In our “ICAO’s Strategic Goals Explained” article series, we’re exploring the six Strategic Goals that will guide ICAO’s global aviation vision through 2050. These goals reflect our commitment to a safe, secure, sustainable, and inclusive air transport system—one that connects the world and leaves no one behind.
A seamless and accessible global air transport system is essential for international mobility, economic integration, and social inclusion. That’s why one of our core Strategic Goals is to ensure that passengers, crew, cargo, and aircraft can move across borders and through the skies with efficiency, predictability, and fairness. Achieving this goal requires a strong focus on digital transformation, operational coordination, and regulatory alignment.
Delivering seamless, accessible, and reliable mobility for all
In an interconnected world, international aviation must ensure that every journey—whether for passengers, crew, or cargo—is reliable, accessible, and seamless. The ICAO Long-term Strategic Plan for 2026–2050 reflects this imperative through its Strategic Goal on Seamless Mobility.
This goal supports the development of harmonized policies, standards, and frameworks that optimize aircraft operations, facilitate border clearance, and enable connectivity for all users. It also emphasizes the need to improve air travel accessibility for persons with disabilities and reduced mobility.
As aviation technologies evolve, ICAO’s work under this goal helps ensure the timely integration of advanced systems into global aviation operations, and the maintenance of safe, sustainable, and inclusive travel. By improving air navigation and infrastructure, facilitating passenger and cargo processing, and supporting innovation, ICAO is helping to build a globally harmonized system that benefits people and economies everywhere.
Enhancing air navigation and operational efficiency
Reliable air traffic management is at the heart of seamless mobility. ICAO supports Member States through the Global Air Navigation Plan (GANP)—a multilayered strategy that promotes globally coordinated improvements in communications, navigation, and surveillance systems. By translating this global vision into Regional and National Air Navigation Plans, ICAO ensures that operational enhancements are harmonized across borders and tailored to local needs.
This work is critical to maintaining the safety and efficiency of international airspace, especially as new aviation entrants—such as unmanned aircraft systems and advanced air mobility—continue to expand.
Facilitating seamless, secure passenger processes
Equally important is the need for smooth and secure border-crossing procedures. ICAO develops and maintains provisions under Annex 9 –Facilitation, which promote efficient and standardized procedures for processing passengers, aircraft, cargo, and crew. These standards support the implementation of automated border controls, electronic travel systems, and Passenger Data systems —tools that help streamline airport operations and reduce bottlenecks while enhancing security.
Additionally, ICAO’s Traveller Identification Programme (TRIP) and Public Key Directory (PKD) programme strengthen the global use of biometric identification, electronic and digital travel documents, and secure identity verification systems. These programmes enhance both efficiency and security across international borders by enabling trusted, interoperable data exchanges between authorities.
Building inclusive and resilient systems
The goal of seamless mobility also includes improving the inclusivity of global air transport. ICAO works with States and industry stakeholders to enhance airport infrastructure and services for passengers with disabilities and reduced mobility, helping to ensure that travel is accessible and equitable for all.
In times of disruption, resilience becomes just as essential as efficiency. ICAO provides guidance to help States strengthen their crisis preparedness and response, including during public health emergencies, natural disasters, and operational disruptions. This support helps aviation systems recover quickly and maintain the continuity of critical services.
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Embracing innovation and advanced air mobility
As aviation continues to evolve, ICAO supports the integration of advanced technologies and emerging modes of mobility into the air transport system. This includes building international consensus and developing regulatory frameworks for advanced air mobility (AAM) and its subsets, including urban air mobility (UAM), unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS)—technologies supporting a transformative ecosystem for how people and goods are transported.
ICAO also facilitates the global implementation of digitized systems, electric and hybrid propulsion, and automation-enhanced operations, ensuring that innovation contributes to efficiency, safety, and sustainability across the entire aviation ecosystem.
In our ICAO Explained video series, we make the work we do easier to understand. Watch the episode on Seamless Mobility to learn how ICAO is supporting harmonized travel and more reliable aviation systems.
This article is part of our ongoing series, “ICAO’s Strategic Goals Explained,” which explores the six goals guiding our work through 2050. Up next: Aviation Law That Responds to Global Needs: Adapting the Legal Framework for a Changing World.
The ICAO 2026-2050 Strategic Plan is shared below.