Is this the year to celebrate a full return to pre-Covid numbers? Has the profile of the airline passenger changed? The answers to these questions remain outstanding as we cautiously observe 2024. While the projections seem positive, is this growth sustainable …. To see ….

Predictions aplenty flooded our inboxes about the performance of the aviation industry in 2022. Seers and Soothsayers alike looked with excitement toward the 'winter peak' - December to January 2021 to 2022. However we all were stalled by an ever varying virus. To say that the industry's excitement became mellowed by cancellations is an understatement. However we observed a significantly matured approach by several major states in dealing with the new variant. This approach is one of managed co-existence and acceptance.  We advocate for continued maturity as if we fail to recognize when Covid becomes ‘endemic’ and move on, the world will be stuck in lockdown until 2023. 

How notable it is, that as we approach International Civil Aviation Day 2021, countries are reverting to the closure of borders and new travel restrictions.

The purpose of International Civil Aviation Day is to help generate and reinforce worldwide awareness of the importance of international civil aviation to the social and economic development of States.

On this day, we advocate focus and commemoration on lessons learnt over the last 21 months on balancing social and economic development and health and safety.  
Travel restrictions by country following the Omicron variant outbreak | CNN Travel

ICAO's stated mission is to  "serve as the global forum of States for international civil aviation. ICAO develops policies and Standards, undertakes compliance audits, performs studies and analyses, provides assistance and builds aviation capacity through many other activities and the cooperation of its Member States and stakeholders"
In the highly regulated space that is civil aviation, with major milestones in aviation's evolution occurring in the last half century;  from the end of the last world war which preceded the birth of ICAO, to the oil crisis, the global financial collapse, 9/11 and now a pandemic impacting every aspect of our lives, it is not surprising that the ICAO playbook post-1944 is now a compendium. CAPA's call for "a  group of wise persons to undertake a strategic evaluation of the organisation’s mission and requirements being fit for purpose for the current and future needs of modern aviation" is loudly echoed by us. ICAO's role and impact in global aviation is in the main, a story of successful collaboration. However, delay in transformation informed by strategic evaluation could find the compendium becoming more burden than benefit. 

ICAO in need of reforms to enhance its relevance – now is opportune | CAPA (centreforaviation.com)

The value of investing in aviation and education to assist regional players to adjust and pivot their business in the present economy is embraced and actioned by the US Economic Development Administration. This is a welcome sign that hopefully is mirrored throughout the Americas. Empowering the regional aviation industry by providing incentives whether financial or otherwise to enhance training and skills is a positive step as we all struggle to live in a pandemic world. 

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $2 Million to Support Aviation Research Center at Wichita State University | U.S. Economic Development Administration (eda.gov)