Council on aviation industry’s recovery from COVID-19 crisis
A strong international unity was emerging at the ICAO Council meeting that took place on Thursday 09 April 2020.
Views of the international aviation community on measures that States should take to provide immediate support to the aviation industry and, at a later date, to support its recovery, were recently discussed in an informal briefing of the Council by the International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) along with high-level representatives from Airports Council International (ACI), the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO), The International Coordinating Council of Aerospace Industries Associations (ICCAIA), and International Air Transport Association (IATA).
The central theme of the meeting was ‘work together and in unison’.
TIACA, the sole organisation dedicated exclusively to representing air freight, defended its members’ interests before the Council. “I gave to the Council a background on our association, its mission and main objectives, as well as some examples of the successful collaborative work in the last seven years with ICAO. But of course, the main presentation was on the measures that TIACA and its members are recommending to alleviate effects of this crisis to maintain orderly business activity,” said Vladimir Zubkov, TIACA’s general secretary.
TIACA reiterated – and several other organisations agreed – that pressure on resources is intense and government financial assistance is necessary both immediately and at a later date to support the industry’s recovery. The international alliance focused in particular on protecting resources and staff, as well as the need for strict prioritisation.
“Unity among the international community and its stakeholders is essential,” said Vladimir Zubkov.
In his summary the ICAO President, Salvatore Sciacchitano, emphasised the importance of a strong international alliance to help the aviation industry emerge from this crisis. The ICAO Council will take practical measures and industry representatives will continue to work together at Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak Technical Meetings, organised each week by ICAO with TIACA as a fully-fledged member.
