Source: ICAO GISS 2026 Concludes with Global Commitments to Strengthen Aviation Implementation and Capacity The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Global Implementation Support Symposium (GISS 2026) has concluded in Marrakech, bringing together 1,450 participants from 101 States to strengthen global aviation systems in accordance with ICAO’s strategic plan for 2050, which includes a commitment to “No Country Left Behind” and envisions air transport for all, with zero fatalities and net zero carbon emissions. Over three days, the Symposium delivered a series of commitments, partnerships, and implementation initiatives aimed at enhancing aviation safety, security, sustainability, and connectivity worldwide, with a strong emphasis on ensuring that all States can effectively implement ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs). ICAO Council President Toshiyuki Onuma [...]

Source: US DOT This release is published on a fixed schedule as required by the Office of Management and Budget, and statistics in this release may be revised when inputs to the statistics are corrected or updated. Data on the program page of this website are the most up-to-date and complete. Note: In June 2024, FedEx Ground and FedEx Services merged with FedEx Express to form Federal Express Corporation. Consequently, carrier FX experienced a significant increase in employee count, thereby increasing the total number of employees within the industry. May 2024 Federal Express numbers are 233,739, while Federal Express Corporation June 2024 numbers are 432,127. U.S. Airlines: Total Number of Employees (Full-Time and Part-Time)  U.S. airline industry (passenger and cargo airlines [...]

Source: IATA     The International Air Transport Association (IATA) will hold the 38th IATA Ground Handling Conference (IGHC) in Cairo, Egypt, from 19–21 May 2026, bringing together industry leaders to address the future of ground operations. Hosted by EGYPTAIR, the event will focus on the theme “Adapting Ground Operations in an Era of AI.” The conference will examine how human expertise, supported by artificial intelligence and automation, will shape safer, more efficient, and resilient ground operations. “Ground operations are becoming increasingly complex as traffic volumes continue to grow. In parallel, AI and automation are creating new opportunities to manage the challenge. This year’s IGHC will focus on how we can combine technology with the expertise of ground handling professionals to [...]

Source: ICAO The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) today welcomed a voluntary contribution from the Government of the United Kingdom to support global aviation capacity development and implementation assistance worldwide, reinforcing efforts to ensure that no country is left behind. The pledge letter was formally handed to ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar by William Gatward, Representative of the United Kingdom to ICAO, during the Opening Ceremony of the ICAO Global Implementation Support Symposium (GISS 2026), the Organization’s flagship implementation support event. The United Kingdom’s voluntary contribution, totaling over GBP 1.0 million, will support priority implementation activities, including: Strengthening global safety programmes for the NACC Region Safety Programme supporting Aerodromes and Ground Aids (AGA) oversight; Supporting pilot studies under the [...]

Source: IATA     The International Air Transport Association (IATA) published the results of several digital identity Proofs of Concept (PoCs) completed with the support of airlines, airports, technology providers and governments across Europe and Asia-Pacific. The successful PoCs demonstrated that contactless, biometric-enabled international travel is already achievable with digital identity replacing paper documentation. Working together as part of the IATA Strategic Partnerships Program, the partners tested how digital identity stored in mobile wallets and biometric verification can support seamless passenger journeys without repeated paper document checks. Importantly, the PoCs demonstrated that interoperability of systems is sufficiently advanced to support contactless journeys involving multiple carriers and using different digital identity wallets (including Digital ID in Apple Wallet for US Passport [...]

Source: ASA ASA World calls for shared responsibility and constructive dialogue across the aviation value chain The Aviation Services Association (ASA) is highlighting the growing financial pressures facing ground handling organizations (GHOs) as rising global fuel costs reverberate across the aviation sector. Airlines have responded to higher fuel prices by introducing passenger surcharges, while simultaneously pressing suppliers — including GHOs — to absorb cost reductions. This places GHOs in an increasingly difficult position: facing the same fuel-driven cost increases as airlines, yet expected to shoulder additional financial burden with fewer means to offset it. Labor accounts for 50 to 65 percent of GHO operating expenditure, and operators are firmly resisting pressure to reduce workforce levels as a cost-mitigation measure. The [...]