Established pursuant to the Chicago Convention signed in Chicago, United States, on 7 December 1944, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) began operating as a provisional organization (PICAO) in 1945 and became a permanent organization in Montreal, Canada, in 1947. As a technical specialized agency of the United Nations (UN), the ICAO develops and updates international standards and recommended practices relating to civil aviation and supports member states in their global implementation.

By Resolution A29-1 adopted at its 29th Assembly in 1992, the ICAO proclaimed 7 December as International Civil Aviation Day, beginning in 1994, the 50th anniversary of the Organization. Subsequently, the UN General Assembly officially recognized 7 December as “International Civil Aviation Day” within the UN system through Resolution A/RES/51/33 adopted in 1996. Since then, International Civil Aviation Day has been celebrated worldwide, including in Türkiye, through various activities and events. In 2024, ICAO marked the 80th anniversary of its establishment through special events organized in many countries.

Operating in accordance with the classical UN system, the ICAO has 193-member states. The list of member states is available at www.icao.int/about-icao/Pages/member-states.aspx. The list of the 36 states represented on the ICAO Council for the 2025–2028 term can be found at www.icao.int/about-icao/Council/CouncilStates/Pages/default.aspx.

Organizational Structure

The ICAO consists of three main bodies: The Assembly, the Council, and the Secretariat. The Assembly and the Council are the Organization’s decision-making bodies. Convened every three years at ICAO Headquarters with the participation of all member states, the General Assembly grants each state one vote. Unless otherwise stipulated in the Convention, decisions are taken by majority vote. During General Assembly sessions, ICAO’s activities in the technical, economic, financial, legal, and technical cooperation fields are reviewed comprehensively, and guidance is provided to the Organization’s bodies for their future work. The latest ICAO General Assembly (the 42nd Session) was held from 23 September to 3 October 2025.

The Council is a permanent body accountable to the Assembly and performs the legislative and executive functions of the Organization. Following amendments introduced in 2002, the Council consist of 36 Member States elected by the Assembly for three-year terms. In the election process, due consideration is given to States’ contributions to international civil aviation and the civil aviation sector, as well as equitable geographical representation. Türkiye, one of the ICAO’s founding members and a member of the first Council, was elected to the Council from the European Group for the 2016–2019 term during elections held at the 39th General Assembly (27 September-7 October 2016).The Council conducts its work in three annual sessions: January–March, May–June, and September–November. Following elections held in the Council in November 2025, Toshiyuki Onuma (Japan) was elected as the new President for a three-year term and assumed office on 1 January 2026.

In addition, numerous specialized bodies operate in support of the Council’s work. The most prominent among them is the Air Navigation Commission (ANC), a technical body composed of 19 experts. Following the entry into force of the 2016 Amendment Protocol, the number of ANC members will increase to 21. The ANC may establish working groups, panels, and subcommittees under its authority. States may participate in the ANC and its subsidiary bodies either as members or observers. Following the establishment of Türkiye’s Permanent Representation to ICAO, Türkiye has participated in the ANC’s work as an observer and as a member in certain subsidiary bodies.

Other principal Committees operating under the Council include the Air Transport Committee, the Aviation Security Committee, the Climate and Environment Committee, the Committee on Governance, the Finance Committee, the Joint Support Committee on Air Navigation Services, the Committee on Relations with the Host Country, and the Technical Cooperation and Implementation Support Committee.

The ICAO Secretariat was established in Montreal simultaneously with the Organization in order to support the ICAO’s activities and the work of the Council. In line with the UN system, the Secretariat employs nearly 600 international staff members and is headed by a Secretary General, who serves as the Organization’s chief executive officer. The position of Secretary General is currently held by Juan Carlos Salazar (Colombia), who was elected in 2021 for a three-year term and whose mandate was extended in 2024 for an additional three years until 31 July 2027.

The Secretariat comprises five principal bureaus: Air Navigation (ANB), Air Transport (ATB), Capacity Development and Implementation (CDI), Legal and External Relations (LEB), and Administration and Services (ADB). In addition, ICAO maintains seven regional offices (Bangkok, Cairo, Dakar, Lima, Mexico City, Nairobi, and Paris) and one sub-office (Beijing), all operating under the Secretariat.

In addition to the Assembly Hall, Council Chamber, meeting rooms, and Secretariat offices, the ICAO Headquarters building in downtown Montreal hosts the resident Permanent Representation offices of 67 States (as of January 2026), including the 36 Council Member States.

Furthermore, several organizations and professional umbrella associations closely cooperating with ICAO -notably the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Airports Council International (ACI), and the Cospas-Sarsat Programme- maintain their headquarters or representative offices in Montreal.

Objectives, Goals and Principles

The main objectives, goals, and principles of ICAO may be summarized as follows:

- To ensure safe and orderly development of international civil aviation worldwide;

- To enhance aviation safety;

- To support the provision of aviation and airport security;

- To encourage the development and operation of aircraft for peaceful purposes;

- To assist in the development of airways, airports, and air navigation facilities for more efficient international civil aviation;

- To meet the global needs of safe, orderly, environmentally sustainable, and accessible air transport;

- To prevent economic waste caused by unfair competition;

- To ensure that the rights of Contracting States are fully respected, that every State has a fair opportunity to operate international airlines, and that no discrimination is exercised among Contracting States;

- To promote the development and modernization of international civil aviation in line with evolving conditions, including through innovation and adaptation to new technologies.