SINGAPORE—The air transport industry needs to modernize its mindset, resources and technology base to remain resilient in an increasingly volatile operating environment, Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) Director General Subhas Menon said before his final Singapore Airshow before retirement.

Menon said progress is still needed in areas ranging from gender diversity to resource management, but highlighted the industry’s planning cycle as a structural weakness. Airline and infrastructure planning typically operates on five- to 10-year horizons on present technologies, which he likened to “driving using the rear-view mirror.”

“We have a lot of tools available now, including artificial intelligence, and with that our planning cycles can be significantly improved,” Menon said. 

He also urged Asian governments to invest more decisively in aviation capabilities such as maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), warning that underinvestment has exacerbated post-pandemic supply-chain bottlenecks.

The industry, Menon added, was ill-prepared for the COVID-19 pandemic, underscoring the need for contingency resources and mechanisms to manage short-term shocks, whether from health crises, geopolitics or supply disruptions.

Menon pointed to the automotive sector as a case study for aviation, noting how rapid technological advances from Chinese, Japanese and South Korean manufacturers have reshaped the industry and displaced long-established Western players.

On broader geopolitical shifts, Menon cited remarks by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on the world moving toward a new equilibrium centered on so-called “middle powers.” Such a transition, he said, would favor air transport growth in markets such as China, India and Southeast Asia. He noted that this realignment is already visible, with several European countries easing visa restrictions for Chinese travelers to stimulate bilateral traffic flows.

Menon also warned that a U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization could undermine the body’s legitimacy and weaken the global aviation sector’s ability to respond to future regional or global health emergencies.

While China or other powers may step in to fill leadership gaps, Menon questioned whether the West would be prepared to accept Chinese leadership in international institutions, drawing parallels with resistance seen in other industries. “Over time, perhaps,” he said. “But not immediately.”

Singapore Airlines and Delta Air Lines veteran Wong Hong will take over the helm of AAPA from April 1.