GISS 2026 Concludes with Global Commitments to Strengthen Aviation Implementation and Capacity

GISS 2026 Concludes with Global Commitments to Strengthen Aviation Implementation and Capacity
Marrakech and Montréal, 16 April 2026 — The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Global Implementation Support Symposium (GISS 2026) concluded today in Marrakech, bringing together 1,450 participants from 101 States to strengthen global aviation systems in accordance with ICAO’s strategic plan for 2050, which includes a commitment to “No Country Left Behind” and envisions air transport for all, with zero fatalities and net zero carbon emissions. 

Over three days, the Symposium delivered a series of commitments, partnerships, and implementation initiatives aimed at enhancing aviation safety, security, sustainability, and connectivity worldwide, with a strong emphasis on ensuring that all States can effectively implement ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs). 

ICAO Council President Toshiyuki Onuma highlighted the importance of universal implementation, noting that “Ensuring that every State has the capacity to implement global aviation standards is essential to the safety and resilience of the entire system.”

ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar added, “The outcomes of this Symposium demonstrate what multilateral cooperation looks like when it delivers results. Implementation is the true test of our commitments. What matters now is translating these commitments into measurable progress across all regions.” 

Commitments Driving Implementation 
A central milestone of GISS 2026 was the Ministerial Roundtable, which brought together 22 Ministers responsible for civil aviation. Through the Marrakech Call to Action, Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening governance and institutional capacities, unlocking aviation growth and development through adequate funding and financing of aviation, empowering the next generation of aviation professionals and ensuring collective implementation and accountability. 

The Call to Action reflects a shared commitment to ICAO’s No Country Left Behind strategic goal, ensuring that all States can participate in and benefit from the growth of global aviation.

From Commitments to Action 
GISS 2026 served as a platform to translate dialogue into concrete implementation outcomes.

During the Symposium, ICAO and its partners: 
•    Concluded 39 bilateral and multilateral agreements supporting aviation capacity development 
•    Secured new financial commitments to support implementation programmes 
•    Strengthened partnerships between States, industry, and development institutions 

These outcomes reflect a growing alignment between policy commitments and implementation support, enabling States to accelerate progress toward ICAO’s Strategic Goals. 

Enabling Growth and Opportunity 
The outcomes of GISS 2026 also respond to the scale of aviation growth ahead. By 2050, global passenger traffic is expected to increase nearly threefold, while air cargo volumes are projected to grow by more than two and a half times. Much of this growth will occur in emerging and high-potential markets. 

Through its global framework of standards, practices, and implementation support, ICAO is working with States and partners to ensure that this growth translates into safe, secure, sustainable, and inclusive aviation development. GISS provides a unique platform to connect States with partners, mobilize investment, and advance practical solutions that unlock aviation’s full potential. 

Global and Regional Impact 
The initiatives advanced at GISS 2026 reflect ICAO’s global reach and impact across all regions. 

Global Agreements
At GISS 2026, new global partnerships strengthened ICAO’s safety and capacity initiatives. Canada signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a voluntary contribution supporting safety activities. The United Kingdom’s Department for Transport formalized voluntary contributions and a Training Programme for ICAO courses in Africa. Airbus provided a voluntary contribution towards both the deployment of safety capacity development activities and environmental initiatives, while Boeing’s voluntary contribution focused on safety capacity development activities. Aviation Services Association World signed an annex for a training course on aircraft turnaround procedures. IATA signed an MoU on capacity development and implementation, and IFALPA formalized both an MoU and annex for global runway safety training.

Africa 
African States and organizations signed a range of agreements to develop aviation capacity and safety. Angola’s Ministry of Transport and ANAC signed a Project Document for a Civil Aviation Master Plan and committed to host GISS 2027. Cabo Verde’s Civil Aviation Authority formalized a Training Project Document for three years of ICAO training. Eswatini’s ESWACAA signed a Management Service Agreement on capacity development and a Training Project Document for facilitation training. Morocco’s Ministry of Transport and Logistics signed a Training Project Agreement and a Project Document for facilitation and security enhancements. Nigeria completed a Project Handover for a Civil Aviation Master Plan. South Sudan’s Ministry of Transport signed a Project Document for developing a Civil Aviation Master Plan, a Management Service Agreement, and a Training Project Document covering safety and air transport. Uganda’s Civil Aviation Authority and CASSOA committed to Training Service Agreements and broad deployment of ICAO training.

Americas 
Key agreements were also signed at GISS 2026 to strengthen aviation capacity in the Americas. Guyana’s Civil Aviation Authority entered a MoU for the hosting of the ICAO/EASA Third Global RSSO/RAIO Forum for Aviation Safety. Panama’s Tocumen Airport signed a Project Document for ICAO support for its forecasted expansion. In Peru, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation established a commitment for investments in institutional capacity development. These agreements collectively enhance regional cooperation, technical support, and investments in civil aviation safety and institutional capability.

Asia 
Asian States and organizations expanded their collaboration with ICAO at GISS 2026 in a wide variety of areas. Azerbaijan’s Silkway Group/Alat Airport Authority signed a Project Document for Green Airport Certification expertise, and the State Civil Aviation Agency formalized both a Training Services Agreement for ICAO training and an enhancement to its management service agreement. Indonesia’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation entered an MOU for secondment to ICAO’s Asia-Pacific office for performance-based navigation, while AIRNAV signed a Project Document to establish a fatigue risk management framework. Kazakhstan’s Aviation Administration formalized a Training Project Document for a comprehensive portfolio of ICAO training courses.

