ANTALYA, Turkey

The aviation sector transports 3.3 billion passengers and 50 million tons of cargo per year around the world, president of the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) said Monday.

Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, the council president, said that the number of the passengers traveling by plane is expected to get doubled between 2020 and 2030.

Aliu made the remarks at the eighth ICAO Air Services Negotiation Event (International Commission for Air Navigation - ICAN 2015) conference hosted by Turkish Civil Aviation General Directorate, the Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communication, which begun Monday in the Turkish city of Antalya in cooperation with Turkish Airlines (THY), Pegasus, AtlasGlobal Airlines and TAV.

He said that continued improvements in the aviation sector would create employment opportunities that would contribute to economies worldwide.

He said that the council was making efforts for the liberalization of aviation sector with representatives of ICAO member countries.

Aliu also offered his condolences over the recent Ankara bombings, saying, "We share your pain".

Aviation authorities from 94 countries will carry out negotiations during the ICAN 2015 conference.

For the first time this year, tourism organizations and the World Tourism Organization were invited to the event.

The conference will end on Oct. 23, 2015.