ILO and ICAO agreement flags importance of labour standards in global aviation industry recovery

A new agreement signed today by the global bodies representing the global civil aviation industry and labour recognises the importance of decent labour standards for aviation workers in the safety, resilience and recovery of the global aviation industry. The memorandum of understanding signed today by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Labour […]


March 16, 2022

ACI and ITF reiterate call to governments to prioritise vaccinations for airport workers

The global bodies representing the world’s airports and airport workers have renewed calls on governments to prioritise the vaccination of aviation workers in the wake of new guidance from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and their latest call with WHO. Airports Council International (ACI) World and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) recognise the unwavering support […]


March 31, 2021

Seafarers, air transport workers must be prioritised for vaccine

Today the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) reiterates our strong request for seafarers and aviation workers to be prioritised by governments in their Covid-19 vaccination programmes. The ITF welcomes the joint statement from UN bodies last week supporting this position. Covid-19 and its impacts have been felt by none more acutely than transport workers and […]


March 29, 2021

ILO, IMO and ICAO urge governments to act on crew change, ‘key worker’ status

The leaders of the world’s highest maritime, aviation and labour authorities have issued a joint statement calling on governments to facilitate maritime crew changes and designate the millions of workers in critical transport industries through the present pandemic as ‘key workers’. Fang Liu (International Civil Aviation Organization), Kitack Lim (International Maritime Organization) and Guy Ryder […]


May 28, 2020

Aviation unions – keep up with remote towers technology changes

The ITF has produced a ‘living document’ to help its civil aviation unions keep up to speed with the constant changes in remote towers technology. Super-fast fibre networks, high definition cameras and remote sensing technology mean that the concept, testing and deployment of remote tower services is advancing rapidly. The In Focus document will track […]


June 2, 2017

New ICAO guidelines a ‘big achievement’ for ITF

After years of campaigning for safe cabin air quality, the ITF has welcomed the new International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Guidelines on education, training and reporting of fume events. The ITF had long warned of the health risks of cabin air extracted from engine compression and conveyed unfiltered to passengers and crew, and was concerned […]


February 24, 2016

Statement on failure of Qatar’s ICAO relocation bid

Commenting on the failure and withdrawal of the Qatari government’s bid to have the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) headquarters relocated from Canada to the country’s capital, Doha, ITF president Paddy Crumlin said: “This is great news. Democracy, common sense and a respect for workers’ rights have triumphed. Qatar has to change. The outrage that […]


June 5, 2013