The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) announced that Australia's flag carrier, Qantas Airways Limited, has joined AAPA with immediate effect.

"We are very pleased and honoured to welcome Qantas Airways as a member of AAPA.  Qantas, a leading Australian airline with a long heritage, would not only strengthen the Association's voice in international aviation policy discussions but also reinforce effective regional collaboration on key aviation tenets, namely safety, sustainability, and seamless air travel," said Subhas Menon, director general of AAPA.

AAPA is the trade association for scheduled international airlines based in the Asia Pacific region. Collectively, the region’s airlines represent over one-third of global passenger and air cargo traffic.

Meanwhile, Cam Wallace, chief executive officer of International and Freight, Qantas, said, the carrier will work with AAPA to help address various industry challenges.

"Qantas looks forward to working with members of AAPA as the industry embraces opportunities to meet the evolving needs of customers in a dynamic market while at the same time confronting challenges such as climate change and supply chain disruptions," he added.

Qantas, founded in 1920, is the world's oldest continuously operating airline. The Qantas Group has more than 300 aircraft in its fleet.