Aviation leaders gathered in Montreal for the ICAO triennial assembly amid ongoing cyberattacks on European airports, geopolitical tensions and US objections to the agency's environmental focus, reports Reuters.

Hackers disrupted automated check-in systems at major European airports, causing delays and cancellations. ICAO warned that the current system serving 4.6 billion passengers annually must be transformed to handle triple that volume by 2050.

ICAO council president Salvatore Sciacchitano said the aviation system must evolve to meet future demand. The US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy urged ICAO to prioritise safety and security over environmental goals.

Delegates defended ICAO's green agenda, despite industry concerns. IATA admitted the sector will miss its 2030 target of cutting emissions by five per cent, though airlines remain committed to pollution reduction.

ICAO's 36-member council has criticised Russia and North Korea for violating aviation rules. North Korea accused the council of double standards over alleged South Korean drone incursions. Russia is seeking to regain its council seat lost in 2022.

The aviation sector is also grappling with labour shortages. India called for a hiring code of conduct to prevent pilot poaching. ICAO estimates 670,000 new pilots will be needed by 2043.

Brazil, with a travel sector growing 10 per cent annually, is working to attract more women and minorities. ANAC president Tiago Faierstein noted that women make up 51 per cent of the population but only 3 per cent of pilots.