or organizations are doing or supposed to do. If nothing else, it will simply outdo these actors with faster and better solutions. There are many issues that need a solution for once and for all, and rather sooner than later. The reason why these needs exist so widely is that they have never been dealt with on such a broad base. Maybe attempted on a smaller scale or a narrower base, but they have not resulted in accomplishments that serve all governments, communities or interest groups in the region. Sometimes it may have been the lack of foresight or appropriate competence; other times it was the political meddling.

The Council should NOT get any authority. If it was given authority, it may already encounter resistance by a foreseeable number of egos. Yet, the fact that the Council is an authority on the airlift subject itself, may be its most powerful instrument to have its influence and impact. Anyone who ignores the work or advises of the Council might be considered foolish. The entity should be strong-minded, undistractible, and remain focused at all times on carrying out the mission leading to the objective of solving Caribbean airlift problems. The unit should be totally integer, impartial, unbiased, neutral, and have no hidden agendas. Therefore, the Council shall be respected by all.

Creating the right organizational structure and its procedures is a challenge for itself. The members and affiliates of the Council should be competent movers and not well-worded followers. Titles are meaningless; it is not about who a person is, but rather what the person can do. Efficiency must rule; wasting time or energy is a no-no; mediocracy is considered failure.

In their idle time, some people dream. ONE CARIBBEAN may be such a dream or just an illusion. Who really wants ONE CARIBBEAN ANYTHING anyway, let alone a Caribbean Airlift Council? Defining and determining why to unify, may already be a tougher issue to find a consensus on, than the unification process itself. Who will make it happen, a messiah or a navigator? Looking at the conceivable tasks ahead, one would almost believe that this is a great script for either a Hollywood box office hit or TV soap opera scenario. Maybe this all remains food for thought; maybe it could be an appetizer.

The Author Cdr Bud Slabbaert is the initiator at CARIBBEAN AVIATION MEETUP conference

Bud is a Specialist in Strategic Communication. He is a leader of thought and his panoramic view on issues give any document by his hand more meaning and credit. Because of his maturity in communications and his interest in behavioral psychology, he is the ideal person to assist top level management in creating a communication campaign or to manage communication in crisis situations. Some of his contentions are “Nothing flies without an airport” and “Every passenger arriving on a business jet is a potential investor in the region”.