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Global Summit in Durban Focuses on Aviation Workforce Development

Global Summit in Durban Addresses Aviation Workforce Challenges
Montréal and Pretoria, 30 July 2025 – In response to the aviation industry’s pressing need for millions of skilled professionals, global leaders will convene in Durban next month for the 3rd Next Generation of Aviation Professionals (NGAP) Global Summit. Co-hosted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA), the event will take place from 12 to 14 August 2025. It aims to bring together governments, industry stakeholders, educators, training institutions, and youth representatives to collaboratively shape the future of the sector’s workforce.
Addressing Critical Workforce Demands
The summit arrives at a pivotal moment for aviation. ICAO projects that by 2037, the industry will require over 665,000 aircraft maintenance technicians, 554,000 pilots, 922,000 cabin crew members, and 106,000 air traffic controllers. These figures highlight only a portion of the sector’s extensive human resource needs. Attracting and retaining talent, especially in specialized fields such as maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) and aircraft propulsion, remains a significant challenge. In response, the industry is intensifying efforts to implement continuous training and development programs designed to bridge these gaps.
Competitors within the sector are also enhancing their workforce capabilities through new training initiatives and strategic partnerships. Notable examples include the collaboration between Magnetic Line and AIDT’s Aviation Training Center, which seeks to address skills shortages and support sustainable industry growth. Additionally, emerging megatrends such as artificial intelligence are transforming the aviation landscape. In Singapore, for instance, up to 30% of the aviation workforce is expected to experience role transformations due to AI, underscoring the necessity for adaptive and forward-looking workforce strategies.
South Africa’s Leadership and Continental Impact
South Africa is playing a prominent role in advancing aviation workforce development across the African continent, particularly through its participation in the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), an African Union initiative projected to generate nearly 600,000 jobs continent-wide. South Africa’s Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy, reaffirmed the country’s commitment to this cause, stating, “South Africa, alongside its African partners, has always been dedicated to ensuring that the future of aviation is safe and secure, while also addressing global concerns such as job creation, infrastructure improvement, and environmental protection.” She emphasized the importance of platforms like the ICAO 2025 NGAP Summit for fostering ongoing global dialogue and advocating policies that confront shared challenges.
The summit’s theme, “The Flight Plan for Future Aviation Talent: Innovate, Educate, Inspire – Building the Workforce for the Skies Ahead,” will focus on innovative training methods, technology-enabled learning, and sustainable career pathways. A particular emphasis will be placed on supporting youth in emerging aviation markets. This aligns with ICAO’s NGAP Strategy, which promotes an integrated and collaborative approach to workforce development through advocacy, knowledge-sharing, monitoring, and forecasting.
Ms. Poppy Khoza, Director of Civil Aviation at SACAA, highlighted the significance of international cooperation, stating, “With South Africa a leading voice in ICAO platforms, I look forward to welcoming our fellow Member States and seeing them collaborate with South African counterparts on new ideas and solutions.”
As the aviation sector continues to evolve amid rapid technological advancements and increasing demand, the Durban summit is poised to play a crucial role in cultivating a qualified, inclusive, and future-ready workforce prepared to meet the challenges of the skies ahead.

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