On October 14, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) World Safety and Operations Conference (WSOC) opened in Xiamen. Marking its first-ever hosting in China, the event attracted over 800 representatives from airlines, regulatory authorities, and suppliers across nearly 70 countries and regions. Participants gathered to discuss strategies for ensuring aviation safety, operational efficiency, and sustainable development amid an ever-changing risk landscape. The opening ceremony was addressed by Wang Yongli, Executive Vice Governor of Fujian Province; Han Jun, Deputy Administrator of the Civil Aviation Administration of China; Wu Bin, Mayor of Xiamen; Ma Tao, Director of the ICAO Asia-Pacific Office; and Zhao Dong, Chairman of Xiamen Airlines.
Han Jun stated that the global civil aviation industry still faces numerous safety risks and challenges. The stability and efficiency of the aviation supply chain need to be improved. Increasing frequency of extreme weather is creating more complex operational environments. While new technologies such as automation, artificial intelligence, and drones are driving significant improvements in operational quality and efficiency, they also introduce derivative risks. Moreover, the orderly supply chain support could be artificially disrupted due to geopolitical factors, posing substantial risks to civil aviation safety operations that demand high vigilance. CAAC is willing to work closely with IATA and international counterparts to strengthen sharing and exchanges in new technologies and fields such as digital, intelligent and green development of the industry, jointly building a safe and sustainable future for global civil aviation.
The three-day Conference, themed "Futureproofing aviation: strategies for success" featured not only a CEO Panel but also sessions focusing on four key areas: safety, cabin operations, flight operations, and crisis management. Additionally, the conference included complementary activities such as the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) workshop and a Turbulence Awareness Forum., These sessions concentrated on international aviation safety audits, data-driven turbulence management and refined airspace resource allocation, aiming to enhance operational safety and efficiency of civil aviation from various dimensions. During the Conference, Han Jun met with IATA Director General Willie Walsh and exchanged views on strengthening cooperation between CAAC and IATA, promoting the development of international air transport, and maintaining the stability of the aviation supply chain.
As IATA's high-profile annual event in the field of aviation safety and operations, the WSOC was held in China for the first time and organized by Xiamen Airlines. In recent years, China's civil aviation sector has been committed to actively contributing to global aviation safety and development. It has carried out multiple initiatives in areas such as strengthening safety management, improving operational efficiency, and accelerating the industry's digital, intelligent, and green transformation. Having maintained its position among the world's top two civil aviation markets for 20 years in a row, China has contributed over 20% to global air transport growth for many years. China remains one of the markets with the greatest growth potential for the foreseeable future.
