Global Summit in Durban to Accelerate Development of Aviation Workforce

To meet the growing demand for skilled workers in the aviation industry and to create opportunities for young talent around the world, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) are hosting a major aviation workforce summit in Durban next month. This event will gather global leaders in aviation.

From August 12 to 14, 2025, the International Civil Aviation Organisation and the South African Civil Aviation Authority will collaboratively host the 3rd Next Generation of Aviation Professionals (NGAP) Global Summit 2025 in Durban, South Africa. This event will serve as a global platform for governments, industry leaders, educators, training institutions, and youth representatives to collaborate on addressing a critical challenge in international aviation: cultivating a qualified, inclusive, and future-ready workforce to ensure the sector's sustained growth and resilience.

According to forecasts from the International Civil Aviation Organisation, by 2037, the aviation industry will need to recruit over 665000 aircraft maintenance technicians, 554000 pilots, 922000 cabin crew members, and 106,000 air traffic controllers. These numbers represent only a fraction of the broader and growing human resource demands across the various professions essential to air transport.

South Africa is playing a key role in the African continent's aviation landscape through the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), an initiative by the African Union aimed at creating a unified air transport market across Africa. This initiative is projected to generate nearly 600,000 jobs within the continent. The Minister of Transport of South Africa, the Honourable Barbara Creecy, is strongly supporting this direction.

“South Africa, alongside its African partners, has always been dedicated to ensuring that the future of aviation is safe and secure, while also addressing other global concerns such as job creation, improving infrastructure, and ensuring environmental protection,” said Minister Creecy. “Platforms such as the ICAO 2025 NGAP Summit are crucial for continued global dialogue on aviation matters, where we can advocate for policies that respond to our shared challenges.”

“I am certain that there will be a lot of insights and recommendations that the sector will take forward from the various 2025 NGAP Summit deliberations,” said Ms. Poppy Khoza, Director of Civil Aviation at SACAA. “With South Africa a leading voice in many ICAO platforms on global aviation matters, I also look forward to hosting a number of our fellow Member States in our country, and to see them collaborate on some ideas with their South African counterparts.”

The ICAO NGAP Summit will focus on the theme "The Flight Plan for Future Aviation Talent: Innovate, Educate, Inspire – Building the Workforce for the Skies Ahead." This event will showcase innovative strategies for aviation training, technology-enhanced learning, and the development of sustainable career paths. There will be a particular emphasis on supporting young people in less developed and emerging aviation markets.

The event is organised to facilitate the execution of the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) Next Generation of Aviation Professionals (NGAP) Strategy. This strategy advocates for a collaborative and integrated approach to meeting the workforce requirements of the aviation sector in four critical areas: advocacy and knowledge sharing, workforce monitoring and forecasting, education and training, and capacity building and outreach.

“Every State has an interest in securing the talent required for a safe and resilient future for international civil aviation. This is particularly vital for youth and communities in parts of the world where aviation can be a powerful catalyst for sustainable development,” said Mr. Salvatore Sciacchitano, President of the ICAO Council. “ICAO has made aviation workforce development a global strategic priority, and this summit will be for the implementation of the strategy we have developed to respond to this challenge.”

These initiatives will collectively enhance awareness of career opportunities in the aviation sector while advancing diversity and inclusion. Furthermore, they will aid in identifying emerging skills gaps and training needs, align qualifications with industry requirements, and enhance global human resources planning by fostering partnerships among governments, industry, and academic institutions.

“The ICAO 2025 NGAP Summit will help ensure that no State is left behind in benefiting from the opportunities that aviation can offer,” said ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar. “ICAO is working with partners around the world to build the infrastructure, training capacity, and education partnerships needed to develop tomorrow’s aviation professionals, especially in countries where investment in people can drive broader transformation.”

The NGAP Global Summit 2025 is being organised by the long-term objectives outlined in ICAO’s Strategic Plan for 2026–2050. This plan emphasises human development as a crucial component of global initiatives aimed at ensuring safety, security, innovation, sustainability, and resilience within the aviation industry. Additionally, the outcomes of the summit will inform discussions at the 42nd Session of the ICAO Assembly this September, where member States are expected to negotiate and agree on binding resolutions concerning various related issues.