International Civil Aviation Organization

In 2019–20, the CTA worked with government partners at the Canadian mission to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) during both the ICAO General Assembly and sessions of the Facilitation Panel (FALP) to raise the profile of accessibility in air travel.

The CTA led efforts to advance accessibility in international aviation by encouraging Member States to recognize the importance of increasing awareness and continuing to collaborate to advance accessibility in aviation. Canada presented working papers on this matter that were endorsed by both the General Assembly and FALP. In addition, the CTA led an ICAO accessibility working group, comprising numerous accessibility experts from various countries and stakeholder groups, to develop a compendium of regulations, statutes, and policies relating to accessibility in aviation. When completed, this compendium will be a unique tool that carriers, public agencies, and persons with disabilities can draw upon to improve the accessibility of air travel.

In September 2019, Canada invited the General Assembly to continue playing a key role in advancing accessibility across the aviation spectrum and to contribute to the development of the compendium. ICAO is now working on the development of a work program for travellers with disabilities.