ABU DHABI: Global ministers call for continued investment in aviation

However, ensuring a balance between sustainability, safety, and expansion requires continued investment, global ministers emphasised at the ICAO Global Implementation Support Symposium (GISS) on February 10.

Speaking on the role of aviation in challenging terrains, Guyana’s Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill highlighted the country’s reliance on air transport, with more than 120 aerodromes serving 242 indigenous communities. He stressed that aviation training is essential for building a future-ready workforce, calling it a bridge between sustainability and economic development.

Similarly, Yemen’s minister of transportation, Abdulsalam Saleh Hamid Hadi, underscored aviation’s vital role for landlocked nations, enabling trade, connectivity, and economic resilience. He urged international support to strengthen Yemen’s aviation sector, reinforcing its membership in ICAO as a key step toward ensuring long-term sustainability.

As aviation pushes toward net zero emissions by 2050, ministers flagged the high cost of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as a major challenge. Malaysia’s deputy minister of transport, Dato'Hasbi bin Habibowlah, called for greater investment in SAF production to lower costs and increase accessibility. He also pointed to feedstock restrictions that hinder production, urging innovative solutions to expand SAF supply chains.

Ministers also urged ICAO to drive a holistic sustainability approach, including green airports, research into non-CO₂ emissions, and a roadmap for global sustainability standards.

Abulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej Saudi president of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, Saudi Arabia, emphasised the aviation sector’s economic impact, as he referenced the unprecedented pace and scale of growth within the Kingdom’s aviation sector. “Every dollar generated in aviation fuels an additional $5 in the broader tourism economy” he said. However, he noted that cost structures, supply chain disruptions, and workforce shortages are pressing issues that need urgent solutions.

South Africa’s Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy, highlighted the sector’s resilience and strong post-pandemic recovery over the last two years but warned of two major challenges: drones and advanced air mobility (AAM), which require new security and regulatory frameworks; and the aviation skills shortages, as trained professionals migrate from developing to developed nations.

She stressed the need for creative measures to balance workforce mobility with investments in aviation training, ensuring that developing nations retain skilled professionals.

As aviation leaders navigate the sector’s evolving landscape, the call for sustained investment, collaboration, and innovation remains louder than ever.