But as we head deeper into the year, changing macroeconomic conditions, rising fuel prices and growing trade protectionism could cause major headwinds in the industry. What is the outlook for Australia and New Zealand aviation for the medium term and what new dynamics will shape?
CAPA - Centre for Aviation attempted to address those questions with its Australia Pacific Aviation and Corporate Travel Summit, exploring these issues, as well as the commercial and operational pillars underpinning strategic decision making at local and international carriers.
This event, hosted at the Hyatt Regency Sydney hotel, located adjacent to Darling Harbour in Sydney's Central Business District (CBD), brought together hundreds of aviation and corporate travel executives from airlines, airports and suppliers in what is widely regarded as the largest, pre eminent strategic aviation summit in the South Pacific region.
Here's full coverage of the panel sessions from the event.
The competitive outlook for Australasian aviation
Moderator: CAPA - Centre for Aviation, Chairman Emeritus, Peter Harbison
Panel: Association of South Pacific Airlines, Chief Executive Officer/Secretary General, George Faktaufon; Nauru Airlines, Chairman, Trevor Jensen; Regional Express, Deputy Chairman, John Sharp; Sydney Airport, Chief Executive Officer, Geoff Culbert
The Great Debate: Airport regulation, friend or foe?
Moderator: CAPA - Centre for Aviation, Chairman Emeritus, Peter Harbison
Panel: ACCC, General Manager - Infrastructure Regulation Division, Matthew Schroder; AIPA, President, Mark Sedgwick; Airlines for Australia and New Zealand, Chairman, Graeme Samuel AC; Frontier Economics, Economist, Anna Wilson; Qantas, Group Executive Government, Industry, International and Sustainability, Andrew Parker; Regional Express, Deputy Chairman, John Sharp
What's driving demand for outbound travel and tourism?
Moderator: Tourism Futures International, Managing Director, Bob Cain
Panel: Australia India Travel & Tourism Council, Chairman, Sandip Hor; China Southern Airlines, Director of Sales and Marketing AUS & NZ, Kevin Xu; Tourism New Zealand, General Manager Australia, Andrew Waddel
What's really going on within the competitive market within Australia?
Moderator: Aviation Week, Senior Air Transport Editor, Adrian Schofield
Panel: Citi, Analyst - Industrials & Transport, Jakob Cakarnis; Evans and Partners, Head of Research, Cameron MacDonald; Ord Minnett, Senior Research Analyst, John O'Shea; S&P Global, Lead Analyst, Director, Graeme Ferguson; UBS, Analyst - Transport & Infrastructure, Matt Ryan
Distribution and selling challenges: NDC to the rescue?
Moderator: Travelport, Global Head of New Distribution, Ian Heywood
Panel: American Airlines, Vice President Asia Pacific Sales, Shane Hodges; Australian Federation of Travel Agents, Chief Executive, Jayson Westbury; Qantas, Executive Manager Sales and Distribution, Igor Kwiatkowski
Social impact in the travel and aviation industry - gender diversity, indigenous affairs, environment and more
Moderator: International SOS, Director, Risk, Jessica Beatson
Panel: Bioenergy Australia, Chief Executive Officer, Shahana McKenzie; Etihad Airways, General Manager Australia and New Zealand, Sarah Built; The Sustainable Traveller, Founder, Dayana Brooke; World Animal Protection, Executive Director, Simone Clarke
What's driving demand for inbound travel and tourism? The role of air services partnerships
Session Provocateur: Tourism Australia, International Operations & Aviation Development Manager, Trent Banfield
Panel: South Australian Tourism Commission, Manager Aviation and Access, Mark Gill; Tourism & Events Queensland, Aviation and Trade Director, Sharyn Brydon; Tourism Tasmania, Director Access & Aviation, Hans Van Pelt; Tourism Western Australia, Director Aviation Development and Policy, Claire Werkmeister
New route opportunities: ultra-long haul markets opened up by next gen aircraft
Moderator: ASM, Senior Consultant, Omar Hashmi
Panel: Brisbane Airport Corporation, Executive General Manager, Aviation Development & Partnerships, Jim Parashos; Executive Traveller, Editor in Chief, David Flynn; Flair Airlines, Board Adviser, Rick Howell
Innovation driving the entire aviation ecosystem and improving passenger experience
Moderator: Skyscanner, Vice President Commercial, Hugh Aitken
Panel: Inmarsat Aviation, Vice President for Asia Pacific, Chris Rogerson; SITA, Regional Director, North Asia & Pacific, Jay Youlten; Western Sydney Airport, Chief Information Officer, Tom McCormack
Drones: adapting to a world of UAVs, what's next?
Moderator: CAPA - Centre for Aviation, Chairman Emeritus, Peter Harbison
Panel: Airservices Australia, Chief Executive Officer, Jason Harfield; Clyde & Co, Senior Consultant RPAS/Aviation, Prof. Ron Bartsch