Business & UN
ICC and ICAO joint statement calls for ramped up public/private cooperation on vaccines and air transport
In a joint statement confirming several key areas of future cooperation on common priorities, ICC and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a specialised United Nations agency have underscored the need for extensive and global public-private cooperation, to ensure efficient distribution of Covid vaccines and the sustainable recovery of air transport.
Formalised by ICC Secretary General John W.H. Denton AO and ICAO Secretary General Fang Liu, the statement acknowledges the central role of international aviation in global economic and social development and international business, and underscores the commitment of both ICC and ICAO to implement the ICAO Council Aviation Recovery Task Force’s (CART) guidance and recommendations.
Ms Liu said: “The ICAO CART documentation provides the international foundation for aviation response and recovery. By improving our collaboration with the ICC to promote CART adherence and understand the needs of air transport system and supply chain users, we can help to rebuild consumer confidence in travel, restore cross-border business, and ultimately revive the global economy.”
The ICAO-ICC statement also underscores the importance of governments applying multi-layered risk mitigation measures on an aligned and consistent basis to facilitate the aviation sector’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and promotes the adoption of interoperable, secure tools and systems for the efficient health screening of travellers in order to accelerate the re-establishment of international air travel and trade.
ICC further commits to supporting ICAO outreach to private sector entities engaged in expediting global vaccine shipments through customs and border checks, in addition to processing crew involved in vaccine transport operations.
“Trans-border vaccine distribution requires effective public-private sector collaboration in order to ensure that supply chains function properly and so that ‘cold chains’ aren’t broken or compromised,” Ms Liu said. “Aviation has permitted international vaccine supply chains to be successful thus far, and this closer cooperation between ICAO and ICC will help ensure that continues.”
ICC will also work with its global network of over 45 million companies to identify highest-priority civil aviation restart opportunities, and to work with governments and international organisations on their implementation. ICC will also make use of its international presence to support work on more comprehensive measures that will ensure that no country is left behind in the global recovery, and raise awareness of ICAO’s international standards, guidelines, specifications and recommendations.
The joint statement echoes other recent calls on governments to prioritise seafarers and aircrew in their national COVID-19 vaccination programmes, together with other essential workers, in accordance with the WHO SAGE Roadmap for prioritising the use of COVID-19 vaccines.
