ICAO Council Elects Toshiyuki Onuma as New President

MONTREÁL – The ICAO Council, the International Civil Aviation Organization's 36-member governing body, has elected Toshiyuki Onuma of Japan as President for a three-year term commencing January 1, 2026.  He follows Salvatore Sciacchitano of Italy, who has been in the position for two consecutive terms from 2020.

Mr Toshiyuki Onuma is now Japan's Representative on the ICAO Council.  With over 20 years of expertise, he has influenced national and international civil aviation policy, including leading decarbonization initiatives.  

Mr. Onuma has held senior positions including Senior Deputy Director-General of the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) and Assistant Vice-Minister for International Aviation.  He earned an LL.B. from the University of Tokyo and an LL.M. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

Comments from ICAO, IATA Officials

"The President of the Council is central to uniting ICAO’s 193 Member States around our shared vision of air transport for all by 2050, with zero fatalities and net-zero carbon emissions, and driving the cooperation, innovation and talent required to realize that vision,” said President Sciacchitano as he congratulated the incoming Council President on his election. “Consensus-building is a crucial pillar for the success of multilateralism and must always be pursued by the President.”

ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar congratulated the incoming Council President recalling that: “Mr Toshiyuki Onuma’s election as President of the ICAO Council reflects the trust and high expectations of the international community at a transformative time for air transport worldwide.”