The Arab Civil Aviation Organization (ACAO) participated with a delegation led by H.E. Eng. Abdennebi Manar, Director General of the Organization, in the 58th Annual General Assembly of the Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO), held in Rabat from 3 to 5 November 2025, under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, and at the kind invitation of Royal Air Maroc.
The Assembly opened with official statements delivered by H.E. Mr. Abdelssamad Kayouh, Minister of Transport and Logistics of the Kingdom of Morocco, Mr. Abdelhamid Addou, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Royal Air Maroc and President of the General Assembly, and Mr. Abdul Wahab Teffaha, Secretary General of the Arab Air Carriers Organization, in the presence of more than 200 senior executives and experts representing the Arab and international aviation sectors.
In his opening address, delivered on his behalf by H.E. Mr. Ryad Mezzour, Minister of Industry and Trade, the Minister of Transport and Logistics affirmed that “the Kingdom of Morocco stands fully ready to support all initiatives aimed at strengthening Arab cooperation and integration in the field of civil aviation, and to foster inter-Arab partnerships that serve the interests of our nations and peoples.”
He added that holding this session in Morocco “reflects the high standing of the air transport sector and the Kingdom’s continued commitment to supporting Arab joint action and enhancing cooperation among Arab countries in vital areas that have a direct impact on development and economic prosperity.”
For his part, Mr. Abdelhamid Addou, Chairman and CEO of Royal Air Maroc, called for “uniting efforts to build an Arab aviation ecosystem that is resilient, responsible, and competitive,” stressing the importance of “continuing joint efforts to enhance cooperation and improve efficiency in service of our economies and citizens.”
He further emphasized that holding this Assembly under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI “demonstrates Morocco’s strong commitment to the development of air transport as a major driver of economic growth, tourism, and cultural exchange across the Arab region.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Abdul Wahab Teffaha, Secretary General of the Arab Air Carriers Organization, presented the “State of the Industry” report, affirming that “the Arab air transport sector has demonstrated great resilience in the face of global challenges, and that strengthened Arab cooperation remains essential to ensuring sustainable growth and keeping pace with technological and environmental transformations.”
He called for “continued Arab coordination to ensure a smooth transition toward global sustainability objectives and the achievement of carbon neutrality.”
In his intervention, H.E. Eng. Abdennebi Manar, Director General of the Arab Civil Aviation Organization, underlined the importance of strengthening institutional partnership between ACAO and AACO, noting that “the close cooperation between both entities forms the cornerstone for defending the interests of the Arab air transport sector and for unifying regional positions within international forums, particularly the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).”
He emphasized the need to uphold the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) as a fair, global mechanism for addressing aviation emissions, while rejecting any unilateral measures or environmental taxes that could undermine the competitiveness of Arab airlines.
He also highlighted ACAO’s growing focus on capacity-building, digital transformation, innovation, and sustainable aviation to strengthen the resilience and future readiness of the Arab aviation sector.
At the conclusion of his remarks, Eng. Manar expressed his deep appreciation to the Kingdom of Morocco, host country and headquarters of ACAO, for its continued support of Arab joint action, and to Royal Air Maroc for its warm hospitality and excellent organization, emphasizing that “the spirit of cooperation and complementarity we witness today among Arab institutions is clear evidence that Arab aviation is confidently advancing toward a promising future that embodies the aspirations of our nations for unity, progress, and leadership.”
The Assembly concluded with the adoption of a resolution on aviation and the environment, in which the Arab Air Carriers Organization reaffirmed the collective commitment of Arab airlines to sustainable growth and the achievement of global environmental objectives.
The resolution called for accelerating the adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) and Low-Carbon Aviation Fuels (LCAF) under ICAO’s framework, enhancing international coordination in the implementation of CORSIA as the sole global market-based mechanism for addressing international aviation emissions, and rejecting unilateral taxes and environmental measures that may increase travel costs and constrain sectoral growth without delivering real environmental benefits.
Participants also called for continued Arab joint action to modernize aviation legislation, encourage investment in aviation infrastructure, and build qualified Arab expertise capable of shaping a more innovative and sustainable future for the region’s air transport industry.