Dubai: Representatives from the world’s airlines gathered on Sunday in Cancun, Mexico to discuss some of the most pressing issues facing the sector including the electronics ban and alternatives to keep flying secure.

During the 73rd annual general meeting for the International Air Transport Association (Iata), a trade group of the world’s airlines, industry representatives will also discuss modernising air cargo, implementing carbon reduction schemes, and combating human trafficking.

The event comes on the heels of strong performance in the aviation industry in April 2017, with demand rising by 10.7 per cent during the month compared to April 2016. The figure marks the fastest pace in six years, and was supported by a pick-up in global economic activity and lower airfares, Iata said.

However, and in contrast to other regions, the April growth rate for Middle Eastern airlines was slower than the five-year average growth pace.

Iata said in a statement that the cabin ban on large electronic devices, affecting 10 Middle Eastern and African airports, appears to have weighed down passenger traffic to the US from the region.

“April showed us that demand for air travel remains at very strong levels. Nevertheless, there are indications that passengers are avoiding routes where the large PED (Portable Electronic Devices) ban is in place. As the US Department of Homeland Security considers expanding the ban, the need to find alternative measures to keep flying secure is critical,” said Alexandre de Juniac, Iata’s director general and CEO.

He added, “If the ban were extended to Europe-to-US flights, for example, we estimate a $1.4 billion hit on productivity. And an Iata-commissioned survey of business travelers indicated that 15 per cent would seek to reduce their travel in the face of a ban.”

In March 2017, the US implemented a ban on carry-on electronic devices larger than a smartphone on direct flights from 10 airports that include those in the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.

There were later talks about imposing the ban on flights from Europe as well, though reports suggested that the proposal was off the table for the time being.

According to Iata’s data from March, Revenue Passenger Kilometre (RPK) flown by Middle Eastern airlines to the US fell by 2.8 per cent year-on-year. This was the first annual decline recorded for this market in at least seven years.

Iata said that while traffic growth on the market segment has already been slowing, the decline is consistent with some disruption from the electronics ban that was announced on March 21. It is also in line with a wider impact on travel to the US from the Donald Trump administration’s proposed travel bans.

The Iata meeting and World Transport Summit bring together chief executive officers and senior management from Iata’s 275 member airlines, which collectively carry 83 per cent of global air traffic.