ICAO and ITF to cooperate on aviation
A framework to engage in joint research and events as well as exchange of information and of staff was signed by both organisations on 23 June in Montreal.
The agreement identifies topics such as international air transport liberalisation, security and facilitation of travellers, or aviation infrastructure investment as areas for cooperation between ICAO and ITF.
Building on existing cooperation to better forecast air passenger flows and their impacts, both organisations will work together on statistics methodology and data aggregation, data analysis and forecasting and economic studies on the development of air transport.
“This collaboration will provide added value for both organisations and for their member countries”, said ITF Secretary-General José Viegas. “It will help strengthen ITF’s understanding of the aviation sector. And it will help us provide ICAO with additional policy perspectives that can also include lessons from other transport modes.”
Other potential areas for joint initiatives are crisis management, sustainable development and climate change mitigation as well as the promotion of compatible regulatory approaches towards international air transport among states. ICAO and ITF will accord each other observer status at their meetings. The collaboration will extend over an initial period of three years.
“Working cooperatively is, and has always been, fundamental to the aviation sector,” stressed ICAO Council President Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu. “This new framework for enhanced cooperation with ITF will allow us to more effectively meet our objectives and, at the same time, share our experiences and best practices to the benefit of ITF and its Member States.”
Montreal-based ICAO is the United Nations’ specialised agency responsible for ensuring safe and orderly international aviation. The ITF is an intergovernmental organisation with 57 member countries housed by the OECD in Paris that acts as a strategic transport policy think tank across modes and organises an Annual Summit of transport ministers.
