Translated with AI
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) reiterates its efforts to ensure aviation safety amid growing global air traffic. On International Civil Aviation Day, December 7, the attention of experts and passengers was once again focused on the systems and standards that make every flight as safe as possible, according to the UN press service.
"You flew here on a plane. How safe would you feel boarding your flight if the International Civil Aviation Organization, responsible for the safety of five billion passengers annually, didn't exist?" remarked UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock at the opening of the body's 80th session at UN headquarters in New York.
Behind every takeoff and landing lies a complex system of international cooperation, strict standards, and safeguards that save the lives of millions of passengers every day and ensure the safe delivery of cargo around the world.
According to ICAO, global air traffic continues to grow. The number of passengers is expected to increase from 4.6 billion in 2024 to over 12 billion by 2050. However, this growth in flight volume requires increased attention to safety. In 2024, 296 people were killed in aviation accidents, up from 72 in 2023, but accident rates remain below 2019 levels.
These results were achieved thanks to the long-standing work of ICAO, the UN's specialized civil aviation agency. The organization helps countries develop safety standards and strengthen oversight of passenger air travel. Recent reports note the strengthening of international cooperation and the reduction of operational risks at all levels.
The ICAO Strategic Plan for 2026–2050 aims to create an aviation system that is safe and innovative. The plan's primary goal is a world in which aviation accidents claim no lives. ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar called this goal "challenging, but achievable."
To achieve zero casualty aviation, ICAO emphasizes the need for international cooperation, technological innovation, and a high level of responsibility for every life and every flight.
