Uzbekistan Backs ICAO Council Expansion in First Reading

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan's parliament has moved to ratify amendments to the foundational treaty governing global civil aviation, expanding the governing bodies of the International Civil Aviation Organization for the first time in decades.

The Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis passed in first reading a bill ratifying protocols amending the Convention on International Civil Aviation — the 1944 Chicago Convention that remains the bedrock of international aviation law. The legislation now advances to the Senate for further consideration.

What the Amendments Change

The bill targets two specific articles of the Chicago Convention. Amendments to Article 50(a) would increase the membership of ICAO's governing Council from 36 to 40 states. Separately, amendments to Article 56 would expand the Air Navigation Commission — the body responsible for technical and operational standards — from 19 to 21 members.

Both changes reflect the significant growth in ICAO's membership since the current composition limits were established, as well as the expanding footprint of international air transport in the global economy. Legislators emphasized during debate that the enlargement of ICAO's governing structures would enable more balanced representation of member states — a long-standing concern among smaller aviation nations seeking greater voice in standard-setting processes.

The expanded Air Navigation Commission, in particular, was highlighted as a mechanism to more effectively harness the technical and expert capacity that member states bring to civil aviation governance.

Uzbekistan's International Obligations

For Tashkent, ratification is framed primarily as a matter of fulfilling existing international commitments under the Chicago Convention framework and reinforcing the country's engagement with multilateral aviation institutions. Uzbekistan has pursued an active aviation development agenda in recent years, expanding route networks and modernizing its regulatory framework in line with ICAO standards.

The bill's passage through the lower chamber on first reading signals broad parliamentary consensus. It now proceeds to the Senate of the Oliy Majlis before potential enactment into national law.