BRINGING TOGETHER THOUGHT LEADERS IN AVIATION AND CONSUMER PROTECTION
The Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM) is proud to announce its inaugural webinar entitled “Charting a New Frontier: Aviation Consumer Protection Needs Today and Beyond”.
Air travel consumer protection is ever-evolving and a critical point of discussion as we mitigate the challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic towards the recovery of the aviation sector. By bringing forth an interactive forum filled with exchanging of innovative ideas, this hybrid webinar aims to gather over 200 participants on-ground and online from across the globe. It presents a unique opportunity for participants to discover new developments in the realm of aviation consumer protection, engage in meaningful discourse, and receive communication firsthand from thought leaders and experts within the air travel consumer protection and aviation sector.
Attendees will comprise industry players and experts, government representatives, regulators, non-governmental organisations, consumer associations as well as members of the media to encourage wide understanding and raise standards on aviation consumer protection, increase consumer confidence, healthy competition, innovation, and enhance air connectivity.
AGENDA
TIME (GMT+8) | EVENT |
---|---|
2.30pm | Delegate registration |
3.00pm | Webinar begins |
3.05pm | Welcoming speech by Datuk Seri Hj. Saripuddin Hj. Kasim, Executive Chairman, Malaysian Aviation Commission |
3.10pm | Special welcoming remarks by Mr. Salvatore Sciacchitano, President, International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) |
3.20pm | Keynote address by Datuk Seri Ir. Dr. Wee Ka Siong, Minister of Transport Malaysia |
3:30 PM | Token of appreciation giving ceremony with Dato Henry Sum Agong, Deputy Minister of Transport Malaysia |
3.50pm | Intermission |
4.30pm | Panel forum discussion 1: Is Enough Being Done? Universal Evolution of Consumer Protection Regulations for Air Travel Pre, During and Post COVID-19 Pandemic The panel session discusses the challenges in enacting laws in a volatile climate, the role of a regulator amidst a crisis, how regulators have assisted consumers and industry players, when is the right time for self-regulation as well as sharing of ideas on restoring traveller confidence. Moderator: Dato’ Mah Weng Kwai, Former Commissioner, Malaysian Aviation Commission Panel Speakers: 1.Prof. Dr. Jae Woon (June) Lee, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law, Chinese University of Hong Kong 2.Amna Arshad, Head of US Aviation Regulatory Practice, Special Counsel, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer 3.Michael Gill, Director of Legal Bureau, International Civil Aviation Organisation 4.YBhg. Professor Emeritus Dato' Dr. Sothi Rachagan, Consumer Protection Committee Member, Malaysian Aviation Commission 5.Mohideen Abdul Kader, President, Consumer Association Penang |
5.50pm | Panel forum discussion 2: Defining The Future of Travel: Elevating Travel Experiences Vis-à-vis Accelerated Pace of Digitalisation The panel session discusses the challenges for airport operators during the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of COVID-19 on traveller expectations as well as how this will/have altered the design and utilisation of space at airports. In addition to the role of digital technology and services that are critical to deliver information on air travel post the COVID-19 pandemic, air travel rights, and in improving passenger experience. Moderator: Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad, Asia-Pacific Regional Advisor of Airports Council International (ACI) World Governing Board Panel Speakers: 1.Ridha Aditya Nugraha, Air and Space Law Studies, Universitas Prasetiya Mulya 2.Vinoop Goel, Asia-Pacific Regional Director of Airports & External Relations, International Air Transport Association (IATA) 3.Stefano Baronci, Director General of Airports Council International (ACI) Asia-Pacific 4.Saravanan Thambirajah, Chief Executive Officer, Federation Of Malaysian Consumer Associations |
7.00pm | Panel forum discussion 3: Agility and Progressiveness: Ensuring Continued Growth of the Aviation Sector and Protection of Consumers The panel session focuses on the overall outlook for the aviation industry and its trends of continued growth in air travel consumers protection and safety. It also aims to demonstrate Malaysia’s outlook for the sector in relation to neighboring countries within the region and/or global benchmarks. Moderator: Freda Liu, Broadcast Journalist Panel Speakers: 1.Peter Alawani, Chief Economic Regulatory Framework Section, Air Transport Bureau, International Civil Aviation Organisation 2.Olivier Waldner, Deputy Head of Unit Passenger Rights, Directorate General for Mobility and Transport, European Commission 3.Pushpalatha Subramaniam, Director of Consumer Affairs, Malaysian Aviation Commission 4.Soukkhongthong Voraphet, Director of Air Transport Division, Department of Civil Aviation of Laos PDR |
