2024 for AIANZ and the commercial aviation industry
The year has been one of rejuvenation for the Association as it rebranded and reverted to its former name the Aviation Industry Association (AIANZ), to clearly promote its role and purpose as the voice of the commercial aviation industry. The rebrand coincided with an event at Parliament in early March attended by the Minister of Transport, Hon Simeon Brown, where AIANZ presented a view on the state of sector, challenges and focus areas for the year ahead.
The industry is emerging from a very tough trading period caused by the lingering impacts of the pandemic and general economic malaise. This has been apparent in several areas, including agriculture, tourism and flight training. Supply chain issues have been problematic for many of our members too, and while committed to reducing its carbon footprint, most aviation businesses can’t generally do this without Government support to adopt new technologies and use sustainable aviation fuels.
As the new Coalition Government settled in, there have been a raft of policy consultations to which the AIANZ has submitted. Front and centre of these was the CAA Pricing Review with the Association lodging a detailed submission in October, saying significant increases in fees was not justified based on current performance. We made other submissions to Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ), to the vocational educational and training reforms, immigration, the Health and Safety at Work Act and on aviation security amongst several others.
The work on the FENZ levies resulting in a dramatic scaling back of the proposal was a standout result in 2024. Going public on the matter clearly helped, but so too was an informed submission with a clear evidence base, leading to an outcome saving members many thousands of dollars in annual levies. If ever there was proof of the value of AIANZ membership, this was it, with all aviation business benefitting from this outcome.
Our key work on District and Regional Plans aimed at protecting commercial aviation activities saw several ‘wins’ in many areas of the country. Led by the NZAAA and NZHA, but with impacts for all divisions of our membership, this ongoing work is paying dividends. While every Council is different, a benchmark, showing the value our activities brings, is being established for local government across New Zealand.
In August, the AIANZ in conjunction with Ringa Hora, released the most comprehensive report in more than a decade on workforce issues for pilots and engineers. Successive governments had been saying to the industry it did not believe shortages existed, especially for pilots. Our robust report put pay to that belief, revealing that without policy intervention, like changes to the student loan cap, shortages will only get worse. There is now huge momentum to make progress in this vital area going into 2025.
The AIANZ has played an integral role in the Interim Aviation Council (IAC), a high-level group of industry leaders. Central to the work of the IAC has been the development of a National Policy Statement (NPS) for aviation. We see an NPS as driving change in areas critical to the industry’s future, like local government, training and development and the visitor economy. For example, an NPS with a national framework that guides District and Regional Councils on how commercial aviation benefits and enables local economies would itself be a big win. The Association is actively contributing to this work with the NPS timed for release in mid-2025.
There is no doubt that AIANZ’s policy and advocacy has been enhanced by a concerted effort to promote our work through media channels. We have done this on FENZ, on immigration, on airport landing charges, on local government, on workforce matters, on agriculture and much more. Indeed, the AIANZ has appeared or had mentions across almost 100 stories in mainstream media in 2024 with the message resonating beyond our members to politicians, policymakers, and the public. Maintaining the position we have earned as the voice of the commercial aviation industry will be a focus in 2025.
The political relationships established this year by the AIANZ are critical too. The Association has the ear of the politicians, including Ministers key to the aviation industry, not only Hon Simeon Brown, but also the Minister of Education and Immigration Hon Erica Stanford, the Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety Hon Brooke van Velden, the Minister of Tertiary Education Hon Penny Simmonds and the Minister of Space, Hon Judith Collins KC. As any industry association should do, connecting with Opposition politicians is vital also and the AIANZ has engaged this year with MPs that have shadow portfolios connected to aviation.
Our annual Conference in Christchurch in August was the largest for some time, with more than 300 delegates enjoying two days of informed sessions and networking. Delegate, exhibitor and sponsor feedback were positive. As with any event, there is always room for improvement and as we gather in Wellington in September 2025, an event that is bigger, bolder, and better is planned as the AIANZ marks its 75th anniversary.
While not wanting to end on a sombre note, the Treasury forecasts released earlier this week paint a grim economic picture for another 12 months – ‘surviving to 25’ seems to have shifted to ‘barely alive in 25’. Whatever the case may be, the AIANZ acknowledges that a challenging economic environment will continue for members, but in these challenging times, the need for a strong industry association is critical.
The AIANZ will be that strong association in the year ahead.
On behalf of the whole AIANZ team, I wish you all the best for a happy Christmas and prosperous New Year.
Ngā mihi nunui,
Simon Wallace
Chief Executive