ICAO Archives - Aviation Today

South Africa Ranks Seventh Globally In Aviation Safety Oversight As GA Fatalities Surge

Aviation Today News Desk / October 14, 2026

Cape Town, South Africa: South Africa has ranked seventh globally and first in Africa for aviation safety oversight, achieving a

IATA

IATA Cautions Against EU Carbon Rules Undermining Global CORSIA Framework

Aviation Today News Desk / October 8, 2026

Geneva, Switzerland: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called on governments to strengthen the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme

Airports

ACI World Urges Governments To Modernise Aviation Policies And Infrastructure

Aviation Today News Desk / May 9, 2026

Montreal, Canada: Airports Council International (ACI) World has called for a comprehensive overhaul of global aviation policy frameworks, warning that

IATA

IATA Urges African Governments To Treat Aviation As A Strategic Economic Driver

Aviation Today News Desk / April 30, 2026

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called on African governments to prioritise aviation as a core

Mexico City, Mexico: In a landmark ruling that reshapes the narrative of one of Cuba’s deadliest aviation disasters, a Mexican court has held charter airline Aerolíneas Damojh (Global Air) responsible for the 2018 crash of a Boeing 737 in Havana, concluding that the aircraft suffered from severe maintenance failures and “should never have flown.” The decision, based on court documents dated March 31 and reviewed by multiple international outlets, marks a significant legal departure from earlier findings that attributed the accident primarily to pilot error. An independent expert assessment presented during proceedings determined that the crash of Cubana de Aviación Flight 0972 was an “institutional accident” caused by systemic maintenance negligence. The report emphasized that the pilots were merely the “final line of defense” and were unable to prevent the catastrophe once critical failures had already developed. The judge accepted these findings and ruled that the aircraft’s operator, Global Air, bore responsibility for placing an unfit aircraft into service. The court ordered Global Air to pay USD 1.5 million in compensation to each of the families of the four Mexican crew members who initiated the lawsuit. Notably, the airline failed to appear in court and was tried in absentia, while the aircraft’s insurer also named in the case was ultimately cleared of financial liability. Legal representatives for the plaintiffs described the ruling as “groundbreaking”, arguing that it validates long-standing concerns about the airline’s maintenance practices and operational standards. The accident occurred on May 18, 2018, when a Boeing 737-200 (registration XA-UHZ) crashed shortly after takeoff from José Martí International Airport in Havana while operating a domestic flight to Holguín. Of the 113 people onboard, 112 were killed, making it one of the deadliest aviation disasters in Cuba in decades. Only one passenger survived. The aircraft was owned and operated by Global Air, a Mexican charter airline, and was leased to Cuba’s state carrier Cubana de Aviación under a wet lease agreement. The Mexican ruling directly contradicts Cuba’s 2019 official investigation, which attributed the crash primarily to pilot error and weight miscalculation, citing deficiencies in crew performance and operational procedures. In contrast, the Mexican court concluded that chronic maintenance deficiencies and systemic oversight failures were the root cause, reframing the accident as a broader organizational failure rather than an isolated human error. Global Air had faced prior operational scrutiny in Mexico, including temporary suspension following the crash as authorities examined its compliance with safety regulations. Reports cited during the case highlighted a history of technical issues and complaints, raising questions about the aircraft’s airworthiness long before the accident occurred. Beyond the initial lawsuit, broader legal proceedings are underway. Lawyers representing victims confirmed that: A class-action civil lawsuit covering all victims is in progress A criminal complaint for homicide has been filed against the airline and responsible parties However, the criminal investigation in Mexico has reportedly stalled due to limited cooperation from Cuban authorities. Samuel González, counsel for the victims’ families, described the judgment as a hard-fought and “groundbreaking” decision for Mexico. He said the ruling reinforces early admissions made in Havana by the airline’s own head of maintenance, who acknowledged to relatives that the aircraft should not have been cleared for operation. “That aircraft operated for nearly a decade without proper maintenance,” González said. “The crash occurred in Cuba, but the risk was universal.” Efforts to reach representatives of the airline for comment were unsuccessful. González also indicated that the carrier may be moving toward bankruptcy proceedings, warning that any attempt to misuse the process would be legally challenged.

Investigation

Mexican Court Rejects Pilot Error, Blames Maintenance In 2018 Cuba Crash That Killed 112

Aviation Today News Desk / April 13, 2026

Mexico City, Mexico: In a landmark ruling that reshapes the narrative of one of Cuba’s deadliest aviation disasters, a Mexican

India

IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet Flag DGCA’s Revised FDTL Framework As More Restrictive

Aviation Today News Desk / February 13, 2026

Delhi, India: India’s leading airlines, including IndiGo, Air India, and SpiceJet, have raised strong objections to newly implemented Flight Duty

Civil Aviation

International Civil Aviation Day 2025 Highlights Safe, Sustainable, Inclusive Skies

Aviation Today News Desk / December 6, 2025

On December 7, 2025, the global aviation community will once again mark International Civil Aviation Day, a day that carries

