As air transport becomes increasingly crucial to global commerce, industry leaders warn that safety standards must keep pace with liberalization efforts.
The rapid expansion of global trade has made air cargo transportation a vital economic artery. Yet as the industry prioritizes efficiency and profitability, fundamental safety concerns risk being overlooked—a tension that dominated discussions at the International Civil Aviation Organization's Sixth Air Transport Conference (ATConf/6).
Gabriel Mocho, Civil Aviation Secretary of the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), delivered a stark warning to delegates: without proper safeguards, the push for liberalization could compromise the very security that makes air transport viable.
Safety as the Foundation of Liberalization
Mocho emphasized that safety and security must form the bedrock of any liberalization efforts. He urged participants to uphold two fundamental safeguard principles established at ATConf/5, arguing they should guide current deliberations and final outcomes.
"Market openness cannot come at the expense of safety protocols," Mocho stated. "All stakeholders—from airlines and freight forwarders to ground handlers and regulators—must collaborate to develop robust risk prevention mechanisms."
Balancing Efficiency With Social Responsibility
The ITF leader criticized what he characterized as an imbalanced approach to deregulation, noting that conference materials failed to adequately address how liberalization affects aviation workers or the safety risks posed by "flags of convenience" in air transport.
"When airlines register under jurisdictions with lax oversight to reduce costs, safety standards inevitably suffer," Mocho warned. "Similarly, pressure to maximize profits leads some operators to cut corners on staff welfare and safety investments—a dangerous false economy."
Workers: The First Line of Defense
Mocho's most impassioned appeal centered on aviation workers' rights. He demanded explicit recognition that airline employees constitute key stakeholders whose interests must factor into all policy evaluations.
"These professionals form our primary safety barrier," he noted. "Their working conditions, training levels, and safety awareness directly determine operational security. Protecting their rights isn't just ethical—it's operational necessity."
The Imperative of International Cooperation
The ITF secretary urged ICAO to strengthen collaboration with other UN agencies, particularly the International Labour Organization (ILO), to implement conclusions from recent ILO forums about aviation's pandemic recovery challenges.
"Economic crises tempt operators to slash safety budgets," Mocho observed. "Only through coordinated global action can we prevent such pressures from eroding security standards."
Transparency as a Dual Solution
Both shippers and aviation workers require greater transparency to ensure safety, Mocho argued—a measure that would simultaneously boost efficiency. "Clear information flows about cargo status, risks, and regulations enable better coordination while reducing vulnerabilities," he explained.
The ITF's intervention frames a critical choice for the industry: whether to pursue unfettered liberalization or adopt a measured approach that prioritizes safety, worker welfare, and international standards. As global supply chains grow ever more interdependent, the stakes of this decision extend far beyond airport tarmacs.