By Mohamed Attia
Egypt has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting international efforts in public health and aviation safety, according to Captain Amr El-Sharkawy, head of the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority.
Speaking at the 12th meeting of the Collaborative Arrangement for the Prevention and Management of Public Health Events in Civil Aviation (CAPSCA EUR-MID/12), El-Sharkawy described CAPSCA as a leading example of regional and international cooperation that aligns with ICAO’s Global Aviation Safety Plan (GASP), Global Air Navigation Plan (GANP), and the guidance set by the ICAO Council Aviation Recovery Task Force (CART).
He expressed hope that the meeting would produce tangible outcomes to enhance the aviation sector’s readiness to respond to public health emergencies while strengthening its safety and sustainability at both regional and global levels.
“The continued coordination and integration of efforts are essential to ensure that civil aviation remains a bridge between peoples and a vital pillar in promoting global public health,” El-Sharkawy said, calling for a productive and forward-looking meeting.
The event was hosted in Cairo under the patronage of Egypt’s Minister of Civil Aviation, Dr Samy Hafny, and was organised in co-operation with ICAO’s European and North Atlantic (EUR/NAT) and Middle East regional offices. It follows up on recommendations from the 41st ICAO General Assembly (A41) and discussions held during the 11th CAPSCA EUR-MID meeting in Cologne, Germany, in April 2024.
The opening session was attended by Captain Mohamed Abubakr Fareh, ICAO’s Regional Director for the Middle East, along with senior officials from Egypt’s civil aviation sector, WHO representatives, and delegates from member states and regional and international health and aviation organisations.
The meeting aimed to facilitate the exchange of experiences and best practices among member states, coordinate health crisis response plans, and ensure the resilience and security of the global air transport sector during emergencies. The agenda also focused on minimising the impact of health crises on international travel and trade.
Participating countries discussed the implementation of ICAO’s Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and the International Health Regulations (IHR) issued by the WHO. They also explored strategies to build national capacity for developing and executing aviation health emergency plans and strengthening collaboration among civil aviation authorities, public health bodies, airports, air navigation service providers, airlines, immigration, customs, and security agencies.
As part of the programme, a CAPSCA technical support team is scheduled to conduct a site visit to an Egyptian airport on 21–22 May 2025 to assess preparedness levels and promote the application of international health standards in the airport environment.