New Delhi, India: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is preparing to roll out a Competency-Based Training and Assessment (CBTA) framework for cabin crew, marking a significant shift in India’s approach to aviation training and safety. The initiative aims to move beyond traditional checklist-driven instruction and instead focus on developing measurable, scenario-based competencies that improve crew performance in real-life situations. DGCA Chief Flight Operations Inspector Shweta Singh said that draft regulations for the new training model are expected to be released within a month, and the adoption will be voluntary for airlines at the initial stage. The framework is expected to eventually become an integral part of airline training programs across India. The CBTA model, already implemented for pilot training since 2022, emphasizes skill proficiency, decision-making, and communication under operational pressures rather than rote procedural knowledge. Singh explained, “For example, if there is a fire in the cabin, how will they deal with it, how will they communicate, how will they coordinate? All these performance indicators will be embedded in the CBTA framework to help cabin crew train better.” Industry leaders have welcomed the move as a progressive step that aligns Indian aviation standards with global practices recommended by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The ICAO’s competency-based approach ensures that crew members are not only trained to complete tasks but also assessed on how effectively they handle unexpected challenges during flight operations. At a recent industry conference, Captain Ashim Mittra, Senior Vice President of Flight Operations at IndiGo, said that competency, rather than crew numbers, determines operational safety and efficiency. “The number of people onboard matters less than how competent they are to handle different situations,” Mittra stated, emphasizing the importance of advanced training models as India’s airlines continue to expand their fleets and international operations. India’s aviation sector is among the fastest-growing in the world, with airlines adding hundreds of new aircraft over the next decade. This growth has created a parallel demand for highly skilled flight and cabin crew, and the DGCA’s move to adopt CBTA reflects the regulator’s effort to strengthen operational safety standards amid rapid expansion. The regulator’s shift toward competency-based models also aligns with its broader vision of improving human performance, safety culture, and regulatory oversight within the Indian aviation ecosystem. Aviation experts believe that implementing CBTA will not only elevate the quality of training but also make Indian crew members more adaptable and globally competitive.

Cabin Crew

DGCA To Introduce Competency-Based Training Framework For Cabin Crew Across Airlines

Aviation Today News Desk / November 12, 2025

New Delhi, India: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is preparing to roll out a Competency-Based Training and Assessment

Singapore: Passengers flying out of Changi Airport and Seletar Airport will soon pay a new Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) levy starting in 2026, as part of Singapore’s drive to reduce the aviation sector’s carbon emissions and support global decarbonisation goals. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), the levy will apply to tickets issued from April 1, 2026, for flights departing on or after October 1, 2026. The collected funds will be channelled into purchasing sustainable aviation fuel, helping airlines transition away from fossil-based jet fuel. Under the new system, passengers will pay different levy rates depending on destination zones and cabin classes: Band 1 – Southeast Asia: Economy S$1 | Premium S$4 Band 2 – Northeast Asia, South Asia, Australia & Papua New Guinea: Economy S$2.80 | Premium S$11.20 Band 3 – Africa, Europe, Middle East, Pacific Islands, Central & West Asia: Economy S$6.40 | Premium S$25.60 Band 4 – The Americas: Economy S$10.40 | Premium S$41.60 Transit passengers passing through Singapore will be exempt from the levy. The scheme will also cover cargo operators, business aviation, and general aviation flights, which will pay a SAF contribution based on aircraft weight or cargo load. CAAS stated that the initiative is a market-based mechanism designed to accelerate the uptake of SAF in a cost-effective and transparent manner. The authority said the levy would make the cost of cleaner fuel predictable for airlines and travellers while ensuring funds are ring-fenced for SAF purchases. “The SAF levy is a key part of Singapore’s decarbonisation framework for aviation. It enables us to make steady progress towards our targets while maintaining competitiveness as a global air hub,” CAAS said in a statement. Singapore’s aviation decarbonisation roadmap targets at least 1 % SAF usage by 2026, increasing to 3 %–5 % by 2030, depending on supply availability and cost developments. The levy rates could be adjusted in future as the SAF blend ratio rises. Globally, sustainable aviation fuel remains more expensive than conventional jet fuel typically costing two to five times more but is widely regarded as the most immediate tool to cut aviation’s carbon footprint. Singapore’s move follows similar measures adopted in the European Union and Japan, and could set a precedent for other Asian hubs exploring SAF mandates or incentives. The initiative complements broader efforts under the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) CORSIA framework, which aims for net-zero carbon emissions from international aviation by 2050. By creating a structured and transparent levy system, Singapore aims to send a clear demand signal to fuel producers and investors, potentially attracting SAF production and supply-chain projects to the region.

Airlines

Singapore To Roll Out Sustainable Aviation Fuel Levy On Flights From 2026

Aviation Today News Desk / November 11, 2025

Singapore: Passengers flying out of Changi Airport and Seletar Airport will soon pay a new Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) levy

Montreal, Canada: The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) concluded its 42nd General Assembly in Montreal with significant decisions impacting global aviation policies. According to Bloomberg Government, delegates at the 42nd ICAO General Assembly voted to maintain the current mandatory retirement age for airline pilots at 65, rejecting the proposal to extend it to 67. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) had advocated for raising the pilot retirement age to 67, arguing that the two-year extension would alleviate pilot staffing shortages without compromising safety. The proposal is supported by examples from countries like Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, where there are no strict upper age limits for pilots. IATA emphasized that raising the pilot retirement age aligns with ICAO’s efforts to standardize medical assessments, advocating for consistent oversight to ensure older pilots remain fit to fly. The move also supports broader aviation workforce goals, including the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and ICAO’s Next Generation of Aviation Professionals (NGAP) Programme, by helping retain experienced pilots and maintain a steady supply of qualified aviation personnel. However, the proposal faced opposition from pilot unions, including the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), which raised concerns about potential health and cognitive risks associated with older pilots. As a result, ICAO delegates voted to retain the existing age limit.

Pilots

ICAO Retains Pilot Retirement Age at 65, Rejects Proposal to Extend to 67

Aviation Today News Desk / October 2, 2025

Montreal, Canada: The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) concluded its 42nd General Assembly in Montreal with significant decisions impacting global

ICAO