Policy and regulation
In line with Recommendation 10 of the Report of the Council Aviation Recovery Task Force (CART), States should establish clear frameworks for the provision of economic and financial support to the aviation industry and ensure their good governance. To help States stabilize and support the beleaguered aviation industry, ICAO developed
Guidance on Economic and Financial Measures, which sets out a range of measures that can be explored by States and the aviation sector to cope with the economic fallout of the pandemic, alleviate the imminent liquidity and financial strain on the industry, and more importantly, strengthen the industry’s resilience to future crises. The guidance outlines the potential implications and constraints of such measures and provides concrete examples to support the decision-making of policymakers and industry leaders based on their unique circumstances and needs.
In response to Recommendation 11 of the Report, ICAO developed a
compendium of States' best practices in emergency and contingency response planning for disruptions to aviation. By gathering information on best practices, ICAO will be able to provide appropriate, targeted and timely guidance, training, and assistance to Member States in their efforts to recover from crises, build stronger and more resilient civil aviation systems, and adequately prepare for future emergencies.
As part of efforts to restore and enhance air connectivity, the 2021 ICAO Air Services Negotiation Event (ICAN2021) was held in a hybrid format in Bogotá, Colombia, from 6 to 10 December 2021. The event was a success, with
71 State delegations participating in over
350 meetings, reaching pre-pandemic levels for this event.
Air cargo continued to play a vital role in the delivery of food, medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, and other essential goods during the pandemic. ICAO provided the required leadership and support on multiple fronts to facilitate essential air cargo operations and ensure the sustainability of supply chains. These efforts included collaboration with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and other United Nations agencies on the release of technical specifications on the electronic exchange of cargo information for all modes of transport. By supporting digitalization, such specifications will help to protect cross border trade and international transport operations from future crises.
ICAO also undertook efforts to promote and achieve its long-term vision for air transport liberalization, including through the development of a draft Convention on Foreign Investment in Airlines that aims to liberalize air carrier ownership and control on a multilateral basis, as requested in Assembly Resolution A40-9, Appendix A, Section II, paragraph 6.
As a part of this work, the Air Transport Regulation Panel (ATRP) held two informal virtual meetings on
29 June 2021 and
7 October 2021. The meetings were held after the Air Transport Committee, at its
3rd meeting during the 223rd Session of the Council, noted that more time was needed to work on the remaining issues of concern regarding the draft Convention on Foreign Investment in Airlines. At the meetings of the Panel, participants shared a wide range of views and highlighted the need to engage in further discussions to better understand the issues.
