Mr Han Kok Juan, Director-General, Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), was re-appointed Chair of the Asia Pacific Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) CEO Committee and member of the CANSO Executive Committee on 24 April 2025 for a new two-year term. Mr Han was first appointed Chair of the Asia Pacific CANSO CEO Committee on 19 August 2021 and was re-appointed on 11 July 2023.
The CANSO CEO Committee for the Asia Pacific region, which comprises 23 air navigation service providers (ANSPs), governs and directs the work of CANSO Asia Pacific. Air travel demand is expected to grow strongly in the Asia Pacific region, tripling over the next 20 years. The Asia Pacific CANSO CEO Committee has published a White Paper to identify opportunities, challenges and priorities and is bringing together ANSPs and private sector partners to build capacity and capabilities.
For the next two years, the Asia Pacific CANSO CEO Committee has identified aviation meteorology as a new priority. Like other regions in the world, the Asia Pacific is experiencing increased frequency of unpredictable and severe weather patterns causing flight delays, disruptions and safety incidents. The Committee will bring together aviation and meteorology professionals to address this through inter-disciplinary collaboration, data sharing and technology. Better prediction of weather patterns and their impact on flights will deliver significant benefits. For travellers, it will reduce flight delays and disruptions and enhance aviation safety. For airlines, it will improve operational efficiency and reduce business cost. For ANSPs, it will allow more optimal use of limited capacity in the skies to support the growth of air traffic.
Mr Simon Hocquard, Director-General of CANSO said, “We are delighted that Mr Han Kok Juan has been re-appointed Chair of the Asia Pacific CANSO CEO Committee. Under his leadership, the region has made great strides in collaboration, innovation, and building capacity for the future. His renewed term comes at a pivotal time as we work together to meet growing demand, address climate challenges, and strengthen partnerships across Asia Pacific.”
The Asia Pacific CANSO CEO Committee will be holding a CANSO Asia Pacific Conference in Hong Kong on 8 December 2025 on the theme of “Seamless APAC Airspace – Aviation and Meteorology Integration”. This will be a world first-ever joint meeting of aviation and meteorology experts and professionals to tackle the challenges posed by weather on aviation.
Mr Han Kok Juan, Director-General of CAAS said, “I am deeply honoured to be re-appointed Chair of the Asia Pacific CANSO CEO Committee and thank all air navigation service providers and our private sector partners for their support. I look forward to working with them to build capacities in the skies to support growth and keep flying safe, efficient and sustainable through collaboration and greater use of technology. We also hope to set up a convening platform for aviation and meteorology experts to jointly tackle the impact of changing weather patterns on aviation and reduce flight delays and disruptions and enhance aviation safety for the flying public.”
