Other Events and Activities

 

Italy, through the Italian Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC), has celebrated the Year of Facilitation with a series of events and initiatives. Among them, it is worth mentioning the conference “Free to Fly - Accessible and Inclusive Air Transport”, which was held on 12 November 2024 with the sponsorship and participation of the Italian Ministry for Disabilities.

The conference, marking the third edition of the “PRM Workshop - To Achieve Better”, provided a platform for public dialogue building on the efforts of the “ENAC Permanent Technical Working Group for the Protection of the Rights of Passengers with Disabilities and Reduced Mobility in the Air Transport Sector.” Established in 2022, this group unites all sector stakeholders and representatives from the Ministry for Disabilities. On this occasion, the new version of the Safety Briefing Card in Braille, designed for blind and visually impaired passengers, was also presented. Developed by ENAC and ITA Airways in collaboration with the National Federation of Institutions for the Blind, it will be made available on the airline’s aircrafts. Additionally, during the event, the Disability Card—an intermodal card for use across all modes of transport—and the ENAC pre-notification form were introduced. The latter simplifies and standardizes assistance requests for all participating airlines.

Moreover, on the occasion of the conclusion of the Year of Facilitation, ENAC organized a special event, called “The FAL Committee’s Strategic Role in Air Transport: enhancing national and territorial coordination, learning from the past and planning for the future”, which was held on 9 December 2024, as part of the semi-annual meeting of the National Air Transport Facilitation Committee. The aim was to reflect on the results achieved, analyse the progress made, and outline future objectives to further strengthen the facilitation sector. This meeting involved a broader audience than in the past, including territorial representatives to delve deeper into the role of Airport Facilitation Committees in managing facilitation at the local level, as well as industry professionals equipped with cross-disciplinary skills in the field of facilitation.

The event also served as a platform to highlight various initiatives and innovations, including the implementation of IAM in Italy, the entry-exit system, and measures to safeguard the rights of passengers with disabilities and reduced mobility. These efforts aim to enhance the overall travel experience in the aviation sector, emphasizing the role of facilitation in harmonizing diverse aspects within a global aviation system. Among the other topics of the meeting were the update of the Service Charter for the freight sector, which introduces more suitable quality standards to address the critical issues in the cargo sector, and initiatives to prevent and counteract the phenomenon of unruly behaviour at airports.

Finally, in October 2024, ENAC published a video contest regarding Facilitation aimed at university students and new graduates, in order to inform young people and attract them to the world of aviation.

The video contest is entitled “Volare Verso il Futuro: La Rivoluzione delle Facilitazioni nel Trasporto Aereo per far decollare Commercio, Turismo ed Occupazione” (Flying Into the Future: The Revolution of Air Transport facilitation to ramp up Commerce, Tourism and Employment) and consists in the creation of promotional videos that highlight the role of air transport facilitation in the efficient management of air traffic and in expediting international air travel.

The winning videos will gain visibility through a communication campaign and will be distributed on social networks, public spaces in airport circuits, training courses as well as websites of international organizations. The deadline for the applications is 13 January 2025.

After the publication of the ranking, all informal groups participating in the Contest will receive an invitation to a public event, during which the winners (up to two groups) will be awarded, and participation certificates will be given to all members of the candidate groups, both participants and winners.

On September 26th and 27th, ANAC hosted the Air Transport Facilitation course. The course aimed to equip civil aviation authority personnel and border control authorities with the competencies to collectively and transversally address the implementation of standards and recommendations outlined in ICAO Annex 9. The 2nd edition of the course discussed improvements in border control tools and policies, technological advancements, lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, and the evolving aviation landscape. The course also covered standards and recommended methods outlined in Annex 9, entry and exit of passengers, cargo, and baggage, described the provisions of Annex 9 related to passenger name record (PNR) systems, as well as provisions on travel documents, inadmissible passengers, accessibility and assistance, and victims of air accidents and their families.

On November 25th and 26th, the 3rd edition of the FAL Connections took place, bringing together various air sector control bodies. FAL Connections is an annual ANAC event focused on air transport facilitation, providing a platform for sharing information and experiences and fostering discussions on air transport facilitation. The event gathered various air sector control bodies to discuss facilitation practices, consider actions to improve activities, and seek integration among institutions working on the subject.

Please find below the links to the two-day event, which was live-streamed on ANAC's official YouTube channel: 1st day and 2nd day

The Premium Kids event, organized by ADM Aéroports de Montréal in partnership with Air Transat, takes place at YUL Montréal-Trudeau International Airport amidst good cheer, much laughter, and many smiles. This unique day enables children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or functional limitations to familiarize themselves with the airport process and reduce their anxiety about flying.

Nearly 200 participants experience the complete airport journey, from arriving at the parking lot to boarding an airplane, including checking in, going through security, and listening to in-flight safety instructions. Accompanied by their parents, the children are able to enjoy an experience in a real-life environment that could prepare them for the hope of one day being able to fly as a family. It is an important day for the participants, but also for Aéroports de Montreal, which is committed to making travel accessible to a growing number of passengers at Montreal-Trudeau Airport (YUL). 

In addition to Air Transat, several other partners ensure the smooth running of the event: Autisme Montréal; the Giant Steps; Transport Canada; the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA); the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA); GardaWorld; HMSHost; and Montréal Airport Marriott In-Terminal Hotel. Furthermore, Airports Council International (ACI) World employees volunteered to participate in the 10th edition that was held on Sunday 7 April.

This initiative is inspired by a similar program, Wings for Autism, launched in 2011 by the Charles River Center in collaboration with the Massachusetts Port Authority (Boston-Logan International Airport). ADM became the first airport authority in Canada to implement such a program at YUL in 2013.