ICAO regional meeting sees States achieve consensus on key priorities for air transport

Aviation leaders from North America, Central America and the Caribbean (NACC) have endorsed ICAO’s comprehensive strategy to triple air travel capacity while eliminating fatalities and accelerating decarbonization.

“As we look ahead, our goal is to ensure air connectivity for everyone, everywhere, leaving no country behind,” ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar said in his opening remarks to the organization’s Thirteenth Meeting of NACC Directors of Civil Aviation (NACC/DCA/13) on 5 August 2025 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. “We must work together to achieve zero accident fatalities and net-zero carbon emissions, even as air travel is set to triple over the next 25 years.”

Given that the gathering comes just weeks before the 42nd Session of the ICAO Assembly, Salazar encouraged delegates to “leverage your expertise to accelerate progress on the Assembly priorities and develop this region’s contributions to the global deliberations.”

The meeting was generously hosted by the Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation (IDAC), with IDAC Director Igor Rodríguez and ICAO NACC Regional Director Christopher Barks serving as President and Secretary, respectively, of the proceedings. 

Strategic Planning

Guided by Secretary General Salazar and ICAO Regional Director for South America Fabio Rabbani, the meeting endorsed ICAO’s Long Term Strategic Plan (2026–2050). Delegates identified ICAO Civil Aviation Master Planning as a key tool for implementation and stressed the importance of political support for liberalization and the finalization of air service agreements.

To ensure sustainable growth, delegates received a briefing on ICAO’s climate action, including updates on the Long term global aspirational goal (LTAG) for international aviation (LTAG) implementation, the Third ICAO Conference on Aviation and Alternative Fuels (CAAF/3) outcomes, and progress with the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). Discussions addressed the importance of coordinated sustainable climate financing and concerns over unilateral aviation taxes.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) provided perspectives on ICAO’s  roadmap for cleaner aviation fuels, robust CORSIA implementation, and priorities for the 42nd Assembly.

Building Capacity

The Secretary General announced a new ICAO implementation support project, funded by the United Kingdom, to strengthen aerodrome and ground aids oversight in the Caribbean. The initiative includes deploying a technical expert to support corrective actions and train aerodrome inspectors, aiming to boost compliance with ICAO standards and promote sustainable growth. ICAO recognized Andrew O’Henley, the UK’s representative to the ICAO Council, for his role in securing the contribution.

Delegates also witnessed the signing of an Annex to the Memorandum of Understanding between ICAO and the United Arab Emirates, expanding technical assistance and capacity development for the Caribbean under ICAO’s “No Country Left Behind” initiative. The agreement targets aviation safety, security, human capital, and environmental sustainability, especially for members of the Caribbean Aviation Safety and Security Oversight System.

The United States announced a regional safety initiative for the Western Hemisphere focused on helping States meet ICAO aerodrome standards. The meeting also included the signing of “ANS Safety Oversight Services" by COCESNA (Central American Aviation Safety Agency)/ACSA (Aviation Safety and Security) and six Central American States: El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Belize and Honduras.

The Multi-Regional Civil Aviation Assistance Programme led by ICAO, was highlighted for contributions to safety, efficiency, and sustainability. Recent activities included optimizing airspace through Strategic Direct Routing and Free Route Airspace trials, aerodrome certification, accident investigation cooperation, and enhanced cybersecurity and meteorology training.

Mr. Salazar was accompanied throughout his mission by ICAO Legal Affairs and External Relations Director, Mr. Michael Gill, who led discussions on the Ratification of International Air Law Instruments in preparation of the Forty-Second ICAO Assembly taking place this Fall.

 Next Steps

The meeting concluded with a call for continued regional collaboration, capacity building, and engagement in upcoming initiatives. Key among them, the ICAO Air Services Negotiation Event (ICAN) was promoted as a vital forum for advancing liberalization and connectivity, with the next session scheduled for 10-14 November 2025, in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

Delegates will now move forward with implementing the discussed initiatives and agreements, focusing on strengthening compliance, building technical capacity, and preparing for the 42nd Session of the ICAO Assembly.