On 21st October 2026, a lecture themed "International Aviation Development" was successfully held. The lecture featured Salvatore Sciacchitano, former President of the ICAO Council, as the keynote speaker. He shared the development history of international civil aviation, the 2050 net-zero emissions target and sustainable development pathways, discussed aviation safety, operational challenges and the application of AI technology, and answered questions from the industry.
History of International Civil Aviation Development and Core Challenges
Sciacchitano reviewed the background to the birth of the 1944 Chicago Convention, noting that leaders of various countries recognized that establishing cross-border aviation connections would help promote world peace, and this concept was explicitly written into the Convention. ICAO, as the guardian of the Convention, is mainly responsible for setting global aviation standards, assisting countries in developing their aviation industries, and verifying the implementation of standards.
Turning to current challenges, he pointed out that although global passenger traffic reached 5.46 billion in 2025, only about 20% of the world's population can afford air travel, and expanding the accessibility of aviation services remains a major challenge. Global annual passenger traffic is expected to double to 9 billion by 2040 and grow further to nearly 13 billion by 2050.
2050 Net-Zero Emissions Strategy
On emissions-reduction pathways, Sciacchitano explained that the plan is to achieve 50% of the emissions-reduction target by 2050 through the widespread use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The current generation of aircraft already produces 20% less noise and emissions than aircraft from the 1960s, and the next generation of aircraft expected to be introduced after 2035 will reduce emissions by a further 20% on that basis. Optimizing global navigation systems to reduce non-direct flight paths is expected to contribute an additional 10% of emissions reductions. Since these measures cannot achieve a 100% reduction, market-based offset mechanisms (such as carbon credit trading) will still be needed to compensate for the remaining emissions.
He also noted that current global SAF production is extremely low, leaving a huge gap against 2050 demand, and that energy companies urgently need to invest on a large scale to expand production. African countries have already recognized the enormous economic potential of sustainable fuel production, and 15 related feasibility projects have been approved by ICAO and have attracted investment.
Aviation Safety and Operational Challenges
Sciacchitano emphasized that ensuring aviation safety has always been ICAO's core objective, and that systemic safety and security challenges must be addressed by improving standards and establishing effective mechanisms. On geopolitical factors, the Middle East crisis and aviation sanctions between Russia and Ukraine have restricted some airspace, increasing flight times and maintenance costs. In addition, new types of aircraft such as drones have introduced an entirely new regulatory dimension, and the industry is working to resolve the safe coexistence of drones and manned aircraft in the same airspace. Regarding AI technology, he pointed out that the application of artificial intelligence in aviation is mainly concentrated in information screening and decision support, but the core role of pilots in complex environments remains irreplaceable.
Interactive Q&A
In the Q&A session, regarding differences between ICAO and FAA standards, Sciacchitano explained that ICAO is responsible for setting globally harmonized minimum aviation standards, which member states must transpose into their national regulations and may make stricter provisions according to their actual circumstances. On the question of Indonesia's aviation safety audit score of 78%, he said that this score is in fact at a good level, and that the key lies in identifying and resolving the critical deficiencies in a country's aviation system. On the impact of AI technology on aviation safety, he reiterated that AI is mainly used to assist pilots in information processing and decision-making, but in complex situations the core role of human pilots remains irreplaceable.
This lecture provided attendees with a macro perspective and cutting-edge insights into international civil aviation development, and the event came to a successful close amid lively discussion.