ICAO Council elects Japan’s Toshiyuki Onuma as New President
Onuma will assume the Presidency on January 1, 2026 for a three-year term leading global civil aviation policy
On November 26, 2025, the 36-member Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) elected Toshiyuki Onuma of Japan as its new President, for a three-year term beginning January 1, 2026.
He will succeed Salvatore Sciacchitano of Italy, who has led the Council since 2020 across two consecutive terms.
Onuma brings more than 20 years of experience in national and international civil aviation policy, including leadership roles in air navigation services, aviation safety, and Japan’s decarbonization initiatives. His appointment comes at a strategic time as ICAO advances its 2050 vision of universal air transport, zero fatalities and net-zero carbon emissions.
Both outgoing President Sciacchitano and ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar emphasized that Onuma’s election reflects the strong confidence of the global aviation community and the relevance of his leadership for strengthening multilateral cooperation.
Source: ICAO.