News
News and notes from the 78th International Air Transport Association (IATA) annual general meeting in Doha
June 22nd 2022
IATA has upgraded its financial forecast for calendar 2022 “as the pace of recovery from the COVID-19 crisis quickens”. Read More » The airline lobby group estimates airlines worldwide will collectively post a loss of US$9.7 billion in calendar 2022, an improvement from its October 2021 forecast of a US$11.6 billion loss. IATA director-general, Willie Walsh, said “profitability is on the horizon for 2023”.
IATA deputy director general, Conrad Clifford, has called on governments to learn from the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure borders do not close again if a future health crisis emerges. IATA said evidence from the pandemic showed border measures were not an effective global strategy to control a pandemic, that governments should balance health measures with economic and social impacts and that traveller confidence required logical rules and clear communication. “Applying the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic to future health crises is the best way to ensure the sacrifices made by millions of people were not in vain,” Clifford said.
In other news from Doha:
* IATA called for better coordination between governments and aviation safety authorities in the rollout of 5G networks to ensure aviation safety and efficiency is not adversely impacted by the new spectrum.
*Winners of IATA's diversity and inclusion awards were Pegasus Airlines CEO, Güliz Öztürk, in the inspirational role model category, The Aviatrix Project founder and director, Kanchana Gamage, in the high flyer award category and airBaltic in the diversity and inclusion team category.
*Pegasus Airlines managing director, Mehmet Tevfik Nane, has commenced as chair of the IATA board of governors. Nane takes over from JetBlue CEO, Robin Hayes.
RwandAir CEO, Yvonne Manzi Makolo, has been named as chair elect of the IATA board of governors. Makolo will be the first female IATA board of governors chair when she commences the annual role in June 2023.
*Istanbul is the confirmed venue for the 2023 IATA AGM. It is scheduled for June 4 to June 6 and will be hosted by Pegasus Airlines.
*On the sidelines of the AGM, it was announced that Oman Air has applied to join the oneworld airline marketing alliance, with the application process expected to be completed by 2024. When finalised, Oman Air will become the third oneworld airline from the Middle East, alongside Royal Jordanian Airlines and Qatar Airways, to join the alliance.
