OAG Unveils Analysis of the Crucial Role Air Travel Plays in the Economic Development of New Countries

SINGAPORE, December 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

- In-depth report compares progress of air travel, industry and trade development within newly independent countries Timor-Leste, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo and South Sudan

OAG, the global leader in aviation intelligence and a UBM Aviation brand, today released the OAG New Countries Report, which explores the crucial role air travel plays in the economic development and stability of newly independent countries and provides in-depth analyses of the five countries that have gained independence since 2000: Timor-Leste, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo and South Sudan.

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The World Bank, in the most recent World Development Report, found that post-conflict countries take on average between 15 and 30 years to transition out of fragility and to build resilience. Since 1990, 34 new countries have been established, many as a result of the dissolution of the USSR and Yugoslavia in the early 1990s. The OAG New Countries Report provides a detailed study of how air travel facilitates economic growth, world trade, international investment and tourism in developing countries, and the obstacles to air travel development that exist in each of the new countries, along with the opportunities.

"The birth of a new nation brings with it many challenges, and air travel plays a crucial role in the development of the country, facilitating economic growth through trade, international investment and tourism," said Mario Hardy, Vice President - Asia Pacific, UBM Aviation. "The advancement of airports, airlines, air routes and other air travel essentials must be a major focus of investments, both by the countries themselves and the international investment community. Effective air travel is central to the sustained advancement of any country, and without it, new countries simply cannot thrive in today's global economy."

Overall, the OAG New Countries Report concludes that the opportunities and demand for air travel are potentially significant in each of the new countries, and that "open skies" agreements are beginning to dismantle some of the regulations governing which carriers can fly on certain routes - thus creating a more competitive environment. However, developing a robust aviation network and supporting infrastructure requires investment, skills and ultimately a reason for people to travel and invest - all of which remain in flux as the new countries work through significant social, political and economic challenges.

A more detailed review of the OAG New Countries Report - including information, commentary and charts - is available to download now at http://www.oagaviation.com/newcountriesreport.

About OAG

OAG, a UBM Aviation brand, is the trusted source for aviation information and analytical services, with data sourced from OAG's comprehensive and proprietary airline Schedules, Flight Status, Fleet, MRO and Cargo Logistics databases.  Our airline schedules database holds future and historical flight details for over 1,000 airlines and more than 4,000 airports. Our aggregated data feeds the world's global distribution systems and travel portals, and drives the internal systems of many airlines, airports, air traffic control systems, aircraft manufacturers, and government agencies around the world.  For more information, visit http://www.oag.com.

About UBM Aviation

UBM Aviation, a UBM company, brings together buyers and sellers of air travel and transport through our portfolio of products and services.  We specialize in the supply of data, analytics, consulting services, events and media related to the global aviation industry. Our leading brands include the official provider of aviation data and analytics, OAG;  a leading provider of solutions for the air freight industry, OAG Cargo; the world-renowned provider of airport route development forums, marketing and networking events, Routes; the leading route development consultancy firm, Airport Strategy & Marketing (ASM); an international program of aviation exhibitions and conferences including the Airline Purchasing & Maintenance Conference & Expo; and must-read aviation publications such as Aircraft Technology Engineering & Maintenance and Airline Fleet Management.  For more information, visit  http://www.ubmaviation.com.

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Mario Hardy
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