The Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), at its Fourth meeting of the 219th Session held on 9 March 2020, concluded the discussion on the working paper presented by China titled Response Measures Taken by the Aviation Industry to Deal with a Public Health Emergency of International Concern and Recommendations for Improvement, and adopted a declaration calling for strong international cooperation and coordination among all entities involved in the joint action against public health emergencies such as the COVID-19 outbreak.

The meeting noted the potential economic impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the civil aviation sector, including reduction in airline seat capacity, passenger numbers, and the loss in gross operating revenues of airlines, and requested the Secretariat to analyze in close coordination with other international organizations and associations, including the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Airports Council International (ACI), the economic impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the global aviation industry. The meeting also requested the Secretariat to establish a dedicated ad hoc taskforce to develop specific actions aimed at reviewing the existing “health-related” Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs), exploring the possibility of incorporating them into the mandatory items of USOAP, assisting Member States with detailed measures to address any future such virus outbreaks, on the understanding that any proposed revisions to the SARPs would on due course be presented for consideration by the Council.

The meeting emphasized the importance of global multilateral efforts, within which ICAO should continue to work closely with the World Health Organization (WHO), IATA and ACI, at all levels in order to coordinate efforts to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak, develop universal guidance materials to provide effective guidance to aviation authorities, airlines and other aircraft operators, and airports on appropriate measures aimed to protect the health of the travelling public and reduce the risk of transmission.

The meeting further emphasized the importance of ICAO exploring all available options to ensure the safety of air travelers and aviation personnel, rebuild public confidence in the civil aviation sector, and ensure the long-term safety and sustainability of air travel.

The meeting adopted a declaration which stressed the importance of ensuring that response actions and measures are based on science and facts; engaging in cross-sector collaboration and the principles of multilateralism, strong international cooperation and coordination among all entities involved in the joint action against this public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). The declaration expressed strong support for the calls by WHO for States to perform their own risk assessments and adapt their response measures accordingly, taking into account the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005), urged States to proactively join the Collaborative Arrangement for the Prevention and Management of Public Health Events in Civil Aviation (CAPSCA), and reaffirmed that ICAO would continue to closely monitor the situation, support Member States in their response measures as appropriate, and stand ready to take further action as circumstances develop.