The 3rd annual Next Generation of Aviation Professionals (NGAP) Global Summit 2025 theme, “The Flight Plan for Future Aviation Talent: Innovate, Educate, Inspire – Building the Workforce for the Skies Ahead”, will be held at the Durban ICC from August 12 to 14.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), together with a United Nations specialised agency and the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA), will bring global aviation leaders to Durban to help address aviation’s urgent need for millions of new skilled professionals to work in the aviation sector.

Organisers announced in a joint statement on Thursday that the summit will serve as a global platform for governments, industry, educators, training institutions, and youth representatives to coordinate action on one of the most pressing challenges facing international aviation: developing a qualified, inclusive, and future-ready workforce to sustain the sector’s long-term growth and resilience.

“ICAO forecasts suggest that by 2037, over 665,000 aircraft maintenance technicians, 554,000 pilots, 922,000 cabin crew members, and 106,000 air traffic controllers will be needed.”

The organisers said these figures reflect only a portion of the broader and growing human resource demands across the many professions essential to air transport.

“South Africa is playing an integral role on the African continent through the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), an African Union initiative aimed at creating a unified air transport market across the continent, which is forecast to generate nearly 600,000 jobs in Africa alone.”

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy stated that South Africa, alongside its African partners, is dedicated to addressing Africa’s unique concerns, which range from safety and security to infrastructure and environmental sustainability.

The ICAO 2025 NGAP Summit is vital for global aviation dialogue, enabling advocacy for policies addressing shared challenges.

The summit will highlight innovative approaches to aviation training, technology-enabled learning, and the creation of sustainable career pathways, particularly in support of youth in less developed and emerging aviation markets.

“I am certain that there will be a lot of insights and recommendations that the sector will take forward from the various 2025 NGAP Summit deliberations,” said SACAA Director of Civil Aviation, Poppy Khoza.

The event supports the implementation of ICAO’s NGAP Strategy, which outlines an integrated and collaborative approach to addressing aviation’s workforce needs across four focus areas including advocacy and knowledge-sharing, workforce monitoring and forecasting, education and training, and capacity building and outreach.

“Every State has an interest in securing the talent required for a safe and resilient future for international civil aviation. This is particularly vital for youth and communities in parts of the world where aviation can be a powerful catalyst for sustainable development,” Salvatore Sciacchitano, president of the ICAO Council.

ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar said that the summit will help ensure that no State is left behind in benefiting from the opportunities that aviation can offer.

“ICAO is working with partners around the world to build the infrastructure, training capacity, and education partnerships needed to develop tomorrow’s aviation professionals, especially in countries where investment in people can drive broader transformation,” he said.

karen.singh@inlco.za

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