By Mohamed Attia
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is taking part in the 42nd Session of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Assembly, hosted in Montreal, Canada.
Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, stated that safety, sustainability, and operational efficiency are the Association’s top priorities during this session.
Walsh emphasised the importance of securing stronger support for the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and enhancing the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), describing them as two essential elements for achieving the industry’s commitment to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
He warned against the risks posed by some states continuing to impose national or regional taxes and levies on aviation, which contradict the spirit of the Chicago Convention. Such measures, he noted, create a patchwork of regulations that hinder air transport and inconvenience passengers without meaningfully contributing to sustainability.
Walsh also highlighted the need to strengthen safety by ensuring timely publication of accident reports, addressing interference with satellite-based navigation systems, and safeguarding critical radio spectrum essential to aviation safety.
He stressed that global standards – many of which are developed within ICAO in collaboration with governments – remain the cornerstone of safe, efficient, and sustainable aviation worldwide.
Walsh added that the Assembly provides an opportunity for states to align ICAO’s work programmes with the most pressing issues facing the sector.
He pointed out that many of IATA’s working papers call only for the implementation of commitments already made by states themselves. The coming weeks in Montreal, he said, will be decisive in setting the agenda, while the following three years will be even more crucial in delivering on agreed objectives.
Through its submissions, IATA is urging governments to review targets for SAF deployment, taking into account the cost implications of mandatory obligations without parallel increases in production. The Association also calls for enhanced economic incentives for fuel producers and corrective policy measures to address market distortions.
