iPADIS calls for wider global cooperation at ICAO high-level conference on covid-19

THE International Partners for Aviation Development, Innovation and Sustainability (iPADIS), called for wider global cooperation in dealing with the ongoing pandemic.

Speaking at the Ministerial Session of the Conference, the founding President of iPADIS, Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, commended the President of the ICAO Council and the Secretary General of ICAO for convening the timely conference and for all the hard work that has been done

to support member States and industry in the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, including the ICAO CART recommendations.

Dr Aliu emphasized that “the pandemic has underscored the impact of public and user’s confidence on operational and financial viability of air transport; the importance of harmonised air travel related public health policies and protocols and their proper communication with the travelling public and civil society; the equitable availability of vaccines and testing facilities, as well as inter-sectoral collaboration all of which affects lives and livelihoods of people and their ability to return to air travel”.

Dr Aliu also urged “States, ICAO, WHO and other intergovernmental organisations to more actively engage the views of the travelling public and society in their decision-making processes

and to facilitate a more active involvement of non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations and other stakeholders to ensure that international civil aviation policies, plans and programmes consider the interests of users of air transport services and overall benefits to the society”.

While expressing iPADIS’ support to the general thrust of the draft Ministerial Declaration, he

requested that “the importance of collaboration with NGOs and civil society organisations should be adequately reflected in the final Ministerial Declaration”.

Dr Aliu pointed to ongoing activities of iPADIS to support States in their response to the challenges of COVID-19 and serving as an interface to foster cooperation among States, aviation industry and civil society. In this regard, he referred to the existing frameworks for cooperation that have been established with a number of States, ICAO, the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC), the

Latin American Civil Aviation Commission (LACAC), and the Interstate Aviation Committee

(IAC), as well as with many NGOs to address current and future air transport challenges.

The iPADIS delegation at the conference includes iPADIS Board Directors Roberto Kobeh

Gonzalez, Raymond Benjamin, Sherif Attia and Denis Chagnon, as well as other iPADIS members.