Symposium on accessibility in aviation to address barriers faced by travellers with disabilities to be hosted in December

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), Airports Council International (ACI) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), together will host a symposium on accessibility. Named the Symposium on Accessibility in International Civil Aviation, it will be hosted in Montreal, Canada from 2 to 3 December 2024 at the ICAO Headquarters. The event will unite governments, industry leaders and advocacy groups to tackle barriers to air travel faced by persons with disabilities or reduced mobility. 

“Universally coordinated and accessible air transport can only be achieved through close collaboration along the aviation value chain. ICAO is heightening cooperation with IATA and ACI on this priority, because it is only by showing governments and operators how to work together that we can successfully tackle existing barriers in air travel,” said Juan Carlos Salazar, ICAO’s Secretary General.

What will the key topics and discussions be at the symposium?

• Stories from passengers with disabilities
• Barriers to air travel: architectural, technological, and informational
• International frameworks and policies for accessibility inclusion
• Global collaboration on mutual standards and practices
• Enhancing accessibility through design and technology
• Mobility in air transport 

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over 1.3 billion individuals live with some form of disability, representing around 16% of the global population. Additionally, as the population ages, the percentage of people with disabilities is expected to increase.

Both States and the industry have demonstrated a strong commitment to improving accessible air transport for passengers with disabilities. While current regulations focus predominantly on addressing concerns through individual jurisdictions, achieving significant progress will require shifting the focus to the establishment of a cohesive framework on an international scale.

Organised within the context of the 2024 ICAO Year of Facilitation, this event is expected to result in the creation and exchange of significant new expertise towards improving the air travel experience of persons living with disabilities. It will additionally help inform negotiations among ICAO’s 193 Member States on accessibility when they convene in 2025 for the 42nd ICAO Assembly.

The Symposium takes place during a milestone year for international civil aviation, as ICAO celebrates the 80th anniversary of the Convention that established global aviation standards and cooperation. The timing underscores aviation’s continuing evolution to meet all global citizens’ needs.