GENERAL INFORMATION
The Association of South Pacific Airlines was established at the directive of the South Pacific Civil Aviation Council which met in Apia on 22-23 June, 1978. The first meeting of regional airlines, held in Suva on 7-8 March 1979 formally agreed to launch the Association of South Pacific Airlines (ASPA). The inaugural meeting of ASPA took place in Suva on 30-31 May 1979, when the Articles of Association were adopted. ASPA is a trade association, representing the interests of member airlines, and is operated on a not-for-profit basis.
ASPA's OBJECTIVES
(a) to promote cooperation among the Member airlines for the development of commercial aviation within, to and from the South Pacific region;
(b) to serve as a common forum for the articulation of Members’ views on matters and problems of common interest;
(c) to advise, where appropriate, the South Pacific Regional Civil Aviation Council through its Advisory Committee or any other regional or international bodies on any problems related to South Pacific aviation;
(d) to harmonize where possible given the different constraints of individual airlines, the commercial, technical, planning and administrative policies of Members so as to achieve progressively the following: “standardisation of airborne and ground equipment in the region compatible with demands patterns and airline economics; “rationalisation of schedules so as to achieve an optimum deployment of resources and improve the services to the public"; “joint marketing, especially in tourist generating centers so as to increase the South Pacific share of world tourism"; "cooperation in the areas of:
(i) maintenance of equipment;
(ii) training of personnel;
(iii) provision of ground services;
(iv) pooling mutually agreed resources and coordination of activities
so as to achieve economies of scale and improve the economic viability of air services in the region
ASPA MEMBERSHIP
There are two types of membership. Full membership is accorded to airlines headquartered in the Pacific island region, defined as the area bordered by Papua New Guinea to the west, French Polynesia to the east, Guam, the Northern Marianas to the north and latitude 30 degrees south, excluding Australia and New Zealand.The Association, by two-thirds majority vote of full members may invite any airline with its headquarters outside the region, but which plays an important part in air transportation in the region to become an Associate Member.
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP FEES
A Full member pays an annual fee in accordance with a formula based on gross revenue. Details are to be found in the Article of Association. An Associate member is levied a flat fee which is determined at the Annual General Meeting. Annual fees are to be paid every year by the end of May. The financial year is April - March. A flat fee is levied to each service provider, and is due by end of April each year, for the current year. New applications must remit the annual fee together with the application letter.
ASPA SERVICE PROVIDERS
The Industry Service Providers Programme was introduced in 1991, with the main objective to provide a forum within the ASPA General Session, for airlines CEOs and the Service Providers to meet and discuss issues of mutual interests. This has worked well over the years, which saw the number of Services Providers increase from two in 1991 to 40 in 2014.
HOW TO APPLY
Write to the Secretary General, Association of South Pacific Airlines, P O Box 9817, Nadi Airport, Fiji. Also include details of the company’s products/services and senior officials.
PRINCIPAL ORGANS OF THE ASPA ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE
(a) Annual General Meeting; (a) Executive Committee; (a) Office of Secretary General responsible for the planning, (co-ordination and implementation of policies, resolutions recommendations and programmes as agreed upon by the governing ASPA bodies.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS
CHAIRMAN: Bruce Alabaster, CEO Air Niugini
VICE CHAIRMAN: Ewan Smith, MD, Air Rarotonga
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
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Chairman
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Vice Chairman
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Solomon Airlines
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Air Nauru
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Air Vanuatu
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Lulutai Airlines
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Air CALIN