The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has urged the 41st Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to address top industry issues, including sustainability and pandemic preparedness.

IATA has highlighted the following priorities:

•    Agreeing a Long-term Aspirational Goal (LTAG) for the decarbonization of international aviation in line with the aviation industry’s commitment to achieve net zero CO2 emissions by 2050
•    Strengthening the landmark Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) as the single economic measure used by governments to manage aviation’s carbon footprint
•    Implementing lessons learned from the economically and socially painful destruction of global connectivity that resulted from government attempts to control the spread of Covid-19

“The industry’s expectations for the 41st ICAO Assembly are ambitious but realistic given the challenges that we face. For example, governments must learn the lessons of Covid-19 so that the next pandemic does not result in closed borders bringing social and economic hardship. We also need governments to support the industry’s commitment to net zero carbon emissions by 2050 with their own commitment and corresponding policy measures on decarbonization. The right decisions by governments can accelerate the recovery from Covid-19 and strengthen the foundations for aviation’s decarbonization,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

IATA has submitted or sponsored over 20 papers on the Assembly’s agenda covering key policy and regulatory areas, including the following:

Sustainability: Airlines are committed to net zero carbon emissions by 2050. To support this commitment, IATA asks governments to adopt a LTAG of equal ambition that can guide consistent policymaking globally.

Lessons Learned from Covid-19: IATA calls on governments to be better prepared for future health emergencies and to avoid the fragmented response to Covid-19. Where Covid-19 measures are still in place, these must be reviewed considering lessons learned during Covid-19 and evaluated against global best practices.

Strengthened cooperation and dialogue are needed at global, regional and national levels. IATA is calling for leadership from ICAO and the World Health Organization (WHO) including a central role for the CAPSCA framework based on an ongoing and monitored work program. This should lead to a crisis response toolkit which can be activated as required and is inclusive of health authorities and industry stakeholders.

People and Talent: IATA has called for action on a number of issues relating to travellers and those who work in the air transport industry. Specifically, states should agree a global framework for how air transport implements its obligation under the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities.

IATA said that an examination of current restrictions on upper age limits for pilots is needed. This should consider new technology and emerging science. Adjusting this barrier to employment could help ensure the pilot talent needed to support future growth.

Global standards and implementation

“Global standards are at the core of a safe, efficient, and sustainable air transport industry. This ICAO Assembly has enormous opportunities to advance aviation’s decarbonization, prepare the industry for the next pandemic, advance gender diversity, improve accessible air travel and enable standard setting to keep pace with technology. We look forward to states rising to these and other challenges before the Assembly,” said Walsh.

“Agreement, however, is only half the solution. Decisions made at the Assembly need to be implemented. The fact that we have a multitude of environment taxes when CORSIA was agreed to be the single global economic measure to manage international emissions illustrates the importance of effective implementation,” Walsh added. – TradeArabia News Service