Minister for Transport and Minister-in-Charge of Trade Relations Mr S Iswaran Spoke about Rebuilding Aviation at Ministerial Plenary of The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) High-Level Conference

1.     Minister for Transport and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations Mr S Iswaran led the Singapore delegation to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO ) High-Level Conference on COVID-19.  

2.     The ICAO High-Level Conference on COVID-19 brings together governments and industry from all over the world, and aims to reach a global consensus on a multilateral approach, to enable the safe and efficient recovery of the international aviation sector from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

3.     This year’s conference, held via videoconference from 12 to 22 October 2021, underscores the critical need for collective commitment and political will to rebuild international aviation, so as to restore people-to-people connectivity and support global trade, economy and employment. 

4.     46 transport ministers from around the world participated in the ICAO High-Level Conference on COVID-19 Ministerial Plenary session, chaired by Mr Salvatore Sciacchitano, President of the Council of the ICAO.    

5.     At the Ministerial Plenary Roundtable session on ‘Leading Aviation Recovery’ on 12 October 2021, Minister Iswaran underscored the importance for government and industry leaders to work together on all fronts - bilateral, regional and multilateral - to rebuild public confidence, and reopen borders with safe quarantine-free air travel. Outlining Singapore’s approach to emerge stronger from the COVID-19 pandemic, Minister Iswaran highlighted that Singapore has adopted an evidence-based, risk adjusted approach, and has launched quarantine-free Vaccinated Travel Lanes to 11 countries, including the Republic of Korea, which is the first between two major aviation hubs in Asia. Minister Iswaran hoped that these VTLs can serve as a pathfinder for more countries and regions to reconnect safely.  

6.     Minister Iswaran also called on States to work together, with the ICAO and industry’s support, to rebuild a stronger, safer and more resilient global aviation system. This includes building capacity ahead of anticipated demand and essential capabilities such as in the digitisation and verification of health certificates.

7.     The ministers also discussed a wide range of civil aviation policy and regulatory issues, including the economic impact and safety impacts of COVID-19 on the international aviation sector.