HERMES – Air Transport Organisation participated in the 42nd Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), held in Montreal from 23 September to 3 October.
HERMES was represented by its President, Angela Gittens, and Director General, Dr Kostas Iatrou, who served as Chief Observer during the Assembly on behalf of HERMES. This marks the third consecutive ICAO Assembly in which HERMES has participated as an observer.
On the eve of the Assembly’s opening, HERMES—with the generous sponsorship of Airlines for America (A4A)—hosted a prestigious reception attended by distinguished guests, including:
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Mr. Salvatore Sciacchitano, President of the ICAO Council
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Mr. Juan Carlos Salazar, ICAO Secretary General
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Mr. Arun Thangaraj, Deputy Minister of Transport of Canada
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The Directors General of the Civil Aviation Authorities of Jamaica, Romania, Kyrgyzstan, Guyana, and Uruguay
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The Directors General of ASA World, ACI World, and CANSO
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The Secretaries General of AFCAC, ACAO, and LACAC
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The Presidents of LACAC and the Flight Safety Foundation (FSF)
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The Deputy Governor of the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)
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The Japanese candidate for the ICAO Presidency, among many other notable participants.
In his welcoming remarks, Dr. Kostas Iatrou stated:
“It is an honour to have you here. This reception continues our tradition of hosting a gathering during the ICAO Assembly. The role of HERMES is to connect the people of aviation, and this event provides a valuable opportunity for networking and collaboration.”
During the Assembly, HERMES, together with several major international aviation organizations, jointly presented a working paper entitled:
“Ensuring that the Aviation Industry Works Together to Contribute to Sustainable Growth for the Benefit of All People – Aviation4All” (A42-WP/492, EC/40).
The paper was co-authored by:
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HERMES – Air Transport Organisation
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Arab Air Carriers’ Organization (AACO)
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ASA World
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Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO)
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The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA)
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Air Transport Research Society (ATRS)
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International Federation of Air Traffic Safety Electronics Associations (IFATSEA)
The working paper urged ICAO to support the implementation of the recommendations emerging from the Aviation4All Declaration. It received endorsement from 12 States and ACI World, without opposition. Its conclusions were incorporated into the Report of the Economic Commission, which requested that the ICAO Council develop policies to strengthen coordination on cross-cutting issues related to the economic development of air transport, and to implement a cross-cutting agenda to ensure the effective pursuit of ICAO’s Strategic Goal of Economic Development of Air Transport.
HERMES also presented two information papers during the Assembly:
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A42-WP/412, EX/182 – “Recruiting and Retaining Talent: The Key to Success in the Aviation Industry”
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A42-WP/420, EX/186 – “Enhancing Innovation in Aviation”
Finally, Dr. Iatrou held a series of meetings with the President and Secretary General of ICAO, the Director General of ACI World, the Director General of ASA, and other key aviation leaders to discuss current issues in the industry. He also presented the HERMES initiatives, including the Aviation4All Declaration, emphasizing closer collaboration among aviation stakeholders in promoting sustainable growth and inclusivity within the global air transport sector.