The inaugural ICAO Symposium on Accessibility in International Civil Aviation takes place in Montreal, Canada – Travel And Tour World

Montreal in Canada served as the stage for the inaugural ICAO Symposium on Accessibility in International Civil Aviation, held from December 2 to 3, 2024.

Jointly organized by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the Airports Council International (ACI), and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the event brought together 237 participants from 37 countries, five international organizations, advocacy groups, NGOs, and advisory bodies.

Focus on Accessibility and Inclusion

The symposium, aligned with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3), highlighted the critical need for a disability-inclusive air transport system.

This necessity stems from the growing number of elderly individuals and people with disabilities globally, totaling 1.3 billion.

Discussions emphasized creating a seamless, accessible air travel experience for this demographic, focusing on ICAO Assembly Resolution A41-15: Accessibility in International Civil Aviation.

Key Themes and Discussions
The event featured seven panel sessions covering:

International frameworks and policies for accessibility inclusion.
Barriers to air travel, including architectural, technological, and human interactions.
Personal experiences of passengers with disabilities.
The importance of global collaboration and unified standards.
Infrastructure design improvements.
The role of technology in enhancing accessibility.
Mobility solutions in air transport.

Prominent experts and stakeholders, including representatives from IATA, ACI World, FAA, Air Canada, Boeing, and Airbus, shared insights on addressing air travel challenges for persons with disabilities and reduced mobility.

Kazakhstan’s Contributions

The Kazakh delegation, represented by the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan and Permanent Representative Timur Tlegenov, shared their ongoing efforts to enhance air travel accessibility.

The Aviation Administration’s initiatives, evaluated by iPADIS under its Accessibility Guidelines (MPGA), include collaboration with domestic airlines and airports to improve services for passengers with reduced mobility.

Call for Global Collaboration

Speakers stressed the importance of coordinated global cooperation among aviation authorities, airlines, airports, and advocacy groups to provide interconnected services throughout a passenger’s journey.

The symposium concluded with remarks by ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar, setting the stage for the development of an ICAO strategy on accessibility and strengthened international cooperation in aviation.