Aviation data and economic analysis
The Secretariat regularly updated and published its economic analysis of the impact of COVID-19 on air transport in order to provide authoritative information and forecasts to Member States and the international community.
A series of interactive air transport dashboards were developed and subsequently integrated, in collaboration with the United Nations Statistical Division, into the United Nations public platform for monitoring the impact of COVID-19 on trade, travel and transport. Furthermore, quarterly contributions were made to the United Nations report entitled
How Covid-19 is changing the world: a statistical perspective.
ICAO aviation data
The Third Meeting of the Aviation Data and Analysis Panel (ADAP/3) was held in June 2021. The Panel's deliberations covered various subjects of interest to ICAO and Member States, including: data quality and reporting; collaboration with the United Nations and other international organizations; big data analysis; the Aviation Satellite Account (ASA) framework; post-COVID-19 traffic forecasts; forecasts of licensed aviation personnel; and the Global Aviation Competitiveness Index. The Panel’s recommendations were implemented in collaboration with the ICAO Secretariat, with the Panel providing guidance on work related to the ASA framework, data collection, the customization of long-term traffic forecasts and the establishment of the Aviation Competitiveness Working Group (ACWG).
ICAO Statistics Programme and online platform
The ICAO Statistics Programme was modernized as part of the Enterprise Data Management (EDM) initiative, which aims to harmonize different sources of data at the organizational level. Data sources were harmonized by using standard reference tables and taxonomies and creating a holistic repository of cross-functional data. The re-engineering process focused on the modernization of the user interface, the interoperability of the system with other users, compatibility with big data standards, and data dissemination. The Secretariat continued to develop Civil Aviation Data Solutions (iCADs) and an online version of Doc 7100 (in collaboration with Airports Council International (ACI)) as new decision support tools for capacity-building and infrastructure development.
Forecasting activities
The Multi-disciplinary Working Group on Long-term Traffic Forecasts (MDWG LTF) under the Aviation Data and Analysis Panel updated a single set of long-term traffic forecasts, including post-COVID-19 forecasted scenarios. The MDWG-LTF is composed of 10 Member States and five international organizations. Such forecasts are critical to: effectively implement ICAO’s
No Country Left Behind initiative; estimate future noise and emissions trends; assess the operational effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of air navigation systems, including the Aviation System Block Upgrades (ASBU); assess licensed personnel and training requirements; and carry out infrastructure planning and capacity-building for the improved safety of operations.
Economic analysis
Studies on regional differences in international airline operating economics for the years 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 were carried out, and a study for 2019 is ongoing. The results of these studies are published in circulars on a biennial basis. Based on these results, values of the global and area weightings are provided annually to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Prorate Agency to establish prorate factors for passenger revenues from interline journeys.
In 2021, ICAO continued its studies on the aviation sector’s socioeconomic contributions to Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and its activities pertaining to the Global Air Connectivity Index.
Aviation Satellite Account (ASA)
An expert advisory group on the ASA methodological framework developed a document to estimate the contribution of civil aviation in terms of percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) and number of jobs. The ASA methodology will be used by States to develop a standard framework for measuring the economic and social impact of civil aviation activities and for securing financing and investments in the air transport sector.
