Hassan El Houry: Aviation creates jobs & economic prosperity

The picturesque Swiss Alps have been abuzz with discussions on collaborating for the Intelligent Age as the World Economic Forum (WEF) unfolds in Davos, Switzerland. Among the prominent voices at the global event is Hassan El Houry, the Executive Chairman of Menzies Aviation, the world's largest aviation services company. With operations spanning across 65 countries and 300 airports, Menzies Aviation boasts a team of 55,000 individuals dedicated to serving passengers, airlines, and airports daily. El Houry's agenda at the WEF revolves around aviation policy and the imperative to facilitate increased air travel for the global populace. In a conversation with CNBC Africa's Godfrey Mutizwa, El Houry shed light on the pivotal role of aviation in job creation, regulatory alignment, and sustainability efforts. He emphasized the need for collaborative efforts to address the disparities in global aviation regulations, stressing that liberalizing the sector can foster enhanced connectivity and economic prosperity. El Houry lamented the disparity in air travel prevalence across Africa, where despite accounting for 17 percent of the world's population, only two percent of global travelers hail from the continent. He outlined key challenges and opportunities for the African aviation landscape, underlining the significance of infrastructure development, public-private partnerships, and policy reforms to bolster accessibility and affordability of air travel. El Houry's advocacy extends to urging governments to shift their view of aviation from a revenue source to a catalyst for economic growth, job creation, and enhanced connectivity. By reducing taxes on aviation and fostering a conducive regulatory environment, El Houry envisions a future where air travel becomes a driver of economic prosperity for all segments of society, not just a privileged few.