The 13^th Meeting of Directors-General of Civil Aviation of the D-8 member countries was held in the seaside City of Antalya, Türkiye, on 13 November 2024. The meeting was hosted by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) of the Republic of Türkiye. It had in attendance the Directors General of Civil Aviation Authorities from all D-8 Member States, including Experts Working Group on Civil Aviation, which met on 12 November 2024.

In his address, the Secretary General of D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation (D-8), Ambassador Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam, underscored the transformative role of air transportation in global economic growth, which supports around 65 million jobs worldwide and carried approximately 4.5 billion passengers, while it contributed close to 3 trillion USD to the global economy, annually.

He harped on the fact that recognizing the importance of air transportation, as way of fostering connectivity and sustainable economic development within the D-8 regions, civil aviation should be prioritized on the D-8 cooperation agenda.

Ambassador Imam further emphasized the potential of civil aviation cooperation among D-8 Member States, stating that “several D-8 countries possess a comparative advantage in aviation development, which presents a unique opportunity for shared growth and knowledge transfer within the organization.

In his remarks, Prof. Kemal Yüksek, Director of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) of the Republic of Türkiye, called for strengthening of civil aviation cooperation among D-8 member states, noting that air transport is essential for connecting geographically separated countries.

Prof. Yüksek stated that Türkiye’s commitment to sharing its advanced aviation practices developed under “Industry 5.0.”, aligned with ICAO’s “No Country Left Behind” initiative. Prof. Yüksek introduced Türkiye’s New Civil Aviation Model, which leverages digitalization, big data, and artificial intelligence to enhance connectivity. He expressed Türkiye’s desire to break down air transport barriers within the D-8, thus facilitating seamless travel and closer ties among member nations.

Representatives from the Civil Aviation Authorities of each D-8 Member State also delivered their statements and presentations, outlining their respective activities, achievements, and future goals for civil aviation cooperation. These statements provided valuable insights into the diverse experiences and strategic approaches within the D-8 countries,  thus enriching the collaborative spirit of the meeting.

The Directors General Meeting deliberated on a wide range of critical topics relevant to the advancement of the civil aviation sector within the D-8 region. These include air navigation and air traffic management, commercial aviation issues, training and capacity building, safety and security issues as well as national security auditor certification programs. These discussions were aimed at facilitating experience sharing and fostering a collaborative environment, where D-8 nations can leverage their individual strengths to enhance the regional aviation industry.

One of the key outcomes of the discussions was the proposal for a Multilateral Agreement on Air Services (MASA) among D-8 countries. This agreement, which is still a work-in-progress, is expected to create a unified framework that supports seamless air services across the member states, fostering stronger connections, trade opportunities, and enhanced regional cooperation.

The meeting concluded with closing remarks by Prof. Kemal Yüksek and Ambassador Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam, both of whom reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening civil aviation cooperation within the D-8 framework. They expressed optimism that the discussions and initiatives explored during the meeting would pave way for enhanced connectivity, economic growth, and sustained development within the D-8 region.