The event was attended by over 700 participants representing 97 countries
In its recent Air Services Negotiation (ICAN) event hosted by the General Authority of Civil Aviation of Saudi Arabia, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has overseen the signing of 521 new international air service agreements.
In a press statement, ICAO says that the event was attended by over 700 participants representing 97 countries, amounting to ‘record-breaking outcomes’ for this edition of the annual meeting.
ICAO says that the ICAN series was launched in 2008 to facilitate the initiation or renegotiation of the bilateral and multilateral state agreements that form the regulatory foundation of the modern civil aviation network.
It adds that goals agreed by governments towards the decarbonisation of air transport by 2050 support the expansion of air service agreements associated with these environmental engagements. This is further supported by initiatives led by ICAO to support the development and implementation of the technologies, operational improvements, and cleaner aviation fuels that decarbonisation requires.
ICAO says it promotes several key priorities for states when supporting their air services negotiations, including liberalised market access for airlines, the removal of barriers to access wider capital markets, and relaxed nationality requirements for airlines’ ownership.
Priorities include commitments to convergent and effective regulatory practices supported by good governance, and recognition of the need for modernised infrastructure and passenger facilitation processes.
The statement adds that these commitments will continue to support safety, security, environmental sustainability, capacity, and resilience objectives, as well as the implementation of effective national competition and consumer protection frameworks, and full compliance with current ICAO policy guidance on taxes, charges, and fees.
