41st ICAO Assembly to focus on continued recovery of air sector

ICAO’s latest analyses showed air transport seat capacity and passenger totals globally have reached an estimated 80 percent of pre-pandemic levels

Montreal, Canada | Xinhua | More than 2,500 delegates from around the world are gathering in Montreal, Canada, to secure the highest possible standards in global aviation with a focus on its continued recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Assembly, meeting once every three years, will hold its 41st session from Sept. 27 to Oct. 7, during which member states and representatives from international organizations will establish the ICAO’s priorities, supporting the increased sustainability and digitalization of 21st century air transport.

Canadian Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra said in a press release on Monday that the host country will focus on the continued recovery of the air sector and moving towards reducing pollution in the air sector among others.

“As the aviation industry continues to recover, I am pleased to attend the ICAO Assembly with representatives from member states across the globe to discuss the challenges we continue to face in the air sector and to work on the solutions needed going forward,” he said.

The ICAO’s latest analyses showed air transport seat capacity and passenger totals globally have reached an estimated 80 percent of pre-pandemic levels, with passenger revenue at around 72 percent of its 2019 high point.

The number of air passengers carried from January to August this year increased by an estimated 55 percent compared to the same period in 2021, according to the ICAO.

Aircraft flight departures increased by 28 percent, with overall seat capacity growing by 32 percent over the same period last year.

In terms of passenger revenues, and keeping yield and exchange rates at 2019 levels, there was an estimated 70 percent growth for the first eight months of 2022 compared to the same period of 2021.

The number of passenger aircraft in service during the analysis period improved by 34 percent compared to the same period of last year, and mirrored overall traffic recovery in reaching 80 percent of pre-pandemic levels, the ICAO said.

The ICAO currently predicted that a majority of international route groups should fully recover to their pre-pandemic levels by either the fourth quarter of this year or the first quarter of 2023.

The ICAO is a United Nations specialized agency that works with its 193 member states to set and audit safety, security, emissions, navigation, and facilitation standards to shape and improve international air operations.