International Civil Aviation Day

The ACS joins the global community in marking the annual celebration of International Civil Aviation Day on December 7th. This day is geared towards generating awareness of the importance of the civil aviation industry to countries and their development on a social and economic level.

Inaugurated in 1994 by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), it was later proclaimed through an United Nations General Assembly as an annual observation day in 1996. The day also marks the opportunity to reflect on the work of the ICAO as an important player in the strengthening of air connectivity globally, as well as their work in guiding States towards the ultimate goal of a global rapid transit network for the service of all.

As the world continues to work towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals set out in Agenda 2030, the importance of aviation as one of the motors of sustainable transport and true global connectivity cannot be understated. This is crucial within the current context of the COVID-19 pandemic, as the aviation sector has been critically affected by mitigating protocols.

2021 marks the beginning of a new five-year cycle for the ICAO Council, who has announced that this cycle will be observed under the theme, “Advancing Innovation for Global Aviation Development”. The impetus for digital innovation and technologies within the aviation sector has increased with speed since the onset of the pandemic, and this should serve as a reminder to the sector to look towards a future industry that is synonymous with innovative policies and practices for their development.

The ACS recognizes the indispensable work that the ICAO plays in the coordination of the sector as well as its development on a global scale. As such, we continue to echo their sentiments through our work programme geared towards the regional Air transport sector that aligns with SDGs as well as coordination and collaboration with regional stakeholders in order to transform the regional aviation sector into a better elaborated, more robust and sustainable sector for the benefit of the Greater Caribbean.