India, July 24 -- The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that Saadia Zahidi has been appointed by IATA's Board of Directors to the position of Director General from 1 November 2026.
Appointment:
Saadia Zahidi has been named Director General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), effective 1 November 2026.
Historic First:
She will be IATA's ninth Director General and the first woman to hold the position.
Background:
Zahidi comes from the World Economic Forum (WEF), where she served as Managing Director and Member of the Managing Board. She founded and led the Centre for the New Economy and Society and co-authored influential reports such as the Future of Jobs and Global Gender Gap.
Transition:
Current Director General Willie Walsh will step down on 31 July 2026. In the interim, Sandrine Le Borgne, IATA's CFO and SVP for Corporate Services, will serve as Acting Director General.
Board's View:
Roberto Alvo, Chair of IATA's Board and CEO of LATAM Airlines Group, praised Zahidi's expertise in global economics and her ability to guide the industry through technological and geopolitical shifts.
Zahidi's Statement:
She emphasized aviation's role as critical infrastructure for economic growth and pledged to focus on innovation, resilience, and sustainable growth while expanding connectivity worldwide.
Credentials:
Zahidi holds degrees from.....
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Travel Media.