Senior government officials, regulators and industry security experts gathered in Astana, Kazakhstan, from 20 to 22 October for ICAO Security Week 2026, a three-day programme that addressed current and emerging challenges in aviation security and cybersecurity.
Hosted in collaboration with Kazakhstan, with the theme “Secure Skies in a Complex World: Advancing Security in Aviation for All,” the event took place in a demanding moment for the sector, with cyber intrusions, conflict-driven airspace closures, pressure on air cargo supply chains and tightening public budgets impacting security agencies. The agenda reflected it. Through nine sessions, delegates were reminded of where global aviation security stands today and informed on the practical questions of audit follow-through, financing, the workforce and the road to the third High-level Conference on Aviation Security (HLCAS/3) in April 2027.
Who was in the room?
The host State, Kazakhstan, was represented at a ministerial level. The programme featured speakers from Member States that included Brazil, Canada, France, Italy, Latvia, Portugal, the Russian Federation, Singapore, Switzerland, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates. They were joined by representatives of regional and international organizations, including the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC), the European Commission and EUROCONTROL, as well as ICAO and the airline industry.
The Framework
Day One
The first three sessions focussed on the foundations of the international aviation security system:
- Session 1 – After 25 Years: The Global State of Security in Aviation
- Session 2 – Closing the Loop: From Audit Findings to Lasting Capability
- Session 3 – Fit for Purpose? The GASeP and the Road to the Aspirational Goal
Day Two
The second day examined several areas where aviation security intersects with the broader aviation system:
- Session 4 – One Chain, Many Actors: Modernizing Air Cargo and Mail Security
- Session 5 – The Last Frontier: Cybersecurity Across the Aviation System
- Session 6 – Contested Skies: When the Map Changes Overnight
- Session 7 – Beyond the Budget Line: Sustaining Security Modernization
Day Three
The final day turned from systems and infrastructure to the people who make the systems work:
- Session 8 – Security is People: Workforce, Competency and Culture
- Session 9 – The Path to the HLCAS/3
The week concludes with the Closing Session, “Messages from Astana”, which will drew together the main conclusions from all of the sessions. The programme is shared below. All of the recorded sessions will be shared ICAO TV for on demand viewing.