With over 1.3 billion individuals or about 16% of the global population are living with some form of disability. Also, with aging population this number is bound to increase in the coming years.
In view of this, together, “the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Airports Council International (ACI) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) will host The Symposium on Accessibility in International Civil Aviation from 2 to 3 December 2024 at ICAO Headquarters in Montréal, uniting governments, industry leaders and advocacy groups to tackle barriers to air travel faced by persons with disabilities or reduced mobility.”
Under the theme “Inclusive and Universally Accessible Air Transport for Persons with Disabilities and Reduced Mobility,” ICAO says the event will explore strategies to create a more accessible air transport system.
Juan Carlos Salazar, ICAO’s Secretary General said: “Universally coordinated and accessible air transport can only be achieved through close collaboration along the aviation value chain. ICAO is heightening cooperation with IATA and ACI on this priority, because it is only by showing governments and operators how to work together as one that we will successfully tackle existing barriers in air travel.”
Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General said: “Airlines want to ensure safe, reliable, and dignified travel for every passenger, including those with disabilities. To deliver this, airlines, airports and the disability community must work together. On top of this, national regulatory frameworks for passengers with disabilities must support successful service delivery no matter where a journey begins or ends.”
Justin Erbacci, ACI World’s Director General said: “ACI is committed to helping our member airports enable barrier-free environments that provide equal access and outstanding travel experiences for all guests, regardless of ability. This symposium will bring together aviation stakeholders from across the ecosystem to engage in meaningful dialogue to identify actionable steps toward creating a more accessible air transport system.”
Organized within the context of the 2024 ICAO Year of Facilitation, ICAO says this event is “expected to result in the creation and exchange of significant new expertise towards improving the air travel experience of persons living with disabilities. It will additionally help inform negotiations among ICAO’s 193 Member States on accessibility when they convene in 2025 for the 42nd ICAO Assembly.”
This event will sharpen the global aviation community’s focus on accessibility of air transport to persons with disabilities which has picked up in recent times. It will be recalled that IPADiS (International Partners for Aviation Development Innovation and Sustainability) and ACI World recently published guidance materials on the subject.