Transportation Ministry Announces Indonesia’s Candidacy for ICAO Council Seat

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – The Ministry of Transportation officially announced Indonesia’s candidacy for a seat on the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) at the 43rd Extraordinary Assembly 2026 on Monday, August 31, 2026. Director General of Civil Aviation Lukman F. Laisa said the candidacy is a strategic step to strengthen Indonesia’s role and contribution to international civil aviation governance.

“This is a strategic momentum for Indonesia to return to the decision-making table of global civil aviation,” Lukman said in a statement in Jakarta on Monday.

He said Indonesia has extensive experience as a member of the ICAO Council, having served for 12 consecutive terms from 1962 to 2001. He said Indonesia’s opportunity to regain a seat on the ICAO Council has become more open following the increase in the Council’s membership from 36 to 40 countries.

Indonesia’s candidacy is based on its interests, capacity, experience, and track record in international civil aviation. As an archipelagic country with more than 17,000 islands and an airspace covering around 7.7 million square kilometers, the aviation sector plays an important role in maintaining national connectivity and connecting Indonesia with the rest of the world.

In the first half of 2026, Indonesia served 24.9 million domestic passengers and 18.5 million international passengers through 257 airports. These services covered 297 domestic routes and 160 international routes operated by 14 national airlines and 59 foreign airlines.

In terms of aviation safety, Indonesia recorded an Effective Implementation score of 78.85 percent based on the ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP). The figure was above the global average of 70.6 percent and the Asia-Pacific regional average of 69.6 percent.

Meanwhile, under the ICAO Universal Security Audit Programme (USAP), Indonesia recorded a score of 88.53 percent, well above the global target of 75 percent.

Indonesia has also actively contributed to the international aviation community through the Indonesia-ICAO Developing Countries Training Programme, providing training to more than 80 ICAO member states, including countries in the Pacific and Africa.

In addition, the Ministry of Transportation’s Human Resources Development Center for Civil Aviation has achieved Platinum Member status under the ICAO TRAINAIR PLUS programme.

Lukman said Indonesia’s candidacy carries the vision “Bridging Regions, Strengthening Global Aviation,” aimed at strengthening the role of the Asia-Pacific region in promoting dialogue and cooperation across regions.

“We invite ministries and government institutions, airlines, airport operators, air navigation service providers, and all aviation stakeholders to jointly support this effort,” he said.

The Ministry of Transportation expressed hope that support from aviation stakeholders at both the national and international levels would help Indonesia regain the trust to serve as a member of the ICAO Council.