Former International Airlines Group (IAG) CEO Willie Walsh has officially taken over from Alexandre de Juniac as the Director General (DG) of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), becoming the organization’s 8th DG. His succession was made official at the 76th IATA Annual General Meeting on November 24, 2020.
“I am passionate about our industry and about the critical work that IATA does on behalf of its members, never more so than during the COVID-19 crisis. IATA has been at the forefront of efforts to restart global connectivity, including developing the IATA Travel Pass. Less visible but of equal importance, airlines continue to rely on IATA’s financial settlement systems, Timatic and other vital services to support their day-to-day operations. I am grateful to Alexandre for leaving behind a strong organization and a motivated team. Together, the IATA team is absolutely focused on restoring the freedom of movement that airlines provide to billions of people around the world. That means your freedom to visit friends and family, to meet critical business partners, to secure and retain vital contracts, and to explore our wonderful planet,” said Walsh. “In normal times over four billion travelers depend on aviation each year and the distribution of vaccines has put the value of efficient air cargo in the spotlight. Airlines are committed to delivering safe, efficient, and sustainable services. My goal is to ensure that IATA is a forceful voice supporting the success of global air transport. We will work with supporters and critics alike to deliver on our commitments to an environmentally sustainable airline industry. It’s my job to make sure that governments, which rely on the economic and social benefits our industry generates, also understand the policies we need to deliver those benefits,” Walsh added.
Having served as IAG’s CEO for 11 years since the Group’s inception, he had previously been CEO at Aer Lingus for four years, after originally joining the carrier as a pilot. Thereafter he became CEO of British Airways for six years. Walsh will be based at IATA’s executive office in Geneva, Switzerland and had served on the IATA Board of Governors between 2005 to 2018, including serving as Chair (2016-2017).