The first-ever formal meeting bringing together the leaders of all regional civil aviation organisations, namely the Arab Civil Aviation Organization (ACAO), the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC), the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC), and the Latin American Civil Aviation Commission (LACAC), was held on 7 February 2023 in Paris.
The main objectives of this meeting were to strengthen the relationship and cooperation among the sister civil aviation organisations and to agree on actions that support a safe, secure, and sustainable development of air transport in their respective regions and around the world, consistent with ICAO’s strategic objectives.
The Presidents and Directors of each organisation gathered to share views and lessons learned about the main outcomes of the 41st session of the ICAO Assembly and exchange information on their regions’ ambitions for the ICAO Assembly in 2025. They also reiterated their commitment to the ratification of the two 2016 Protocols amending the Chicago Convention.
It was acknowledged that strong partnership and collaboration are critical to ensuring the long-term sustainability of the aviation industry. By working together and sharing information and good practices, regional organisations can develop and implement effective strategies to support the recovery of air travel, so as to ensure the growth of the aviation industry for the benefit of the economies and citizens in each region. A series of joint activities, such as cooperation and coordination for ICAO Assemblies, safety, security, capacity building in common areas of civil aviation and exchange of best practices on air transport, was agreed for 2023 and 2024.
In a statement, the ECAC President, Mr Alessio Quaranta, Director General of Civil Aviation of Italy, said:
I am honoured to welcome my colleagues from ACAO, AFCAC, and LACAC to this important meeting in Paris. Our regional organisations share the same goals and objectives in air transport, and it is crucial that we work together to achieve them. The meeting provided an excellent opportunity for us to exchange ideas, learn from each other, and identify areas for cooperation to support the industry in fully recovering and building resilience against future disruption. Our shared commitment to cooperation and collaboration will be a critical factor in ensuring the long-term success of aviation.