NZALPA recently hosted the Associations of Star Alliance Pilots (ASAP) Executive Board meeting in Auckland from November 19-21. This was the second of two annual meetings held by ASAP. 

Twenty-five delegates from eight Star Alliance airlines were present, representing pilot associations from Europe (Lufthansa, SAS), North America (Air Canada, United), Africa (South African Airways), and Asia/Pacific (Singapore Airlines, ANA and Asiana). Also present as observers to the meeting were the staff officer of the IFALPA Professional and Government Affairs Committee and a representative from LATAM Airlines. NZALPA was represented by President Tim Robinson, Industrial Director Andrew Ridling, IFALPA Director Dean Fotti, and NZALPA’s ASAP Representative Natalie Bos. 

The meeting provided multiple networking opportunities for the delegates as well as a formal agenda consisting of individual member association’s reports and presentations. Guest speakers to the meeting were Marion Hiriart (Senior Advisor for the New Zealand Ministry of Transport, and former Head of the New Zealand Space Agency), Nick Judd (Air New Zealand Chief of Strategy, Networks and Alliances), and Reuben Levermore (Head of Regional Affairs, Air New Zealand). The guest speaker presentations focused on alliances and joint ventures, both from a regional and international strategic perspective, and discussions on the current and future relevance of global alliances such as the Star Alliance. 

The meeting was unanimously regarded as a resounding success. On behalf of all of the delegates present, ASAP Chairman Al Gaspari (United) thanked NZALPA for hosting the meeting and acknowledged NZALPA’s leadership in areas such as our Career Pathways project and our nine-year Air New Zealand strategic partnership. As we discovered, these are issues many other member associations are just beginning to consider and will now be looking for NZALPA’s advice and experience as they navigate these contentious issues at home.