Global Air Travel Blueprint Faces New Challenges

By David Shepardson and Allison Lampert
CHICAGO/MONTREAL (Reuters) – A global blueprint for modern air travel, established 80 years ago, is currently facing tests in managing change and rising air traffic, according to a senior official at the UN's aviation agency.

On Thursday, the UN's International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is gathering regulators and industry executives, including those from Boeing and Airbus, at its birthplace in Chicago.

ICAO, created in 1944 after the United States invited over 50 allies to agree on a common air navigation system, has no policing powers and instead relies on consensus to set standards from runways to seat belts. The signing of the Convention on International Civil Aviation on December 7, 1944, solidified support for ICAO and multilateralism in managing the skies.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg highlighted ICAO's role in ensuring air travel remains the safest mode of transportation, emphasizing the collective action and responsible choices that underlie its success. He stated, "The safety record is a marvel… it makes everything else possible."

However, the post-war cooperation model is being challenged by rising populism and public concerns about aviation emissions. ICAO Council President Salvatore Sciacchitano indicated that while the agency will celebrate its past, it also aims to address current challenges and future goals, including net-zero aviation emissions by 2050.

With air traffic surging from Asia and the Middle East, managing airspace will be a key focus over the next 25 years. The agency also faces criticism for its slow decision-making process and for not setting sufficiently ambitious climate goals.

Recently, ICAO has dealt with issues involving member states; resolutions were directed at Russia, Belarus, and North Korea for violating the Chicago Convention. In a rare move, Russia lost its council seat in 2022 due to its invasion of Ukraine.

Despite these challenges, Sciacchitano maintains that ICAO remains relevant and capable of achieving its goals through compromise, stating that differing perspectives do not undermine the commitment to collaborate on solutions.