The first session of the forum, "Aviation: The New Frontiers", focused on the fact that Asia-Pacific is the region with the highest growth of air traffic in the world, while China and India are on top of the list in Asia.

Zhang Hexiang, head of the Institute of Economy of Management Research of the Aviation Industry Development Research Centre of China, said China was the engine of Asia aviation, and she predicted that by 2020 China would be able to compete with the US and European countries.

Prime Minister General Surayud Chulanont presided over the official opening ceremony. In his speech he said that Thailand would gain a lot of advantages from Star Alliance's new members Air China and Shanghai Airlines, which will join Star Alliance by the end of the year.

In the second session, representatives of the titans of the world aviation industry Boeing, Airbus, Rolls Royce, GE Aviation and United Technologies International Operations discussed the "Aircraft of the 21st Century and Implications for Asia".

Chief engineer of Roll Royce Martin J Jones explained aircraft innovations that reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

In the forum's last session, "Challenges for Asia's Travel and Tourism Industry", Amadeus's global president and CEO Jose Antonio Tazon said the tourism industry had grown up and become more important, highlighted by the topic "Technology: The Key to Leadership and Growth".

Tazon said Amadeus's online booking system offered many advantages including lower costs and better reactions from customers.