8.10pm | Closing remarks by Chief Operating Officer of MAVCOM, Raja Azmi bin Raja Nazuddin |
8.20pm | End |
MODERATORS AND SPEAKERS



Head of U.S. Aviation Regulatory Practice, Special Counsel, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
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Asia-Pacific Regional Advisor of Airports Council International (ACI) World Governing Board
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Asia-Pacific Regional Director of Airports & External Relations,
International Air Transport Association (IATA)
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Chief Executive Officer, Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (FOMCA)
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Chief Economic Regulatory Framework Section, Air Transport Bureau, International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)
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Deputy Head of Unit Passenger Rights, Directorate General for Mobility and Transport European Commission (EU)
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Director of Consumer Affairs, Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM)
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Director of Air Transport Division, Department of Civil Aviation of Laos PDR
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SPEECHES & PRESENTATIONS
SPEECHES
- Keynote Address by Minister of Transport Malaysia, YB Datuk Seri Dr. Ir. Wee Ka Siong
- Welcome Opening by Executive Chairman of MAVCOM, Datuk Seri Hj. Saripuddin Hj. Kasim
PANEL SESSION 1 SPEAKERS’ PRESENTATIONS
Panel Session Topic: Is Enough Being Done? Universal Evolution of Consumer Protection Regulations for Air Travel Pre, During and Post COVID-19 Pandemic
- Setting the Scene: Landscape of Consumer Rights in Air Travel Before COVID-19 by Prof. Dr. Jae Woon (June) Lee, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law, Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)
- US Aviation Consumer Protection Response to COVID-19 Pandemic by Amna Arshad, Head of US Aviation Regulatory Practice, Special Counsel, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
- International Standards for Consumer Protection in Aviation by Michael Gill, Director of Legal Affairs & External Relations Bureau, International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)
- A New Order for Consumer Protection of Airline Passengers by Prof. Emeritus Dato’ Dr. Sothi Rachagan, Consumer Protection Committee Member, Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM)
- Breaking Barriers and Beyond: Can We Do More to Protect Consumers in Air Travel? by Mohideen Abdul Kader, President, Consumers Association of Penang (CAP)
PANEL SESSION 2 SPEAKERS’ PRESENTATIONS
Panel Session Topic: Defining the Future of Travel: Elevating Travel Experiences Vis-à-vis Accelerated Pace of Digitalisation
- How Digitalisation Has Shifted the World of Aviation Consumer Protection? by Ridha Aditya Nugraha, Air & Space Law Studies, Universitas Prasetiya Mulya
- Consumer Expectations at Airports Beyond the Pandemic by Stefano Baronci, Director General of Airports Council International (ACI) Asia-Pacific
- Digital Passenger Experience – From COVID Challenges to Enabling Growth by Vinoop Goel, Regional Director, Airports & External Relations, Asia-Pacific, International Air Transport Association (IATA)
- Elevating Travel Experience: Air-Travellers’ Perceptions of Service Quality by Saravanan Thambirajah, Chief Executive Officer, Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (FOMCA)
PANEL SESSION 3 SPEAKERS’ PRESENTATIONS
Panel Session Topic: Agility and Progressiveness: Ensuring Continued Growth of the Aviation Sector and Protection of Consumers
- Outlook of the Aviation Industry and Trends in Consumer Protection by Peter Alawani, Chief Economic Regulatory Framework Section, Air Transport Bureau, International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)
- Nuts and Bolts of Air Travel Consumer Protection in Europe and Challenges Ahead by Olivier Waldner, Deputy Head of Unit Passenger Rights, Directorate General for Mobility and Transport, European Commission
- Nuts and Bolts of Air Travel Consumer Protection in Malaysia and Challenges Ahead by Pushpalatha Subramaniam, Director of Consumer Affairs, Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM)
- Nuts and Bolts of Air Travel Consumer Protection in Laos and Challenges Ahead by Soukkhongthong Voraphet, Director of Air Transport Division, Department of Civil Aviation of Laos PDR
VIDEOS
Introduction:
Welcoming Speech, Special Welcoming Remarks & Keynote Address
Panel Session 1:
Is Enough Being Done? Universal Evolution of Consumer Protection Regulations for
Air Travel Pre, During and Post COVID-19 Pandemic
Panel Session 2:
Defining the Future of Travel: Elevating Travel Experiences Vis-à-vis
Accelerated Pace of Digitalisation
Panel Session 3:
Agility and Progressiveness: Ensuring Continued Growth of the
Aviation Sector and Protection of Consumers
Closing Remarks