Toshiyuki Onuma, Japan’s representative, has been elected President of the ICAO Council, the governing body of the International Civil Aviation Organization. He will assume a three-year term starting 1 January 2026, succeeding the current Council President, Salvatore Sciacchitano , who has held the position for two consecutive terms since 2020.

“The President of the Council plays a key role in uniting ICAO’s 193 Member States around our shared vision of air transport for all by 2050, with zero fatalities and zero carbon emissions, as well as in fostering the cooperation, innovation, and talent needed to achieve this vision,” said Salvatore Sciacchitano while congratulating the President-elect.

It should be recalled that in July 2025, the President of the ICAO Council, Salvatore Sciacchitano, made an official visit to the Republic of Kazakhstan for the first time in history.

The Ministry of Transport and the aviation authorities of the Republic of Kazakhstan congratulate Toshiyuki Onuma on his appointment as President of the ICAO Council and wish him success in his work for the advancement of global civil aviation.

We also express our sincere gratitude to Salvatore Sciacchitano for his cooperation and support, as well as for his significant contribution to strengthening global aviation safety.

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Toshiyuki Onuma is Japan’s representative on the ICAO Council. With over 20 years of experience, he has shaped national and international civil aviation policy, including leading decarbonization efforts. Toshiyuki Onuma has held senior positions such as First Deputy Director General of the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) and Assistant Vice-Minister for International Aviation. He holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Tokyo and a Master of Laws degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.