The International Air Transport Association (IATA), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and Airports Council International (ACI) will jointly host a Symposium on Accessibility in International Civil Aviation on 2-3 December 2024 at ICAO Headquarters in Montreal, Canada, bringing together governments, industry representatives and advocacy groups to address barriers to air travel faced by persons with disabilities.
Key topics of discussion will include:
International frameworks and policies for the inclusion of accessibility
Barriers to air transport: architectural, technological and informational
Stories of passengers with disabilities
Global collaboration on mutual standards and practices
Improving accessibility through design and technology
Mobility in air transport
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 1.3 billion people live with some form of disability, representing around 16% of the world's population. Furthermore, as the population ages, the percentage of people with disabilities is expected to increase.
Both States and industry have demonstrated a strong commitment to improving accessible air transport for passengers with disabilities. While current regulations focus primarily on addressing concerns across individual jurisdictions, significant progress will require shifting the focus to establishing a cohesive global framework.
“Universally coordinated and accessible air transport can only be achieved through close collaboration across the aviation value chain. ICAO is stepping up cooperation with IATA and ACI on this priority, because only by showing governments and operators how to work together as one entity can we successfully address existing barriers to air travel,” said Juan Carlos Salazar, ICAO Secretary General.
“Airlines want to ensure safe, secure and dignified travel for all passengers, including those with disabilities. To achieve this, airlines, airports and the disability community must work together. In addition, national regulatory frameworks for passengers with disabilities must support successful service delivery no matter where a journey begins or ends. Coordination between all these actors is the key to empowering passengers with disabilities to travel with confidence. We have high hopes that this event will help us achieve that goal,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
“ACI is committed to helping our member airports create barrier-free environments that provide equal access and exceptional travel experiences for all passengers, regardless of their abilities. This symposium will bring together aviation stakeholders from across the ecosystem to engage in meaningful dialogue to identify actionable steps to create a more accessible air transport system,” said Justin Erbacci, Director General of ACI World.
Organized in the context of the ICAO Year of Facilitation 2024, this groundbreaking event is expected to generate and exchange important new knowledge to improve the air travel experience of persons with disabilities. It will also help guide negotiations among ICAO’s 193 Member States on accessibility when they meet in 2025 for the 42nd ICAO Assembly.
The symposium will feature an exhibition showcasing practical accessibility solutions and services. Registration is open to aviation stakeholders, including border control authorities, airport and aircraft operators, advocacy groups and stakeholders from all Member States.
Source: IATA.