From Commitment to Implementation – Advancing Accessible, Inclusive
and Seamless Air Transport

This session will provide a comprehensive, forward-looking reflection on the evolution of accessibility in international air transport, while simultaneously contributing to shaping the strategic direction for the period 2026–2028. Building on discussions initiated at the first global gathering in 2024, participants will examine how accessibility has transitioned from a policy objective to a recognized strategic, system-wide priority across the aviation sector. Attention will be given to the growing global emphasis on inclusiveness, reinforced during the 42nd ICAO Assembly, and to Assembly Resolution A42-14, which underscores the protection of vulnerable passengers and embeds accessibility within broader Facilitation objectives.
The session will highlight the cross-cutting nature of accessibility, emphasizing its strong linkages with safety, security, passenger experience, and human rights considerations. By positioning accessibility as an essential
pillar of modern aviation planning and service delivery, discussions will aim to move beyond commitments toward practical, measurable, and scalable implementation across States and industry stakeholders. The discussion will also identify concrete follow-up actions to improve implementation, foster innovation, and maintain sustained, structured engagement with persons with disabilities, industry partners, and Member States beyond the Symposium. By aligning strategic vision with actionable outcomes, this session aims to ensure that accessibility remains a sustained global priority and is effectively integrated into aviation systems worldwide through 2028 and beyond.

Moderator: Sonia Hifdi, Deputy Director, Aviation Security, Cybersecurity and Facilitation, & Acting, Director, Air Transport Bureau, ICAO

• Dr. Michael Munene, Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer National Council for Persons with Disabilities, Kenya
• Stephanie Cadieux, Chief Accessibility Officer, Office of the Chief Accessibility Officer, Employment and Social Development Canada, Government of Canada
• Mario Bauer, Director, Customer Care, Global Sensitive Servicing, Lufthansa Group
• Fatma Taher, Head, Strategic Projects & Government Agenda, Dubai Airports