Europe 
In Europe, GISS 2026 saw a diverse set of new agreements supporting aviation training, safety, and professional development. France’s Direction Générale de l’Aviation Civile concluded a Technical Arrangement to provide scholarships in partnership with the Ecole Nationale de l’Aviation Civile. Greece’s Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority signed a Project Document launching a Civil Aviation Master Plan Workshop. In Spain, COPAC entered a MoU for the Next Generation of Aviation Professionals Programme; ITAEREA Aeronautical Business School formalized a Training Project Document expanding master’s scholarships; SENASA launched a joint implementation package on safety reporting systems, and Indra established a Global Events Support Agreement.

Middle East
In the Middle East, the United Arab Emirates’ General Civil Aviation Authority signed a Training Annex at GISS 2026 for the provision of scholarships dedicated to women in aviation, furthering ICAO’s efforts toward capacity development and gender diversity in the region.

Sustaining Momentum 
The Global Implementation Support Symposium continues to play a critical role in advancing ICAO’s mission to ensure that no country is left behind in aviation development. The partnerships and commitments established in Marrakech will guide the next phase of implementation across the global aviation system. 

Angola was announced as the host of GISS 2027, ensuring continued momentum in strengthening global aviation cooperation and implementation support. 

Resources for editors

Agreements signed at the Global Implementation Support Symposium 2026

Global Agreements
Canada
MoU for a Voluntary Contribution in support of ICAO’s safety activities.

United Kingdom
Department of Transport - Voluntary Contribution to support global aviation capacity development and implementation assistance worldwide.
Department of Transport - Training Programme for the deployment of ICAO Training Courses for the 54 States of Africa.

Airbus
Voluntary Contribution towards the deployment of safety capacity development activities and environmental initiatives.

Aviation Services Association World 
Annex on the development and deployment of the “Going Beyond Standardized Procedures in Aircraft Turnaround” training course.

Boeing
Voluntary Contribution towards the deployment of safety capacity development activities. 

IATA
MoU to collaborate on capacity development and implementation activities.

IFALPA
MoU to collaborate on capacity development and implementation activities.
Annex on Joint Training Cooperation to develop and deploy globally the “Overview Runway Safety Team” training course. 

Africa
Angola
Ministry of Transport and ANAC Angola – Project Document for a Civil Aviation Master Plan.
Ministry of Transport and ANAC Angola – Hosting of the GISS 2027.

Cabo Verde
Civil Aviation Authority (AAC) – Training Project Document for the delivery of ICAO training for a duration of three years.

Eswatini 
Civil Aviation Authority (ESWACAA) – Management Service Agreement on cooperation regarding capacity development and implementation support.
Civil Aviation Authority (ESWACAA) –Training Project Document for delivery of ICAO training course sessions in facilitation.

Morocco
Ministry of Transport and Logistics – Training Project Agreement for the ICAO Developing Country Training Programme, benefitting 100 inspectors annually. 
Ministry of Transport and Logistics – Project Document for the deployment of ICAO expertise to enhance aviation facilitation and security.

Nigeria
Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace – Project Handover of a Civil Aviation Master Plan.

South Sudan
Ministry of Transport – Project Document for the development of a Civil Aviation Master Plan. 
Ministry of Transport – Management Service Agreement on capacity development for civil aviation.
Ministry of Transport – Training Project Document for the deployment of a comprehensive programme in safety and air transport.  

Uganda 
Uganda Civil Aviation Authority – Training Service Agreement for general cooperation in the deployment of ICAO training.
Uganda Civil Aviation Authority – Deployment of a comprehensive range of training courses in facilitation.
Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency (CASSOA) – Training Service Agreement for general cooperation to enhance capacity development for CASSOA Member States. 

Americas
Guyana
Civil Aviation Authority – MoU for the hosting of the ICAO/EASA Third Global RSSO/RAIO Forum for Aviation Safety

Panama
Tocumen Airport – Project Document for the provision of ICAO support for the forecasted expansion of the airport

Peru
Directorate General of Civil Aviation - Commitment for investments in institutional capacity development

Asia 
Azerbaijan
Silkway Group/Alat Airport Authority – Project Document for provision of expertise for Green Airport Certification.
State Civil Aviation Agency – Training Services Agreement for delivery of ICAO training courses.
State Civil Aviation Agency –Enhancement to the existing management service agreement.

Indonesia 
Directorate General of Civil Aviation – MOU for the provision of secondment to ICAO’s Asia Pacific sub-regional office in the field of performance-based navigation.
AIRNAV – Project Document on support to establish a sustainable fatigue risk management framework.
 

Kazakhstan
Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan – Training Project Document for the delivery of a comprehensive portfolio of ICAO training courses.

Europe
France
Direction Générale de l’Aviation Civile – Technical Arrangement for the provision of  scholarships, in coordination with the Ecole Nationale de l’Aviation Civile.

  
Greece
Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority – Project Document for the Deployment of a Civil Aviation Master Plan Workshop.

Spain
Colegio Oficial de Pilotos de la Aviación Comercial (COPAC) – MoU to support the Next Generation of Aviation Professionals Programme.
ITAEREA Aeronautical Business School – Training Project Document for the extension and expansion of a master’s scholarship offering.
SENASA – Launch of the joint implementation package (iPack)  on State Mandatory and Voluntary Safety Reporting Systems.
Indra – Global Events Support Agreement.

 
Middle East
United Arab Emirates
General Civil Aviation Authority – Training Annex for the provision of scholarships for women in aviation. 
 

About ICAO

Because air connectivity is crucial to social and economic development worldwide, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is leading progress towards access to air transport for all by 2050, with zero fatalities and net-zero carbon emissions. In line with its Long-Term Strategic Plan, ICAO works with its 193 Member States and all air transport stakeholders to develop standards and policies for international civil aviation, and undertakes planning and capacity building activities to support their implementation by Member States. 

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